Willie's Millions and Minions

Each Time You Watch Wowowie, One Million Goes to Willie
Rain B





Remind me again that the Philippines is going through a recession and that every day, millions of people suffer of hunger. For the meantime, a noontime show host earns ONE fu...ng MILLION per day.

According to Yes’ Magazine, Andro’s best friend and Wowowie host Willie Revillame and Andro’s ninong Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez III, chairman and CEO of ABS-CBN are the most powerful entertainer and most powerful executive, respectively, in local show business. The showbiz magazines’ latest issue features "The 50 Most Powerful in Showbiz." The 48-year-old Revillame reigns No. 1 in the Entertainers category.

“As many people adore Willie as disapprove of him – but nobody can be indifferent to him,” the magazine said. That means Trixie, who hates Willie’s guts, actually contributes to his popularity.

Atty Trixie Angeles, you who can bring down city hall, and you who fought the Manila Mayor for the protection of Mehan Gardens (and won), can you do something about this cultural anomaly. Speak up Trix!


And Victorina, who is now writing another article about Willie, is helping him earn his millions, because apparently the advertisers don’t care whether the opinion about Willie is good or bad, if he is talked about, he is a good channel.

The multi-millionaire host who spends his money collecting cars and allegedly abusing women has kept “Eat Bulaga!,” the longest and popular noontime show in the country, on its toes. It seems "Wowowee" is the “persistent thorn in Eat Bulaga!’s side.” So Eat Bulaga and Joey de Leon are also culprits for making Willie to most powerful entertainer today.

Revillame’s builds on his “global” status among Filipino workers abroad. “What’s even more amazing is his audience’s continued adulation despite the negative issues that hound him to this day, foremost of which is the deadly 2006 stampede at the Ultra stadium that marked his show’s anniversary,” the magazine said.

In fairness, Revillame should make a good case study in audience and market research. But my bottomline is this: Revillame (and his bosses) made a good business out of other people’s misery. They build their millions out of the stories of misfortune and tears of the masses.

Willie has grown to such monumental stature that he thinks he is invincible now, no matter what we do, or say, his masses will support him, and heck, will die for him literally. I am two minutes away from calling my friends at ISAFP (Jojo, call me) for some bullet assistance. But that would make him, God forbid, a national hero!

So, we run out of options now and just accept the fact that Willie is the person who defines popular culture today?

Is there justice in this side of the universe?

(Aside: It is not the fault of the masses that they are in the dark, it is because the enlightened ones didn't care enough to share the light.)

High Society Diploma Comes Cheap

by: Boldstar

Last year I met a former batch mate from Singapore for coffee on my way to Bangkok Thailand. She has been working in Human Resources for a large company. After 2 lattes of catching up, she mentioned that our degrees should have included forensic analysis and alumni speed dialing because most of her work especially vetting for degree qualified vacancies includes having to contact various institutions particularly from India, China and the Philippines to confirm whether Maria graduated with a degree in engineering or Pedro did indeed acquire a masters degree through coursework rather than through Visa, MasterCard and/or American express.

Because online, I was able to buy a doctorate degree for my son Mr Samson May for $199 dollars. The problem is Dr. May is my cuddly purebred Rottweiler.

So why do people fake their qualification?

According to Singapore's Manpower Ministry, applicants want to have an edge in the competitive job market and so fake their qualifications, and embellish their resume by enhancing their work accomplishments and roles. That's why people are buying diplomas from online degree mills charging between a few dollars to thousands depending on whether an after sale service is required with telephone operators verifying degrees and sending transcripts to prospective employees. Filipinos have it easy, they just go to "Recto University" along Claro M. Recto Avenue in Manila for expediency and prompt service.

After conducting a survey Michael Worthington, co-founder of workplace expert ResumeDoctor.com, stated that "something you put on your resume could haunt you years later." Remember George O'Leary? His name is forever etched on my memory after our university career counsellor constantly warned us not to do an "O'leary" on our resume. George was Notre Dame's football coach for all of five days. Then the lies on his resume caught up with him. He had said he had a master's degree in education from "NYU-Stony Brook University". Well it is a campus that doesn't exist and he only took two courses from NYU and never graduated. Another is Mark Victor Hansen, a motivational speaker, co-creator of the "chicken soup for the soul" book series which is the biggest selling non-fiction franchise in the history of American publishing, and Oprah aficionado. Having been awarded an honorary PHD in 2002, his lies soon caught up with him when it was revealed that his two master's degrees from Southern Illinois University according to the New Yorker were a figment of his imagination.

