Amor Albano: Unfolding Beauty Beyond Her Designs

Photos taken during and after my interview with her.

           Who would not know such a beautiful and talented person like Amor Albano? Ever since she became one of the finalists during  3rd Season of Project Runway Philippines, several people got fascinated with her artistic and wonderful techniques used to create her garments. In short, this show instantly brought out a simple yet talented person into the limelight. Thus, she became famous and I believe that she is still in the midst of realizing the fact that she is a celebrity especially in Ilocos Norte's Fashion Industry. Being a former schoolmate of this talented designer way back high school days, her Facebook post that goes this way " I miss the usual Amor" made me fully understand that  she really is starting to adjust into the spotlight of the fashion industry. Her simple Facebook post indeed captured my attention to explore the depths of her heart and discover her beauty beyond the artistic and glamorous gowns that are created for everyone who trusts her expertise. What you are about to read are Amor Albano's answers to the questions  that will surely make you understand how she became an inspiration not just to her fellow Ilocano's  but to her countrymen as well.

1. How did you start to dream as a designer?
             Just  like any other designer, Amor says that she  started to develop her innate passion for fashion at a young age. She would always remember herself hanging out with her friends in some bridal shops and she would help do some bead works and she would get paid in a minimal amount. She clarified that what she did before was not a part-time job but more of a past time and an avenue to learn the ins and outs of the fashion industry.

2. What inspired you to join Project Runway Philippines Season 3? 

               Amor answered that she  was inspired by  her goal to at least be able to provide for the needs of her family. Apart from that, a friend of hers non other than " Mr. Randy Leano" convinced her to get out of her shell, show her talent and audition for the said Reality Fashion Show.

3. What happened to Amor Albano  after the Final Runway?

              She blushed , smiled and said, " I don't like it". Its not because I don't like the job and the sudden surge of clients to my shop but maybe I am just not used to  be a celebrity". She smiles again. " I don't like it when people take photos while I walk along the streets of the city. I am just a simple person and all I want is for people to see me as a normal person " She continues.

4. What is the best lesson you have ever learned from Project Runway Philippines?

          That   would be the value and appreciation of simplicity among the garments that I create. I would always remember the line that says " Clothes are not created to make people look beautiful but it is rather the people who make the clothes look beautiful"

5. Among the Project Runway Philippines Judges, whom do you like most?

     " I actually like all of them but if I were to really choose between the judges, I would choose Mr. Rajo Laurel as he really is the one who has first hand experience on handling garments. I appreciate the skills of the other judges too but Rajo is obviously on the top of my list.

6. Name some of your favorite material for your garments? 

      " I would go for the following:

                  a. Duchess satin because it not too lustrous and it is easy to handle.

                  b. Abel  Iloco  because of its vibrant color and manageability as well. 

                  c. Any crispy cloth so I could play on the designs

 7. If you were a gown, what kind of gown would you be and why?

      " I would be  a see through long gown because it is elegant and I don't keep any secret " Amor confidently answers.

8. How do you see yourself 10 years from now? 

      " I would still be the same Amor whom you are talking too right now, but when it comes to the fashion world, I hope that someday, I would be able to have more mannequins on my display plus more helpers to sew my designs. " "I would never go for a sex transplant too", she chuckles. 

9. Would you ever dream of going international?

    " Just like what I have said, I am just a simple person and I guess strong competition would just give me a great burden." Yet, if I were given the chance to leave my hometown, I would try my luck but I would still go back to where my heart is."  

10. What would you say to those budding designers who look up to you and your creations?

      " Never cease to dream and be strong towards facing your challenges. In some point of your life, you may experience failure but you have to make use of that as a stepping stone for success" ----Never give up...Go lang ng go!!!! 

         Gee,  her words indeed lingered in my mind. This simple chit chat with her simply proved my hypothesis that Amor Albano is not just an artistic and talented designer but a real beauty inside and out. I congratulate her and I hope for her continuous success in all aspects of her life.

      

       

Must Read: The Secret of Taming Your Strict Parents

Photo credit: strict-parents by  www.selfhelpzone.com

I am once again back with this unexpected blog post about relationship, love and parents simply because I suddenly got inspired to share my fondest thoughts about these things just right after watching Miley Cyrus' movie entitled LOL. I just thought that what I have in mind may also be interesting for those people who at times tend to misunderstand their their parents or guardians just like me.Before I start letting you peek what lies deep within my mind right now, I also would like to share one story about a former student of mine who came to tell me about how difficult it is to live with strict parents who never give freedom to let their children experience love. If you think you could relate or if you think that you were once in this situation then this blog entry is for you. Here are 5 Effective Thoughts which I think works very well for you to Tame Your Strict Parents.

1. Project the kind of person which they want you to be - I know that it is difficult to do this especially when you really are not the type of person whom they expect you to be.   Yet, if however you never have the means to stand on your own yet, learn how to join them through your obedience. If they would want you to study well  then you have to try your best to excel in your studies to please them.  Always remember that what they always want is for you to have a very good life at the end of the day. Thus, you just have to keep on saying "yes" because you have to show that you love them, you care for them and you value them even when they are strict and you are against them.

