Things we’re obsessed with

Porter

MANILA, Philippines - If there’s one glossy that I look forward to every month, it has to be Porter. When I first got my copy of their maiden issue, with the divine Miss Bündchen on the cover, I knew I was going to get hooked. I’ve read every single page, feature, and editorial in that magazine. The same exact thing happened when I got the second issue with Lady Gaga. I’ve honestly never enjoyed reading a magazine so immensely in a long time. This June, their third issue, Lara Stone graces the cover and I cannot wait to grab myself my own copy. Cheers to Lucy Yeomans and Natalie Massenet for a fabulous job with the newest glossy in town. Watch out, Anna Wintour. — David Milan

The French Film Festival

As an avid lover of subtitles (and ridiculously cheap movies), I basically have no plans of working next week because the 19th annual French Film festival is finally back. Yes, the lines will once again be unbearably long. Yes, there will be no reservations. Yes, I have no idea what films are showing during the festival (nor do I plan on researching, as random movies during a film festival are always part of the fun). But you will find me, most probably every day from June 10 to 15, dating my lovely self and taking me to the movies. I apologize in advance to my boss for slacking off at work but I can’t help it, I’m obsessed! — Carla Villanueva

Just Kids by Patti Smith

There are certain books that I never want to end. I consume them like cake, little portions at a time, savoring the words, digesting their meaning. Like those epic stories that carry us into other worlds, Just Kids is a beautifully written memoir of a world I wish I knew. From the way Smith describes the Chelsea Hotel in the late ’60s, to how she and Robert met at Central Park — every chapter is a trip. Theirs a love story, not a fairytale, though sometimes it’s written like one. “We were Hansel and Gretel and we ventured out into the black forest of the world,” Smith writes. I’m only halfway through the book and it’s already been a month. It’s best taken in small doses, anyway. I can only handle so much #feels in a day. — Chonx Tibajia

Glastonbury Festival

Festival season is upon us and this year’s lineup brings nothing but tears to my eyes…only because I’ll be stuck in Manila, wallowing in schoolwork! Drama aside, Glastonbury lives up to its name by bringing in various artists like Lana Del Rey, Bleachers and Majestic Casual Famous, Snakehips. I’m going crazy just browsing through the endless list of bands and musicians set to perform! Glastonbury is definitely one of the festivals on my bucketlist, but till then I will have to settle for streaming the concert on YouTube. — Francine Gacrama

High brow

My hair lost its virginity last week. I’m still adjusting to the rather drastic change, because even though the color switch wasn’t particularly radical — I went from natural jet black to a dark reddish brown; people have definitely done wilder — I got so used to the black-hair-red-lips-badass trademark look I’ve been rocking since I was 18 that seeing myself in the mirror is still a shock. (Interestingly enough, friends and followers alike have been saying the same thing. “You’ll always be Red Lips Regina!”) I’ve since had to switch up my look somewhat to suit my new ‘do. I guess we can say that the bad girl’s taking a break and the good girl’s coming out to play — or, well, not play, because Girl Next Door is my mid-year beauty (and life) resolution. Softer shadow and sweeter lips have taken the place of my strong cat eye and vamp red pout. They say I look younger, friendlier. All but my eyebrows, that is, because I neglected to get them tinted.

I’ve been reluctant to dye my arches a lighter shade, mostly because I may still cave in and go back to black as soon as it’s safe enough for me to do so, but I’m beauty nerd enough to want them to match my new hair hue. Enter my latest beauty find: Maybelline’s Fashion Brow 24H Coloring Mascara, made specifically to tint brows. It comes in three shades: dark brown, rusty brown, and light brown (for all you Blonditas out there, heads up). The wand’s not shaped like typical mascara; the tip’s rounded, so you can attack your arches from any angle. So convenient, I’m so obsessed! — Regina Belmonte