Our local "celebrities" have also been caught extending their scholastic achievements. So does Wendy Puyat (a publicized high society “celebrity”) have a master's degree in visual communications from the Ecole Supérièure de Design Industrelle-Créapole (ENSCI) and the Sorbonne? Or is it one of those Recto University degrees? Based on my research, it is pie in the sky. Like having Italian "grade" fabric which is very much a creative extension of Italian Made, highly associating her designs with the luxury fabric industry that brought fame and wealth to Venice and many Italian regions since the renaissance period. By the way, the Sorbonne is the prestigious University Paris-Sorbonne founded in 1257 nowadays symbolising the French university system as well as representing the French intellectual prowess. Famous alumni include St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Francis Xavier, Victor Hugo, and Pope Benedict XVI - born Joseph Alois Ratzinger, and then Wendy Puyat according to her website.

Talking about creative extensions, I noticed that our very own "ambassadress of beauty", Vicki Belo otherwise known as surgeon to the stars is very thin on experience. Calling yourself surgeon from a one year residency at Makati Med, one year dermatology diploma in Thailand and preceptorship with Dr Jeffrey Klein who never endorses anyone with just 2.5 days of training is quite remarkable. But like anything in Manila, you can get someone else to suck fat out of people.

Hopefully Bong Revilla Jr will not make me call him Doctor.

Why should we care?

First, it is illegal under section 315 of the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines and secondly it stains the authenticity of our educational system affecting everyone with a degree gained after at least four years of hard work. Filipino workers are now particularly scrutinized specially when an increasing number of OFW's now include doctors, nurses, therapist, oil rig engineers, software developers, hotel executives, not just nannies and go-go dancers as in the past. Our counterfeit industry is so good the Koreans came in droves buying fake "Recto" degrees. Furthermore, it wasn't so long ago that Philippine-trained doctors now based in the US as well as the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) filed protests against Desperate Housewife after a discriminatory remark about doctors graduating from the Philippines, signifying how global the perception and presumption that training is of low quality in this country.

That is why your achievement should speak for itself like Kermit the frog who received an Honorary Doctorate in Amphibious Letters from the authentic Long Island University, as a result of environmental efforts. Fake degrees are the same as passing a fake Louis Vuitton Bag, as the real thing, nakakadiri like the parade of fakes during the movie premiere screening of "for the first time".

Spreading Hope in the Philippines

by: DJ Mojo JoJo
(note: the author sang for then Pres. Bill Clinton's inaugural ball in Washington)

Although Valentine’s Day has come and gone, the season of love is still in the air! While the Day of Hearts may have been a time of romance, in today’s Mojo:lations, I hope to keep love rolling, this time in a charitable sense. Sharing and spreading of love and hope for children in need here in the Philippines.

Recently, I was invited along with other celebrities and media through my good friend Odette Velarde to the launch of Samsung’s latest philanthropic initiative aimed at bringing communities together to help underprivileged kids. The initiative which is called “Samsung Hope” urges people to open their hearts and give hope to charitable organizations in their communities by taking an active part in raising social awareness on the plight of underprivileged kids, and spur the public to help these kids imagine the future and realize their full potential. Pledging a record US$700,000 in grants to 21 children beneficiaries across Southeast Asia and Oceania, the program empowers the community to actively contribute to causes they believe in through deciding how the grant will be allocated.

In a heartfelt presentation at Greenbelt’s MyCinema, the three Filipino charities chosen for the project were unveiled: Atriev, The Don Bosco Fondation and The Knowledge Channel.

ATRIEV

Atriev’s goal is to make a remarkable difference in the lives of visually-impaired individuals through education, enabling them to obtain mainstream employment and similar opportunities.

ATRIEV (Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired) provides post-secondary education for visually-impaired persons through adaptive technology.

ATRIEV’s success comes from its project called Adaptive Technology for Training, Resource and Access Center (ATTRAC). The ATRIEV team provides input and output alternatives for blind users. A screen reader and voice synthesizer give audio feedback that enables the user to execute computer tasks like word processing, spreadsheets, databases, presentations, web surfing, E-mail, and programming.

Since the year 2000, ATRIEV students have garnered recognition both in the Philippines and abroad. ATRIEV has been successful in changing the lives of visually-impaired individuals for the better. ATRIEV hopes to conduct a sponsorship program to deserving trainees who qualified for support and passed the eligibility criteria set. An IEC campaign will be mounted as part of ATRIEV’s advocacy campaign. This will help promote the services of the Center as well as develop awareness among youth and other stakeholders how visually impaired youth can obtain post-secondary education, and gain access to regular employment opportunities, though they are disabled.

DON BOSCO FOUNDATION

The Don Bosco Foundation is a Non Profit institution of education of the Salesian Congregation of Don Bosco, composed by Salesian religious (priests, brothers and sisters), lay persons and sympathizers of the Salesian work in the Philippines. It was created to support the education of children and youth in need.
The name, Don Bosco, refers to the founder of the Salesians, Saint John Bosco, the Apostle of the Youth, who opted for the most poor boys and girls of his time (19th century) in Italy.