2. If it hurts them, do not show  them -  I am not pretty sure if this whole concept of not showing them the real you is lying . In my opinion however, very reason why I included this suggestion to this blog entry is for everyone to realize that there may be things which children like us tend to like but our parents think that it may give us some sort of bad effect. If you really like doing this act and you think that you know how to practice the principle of the law of moderation coupled with discipline then I guess there is nothing wrong with doing the things that you enjoy doing but you just have to temporarily hide it from them and make sure that they never find anything about it till you're ready to defend yourself and proudly tell your parents that you were able to achieve something worthwhile in your life even if you did something which you think is good and your strict parents think it is bad.

3. Be contented to what they give you - Materially speaking, most strict parents deprive us from owning luxurious things such as I pods, cars, laptops etc....There are times when parents intentionally give us just enough amount of allowance for our transportation and meals. Thus,we think that we are being deprived of the things that we want. Such action or line of thinking is indeed immature, the very reason why they only give us exact allowance come in two ways. First is the fact that our parents may not afford to provide luxurious things even when they want to. While the second concept says that most parents become stingy on us because they are teaching us budgeting values and learning how to be independent.

4. Never oblige them to do something - We sometimes encounter our parents going mad each time we ask for additional allowance or payment for school projects or field trips. Sometimes, they make us feel that what we ask from them would only be wasted towards purchasing tour luxurious cosmetics or gadgets by means of saying the most favorite punch line " We never pick our money, we work hard for it and they are never meant to be used insensibly" Admit it!!!! When you hear these words out of their mouth we tend to stereotype them as machines guns because they simply irritate us and make us feel bad. If you are experiencing this situation, all you have to do is to chance the way you say things to them. If you usually say " please give me this" or "Please buy this for me", try telling them the whole situation where you are and let them decide on what should be done. What strict parents want from their kids is for them to be involved with every decisions that they make simply because they would want to  play  the great role  of helping you form your life in a better way.

5. Learn to Make Your Own Money - Your parents shall only give you the kind of freedom which you have been longing for if they could see that you already know how to make money even if it is just for yourself. If you are able to fulfill this suggestion, you would be able to send a signal to your strict parents that you are indeed wise enough to handle not just the financial aspect but the moral aspect of your life to. Added to this, if you make your own money, you no longer need to ask money from them and you will no longer hear them talk like machine guns..(lols)

           Before I end this blog entry, I would like to give emphasis on how this article means a lot to me. These 5 strategies that I have just blurted out just because of  Miley Cyrus movie and a student who came, cried and complained about her strict parents has been my most kept technique on how I was able to have the freedom that I have been longing to have when I was still studying. Just right after college when several academies took me as a lecturer in their classes, I was able to earn for a living and I was able to prove them that I have managed to both become the ideal person in their eyes plus the ideal girl for myself - two opposing factors which were reconciled by these 5 tips that I have shared. Finally, keep in mind that strict parenting is also as difficult as the experience of a child who deals with it, so why not  give yourself some time to understand each other. That's it for now and I just hope that these tips would work on you too. Good Luck on your Journey towards Taming your Strict Parents!!!

Must Read: Know the 5 Secrets For a Lasting Relationship

photo credits: media.tumblr.com

                Hello my dear readers, I am once again writing  to share my fondest thoughts about everything under the sun. Right now, I would like to share something interesting that will sure fascinate everyone who may or may not have a partner in life. I know that several people always try to seek for questions on how to maintain a long lasting relationship with the love of their lives. I must say that the ultimate secret lies on the way you treat your partner. Yes, I am a believer of karma that is why I adhere in the fact that the kind of treatment we give to our partner is also the kind of treatment that we get from them.So if you want to have a lifelong relationship that you can be proud of, try to experiment on considering these 5 factors which I have always been sensitive of during the four-year relationship with my boyfriend.

               1. Ego - If you would want your partner to stick with you through the years, you have to try your best not to skip on their ego. What I mean by this is for you to be considerate enough on how he feels when you do or you let him do something which you like. Keep in mind that your partners try to keep a deep value for themselves. As a tip, try the powers of the law of moderation.  What you should do is to refrain from scolding or putting too much emphasis on mistakes that they have made because this may lead you to the death of the love that has been kept burning for several years or months. 

            2. Individual Differences -Don't try  think of your boyfriend as a mirror of your personality because the two of you are unique to each other. While it is true that there may be some things that both you may want to do, you have to keep in mind that males would still be males and girls will always be girls. There are times when girls like us think that we could manipulate them with our words and we would always want them to project the kind of person which we want them to be. If you are someone who does this most of the time, you better be careful because most guys would still want to have an image which they can call their own. Thus, I would suggest that you just have to give them some time to breathe once in a while. Let them mingle with their friends and do the things that they love to do. You just have to let them remember that whatever freedom you give them has a responsibility that they have to bear and if they go against the rule, then they have to face the consequences of their actions.

               3. Trust - Not all guys are born dumb- ass (hehe) there are still some smart ass guys out there who deserve to be trusted. Once you decided to commit yourself to the guy whom you think you would want to live with till your long black hair turns grey, you also have to face the fact that you have to trust them no matter what happens. I know that this sounds too idealistic but I am telling you that it is indeed possible to bring back a broken trust once you start to have faith and trust your guy. While it is a fact that most guys can be easily swept by other women who may be more beautiful and sexier than you, you have to keep in mind that your guy wouldn't bother to replace you with someone else once you show him that you deserve to be treasured and loved. If they make mistakes, show them the irony of their expectations. If you think that you would be very furious, try doing the irony of it...Reverse Psychology works well  towards taming an unfaithful partner. Just keep holding unto him as long has he says he loves you. That's trust.

                  4. Care -  In order to keep your man forever, you have to know how to care for him a lot. Caring doesn't just mean serving him by means of cooking or reminding him to take care of himself but caring also means being sensible to your partner especially with his actions. I am pretty sure that you have an awareness towards guys who never say about what they feel. In short, they are not vocal so if you love him, you have to know how to read his actions and be able to provide a positive response towardsthe meaning of these unspoken words.

  

                   5. Romance - Oh yes!!!! this word is their favorite. They may seem to make us think that they are not interested towards saying sweet nothings or doing simple things that tickle someone-Else's heart  by means of cute gifts. The truth is, they like it a lot when girl's pamper them. They love being hugged, kissed and held in the even especially in public. It may sound like a Public Display of Affection but an act of allowing them to hold your hand or kiss you on the cheek in public once in while would make them think that you are proud of your love for him.

Alright, so there you have the 5 Main things to consider in order to unfold the Secret of a Long Lasting Relationship. I hope that you found my ideas informative and I also hope that It will work on you in a way that it also worked on me. God Speed and Good Luck on your relationship. Keep Loving Everyone!!!!

6 Must Know and Rare Facts About Secretary Joel Villanueva

Director Gen. Villanueva poses with TESDA- Ilocos Norte's Director Carag and TESDA Staff

          Alright, it seems that I just can't get a hang out of Director Villanueva's visit at TESDA Ilocos Norte simply because I was able to witness something which makes me admire him (not just with his looks) but because of his personality and intelligence. What I have for you dear readers are 5 Rare Facts that make his personality interesting.

Director Villanueva enjoys a serving of his favorite "buko juice"

1. He likes buko juice a lot -Among the various genuine Iloco recipes which we have prepared for his meal with TESDA -Ilocos Norte Family, it was only the "Buko juice" which caught his attention. According to his best friend, Director Villanueva's favorite is Buko Juice that is why we never hesitated to include it to our menu for his meal.

2. He gives great importance to his real friends - Based on what I have observed during his visit at the Province, I came to realize that even if Director Villanueva has already been regarded as a public figure, his title never let him forget to look back and treasure his most precious friendship to his best friend. He just loves to share things about his good old days with his best friend. He also made it a point to become part of his best-friend's wedding day despite his busy schedule.

DG Villanueva casually shares stories with TESDA- MAIS Administrator

3. He cheerful - Before he came to the office, I already had this concept in mind that he is going to be just like other high ranking officials who visit places and project a rather formal and poker faced facial expression but when I got to see him, Gee!!! I was wrong!!! The moment he came inside the Language Skills Institute, he already gave that very warm smile that vividly showed how happy he was to see my trainees.I also will not forget how he casually laughs and share stories with other TESDA officials even when the regular employees were around them.

DG with LSI Trainer Ms. Honeylynn Inocencio

4. He is down to earth - I bet that it was his humility and God fearing nature which made him earn his position right now, as I try to look at his manner of dealing with people, he simply to have a heart for everyone. His words " Come and Join me, wag kayong mahiya dahil isang pamilya lang tayo sa TESDA" was laid kept to my mind as his voice still rings to my ears even up to this time.

5. He is undeniably handsome - This probably is the most observable fact about Secretary General Joel Villanueva. It is indeed a fact that most people find him jaw dropping and heart melting but we already have to stop day dreaming about him because he is already married to the girl of her dreams.  Some people even say that he looks like Hayden Kho ( I agree with that).

6. He plays basketball -  Yes you heard it right, Director General Villanueva, is far more than the usual concept of being famous for his good looks, good character and intelligence. Mind you, he also plays basketball.  In fact, I remember one of his shared stories when he visited the office. He related a  funny story in which he was able to encounter and event which has been attended by the President of the Philippines and a basketball player friend of him. He said that when the basketball player saw him, the said person immediately approached Director Villanueva to have a hand shake.

       As a conclusion, I may not be Director Villanueva's  Personal Relations officer nor his Executive Secretary but with what I have observed on him, I can proudly say that this young fellow shall go  far with his extraordinary heart, intelligence and good governance.