In 1976, on the occasion of the 25th year of Don Bosco in the Philippines, the Salesian Society of St. John Bosco was founded as a continuation of the educational works of Don Bosco around the world. Currently, the DBF has technical schools, literacy centers, scholarship programs for poor children and food programs for students.

The Vision of Don Bosco Foundation is to be a lead institution in the education and promotion of children and youth from poor backgrounds or at risk due to physical or moral dangers. The children and youth must have a place where they can continue their studies until they are ready to face their own future with a skill and better opportunities of employment. In such context they seek to fight poverty through education.


KNOWLEDGE CHANNEL FOUNDATION INC.

Knowledge channel foundation’s objective is to deliver quality education to every Filipino student, especially those in rural areas, and to build a nation through television.

Founded by its President and Executive Director Rina Lopez Bautista, Knowledge Channel Foundation Inc. (KCFI), formerly known as the SKY Foundation, is a non-stock, non-profit organization that aims to improve the academic performance of students all over the country, particularly in remote areas, through television.
The Foundation helps educate millions of students through instructive programs for English, Math, and Science with the use of audio-visual transmission technology. The programs are created to help advance the comprehension and retention of students. In remote areas, KCFI is not just a learning tool. It also gives hope to the principals, teachers, students, and community, knowing that there are foundations like the KCFI who continuously seek educational programs that help nurture the future generation.

Out of 42,000 public schools in the country, KCFI have only reached 1,709 schools. With your support, KCFI can reach out to more schools, bring quality education to every student, one school at a time. With your donation, you can help foster a child’s intellect, improve his education, and most importantly, shape his future

How you can spread the hope

More information on the beneficiaries mentioned above can be found by logging on to www.samsunghope.org, where everyone can support their favorite beneficiary by pledging to let hope take off. Each beneficiary will receive a base amount with an additional grant to be determined by the number of pledges it receives.

Take an active part in rallying your community in making a difference and sharing your blessings with the Filipino children who will directly benefit from pledging to the charities mentioned above. Love is not just about roses, chocolates and paper hearts… it’s about sharing hope and giving a chance to those in need.

Blind Submission to the Catholic Church

by: boldstar

Starting as a small Jewish sect to one of the world’s largest religion, the Catholic Church and Jesus gospels according to Thomas Jefferson are "the most sublime and benevolent code of morals which has ever been offered to man". That’s why to this day it appears that despite of its murderous history, corruption, debauchery and immoral conducts towards people it considers enemies and devotees, the Filipinos devotion to Catholicism remains steadfast. You can bear witness to this feverish and brutally blinding submission to god during the January 9th yearly procession of the statue of the black Nazarene. It shows no sign of abating despite numerous deaths, maimed bodies, thieveries and physical assaults.

And so the feast of the black Nazarene continues to perpetuate the notion that one must suffer for the dispensation of being granted a miracle, healed of diseases, a bountiful life and good luck. Not that it matters to the devotees that the statue paraded is a fake since 1998 when a member of the exalted Iglesia ni Christo shot the carving. It also never occurred to the devotees that the original statue has been decapitated ostensibly to preserve it from manhandling thereby using only the original body covered in armoured steel in the procession this year.

Yes those damned overacting devotees, that are too emotional, climbing, kicking, screaming and clambering over the statue to touch it can cause so much damage and henceforth deserve a fake one. Hybrid modification or not, fanaticism and idolatry continue to unite the populace as oppose to fighting the actual enemies. Indeed, the Filipinos love a hybrid. And only in the Philippines can a “hybrid” be as equally potent as the original considering that apparently it had “miraculously” survived many fires, a world war and sometimes a miracle.

Why my questionable attitude to this miraculousity?

Well, in life come hellfire and damnation my husband would drag my ass first. It is what romantics call love. And so it comes as no surprise to me that the Cofradia de Santo Cristo Jesús Nazareno or in Rizal’s time the Mendietta would seek to have the statue in a safe place.
So, thousands upon thousands of sinners and devoted followers suffer the heat and beatings, in order to touch the statue. But the rich ones and the priests are nowhere to found. They have exclusive entry to the church 364 days of the year without having to be among those poor people from the provinces and mobile phone snatchers. They could seek atonement for their sins in private, thank you. You will never see Imelda’s clan in the throngs of it, passionately expressing their devotion to the Black Nazarene? I mean that woman can absolve her sins from the world by carrying the cross herself, and she did have a practice during her racketeering and corruption charges in 1990. Why bother?

"Steal from the coffers of the people, and yee shall be forgiven for thy sins with the obligatory incantations of the Lord’s Prayer and Hail Mary courtesy of the confessionals and donations. But if you ask me the confessionals have been used by the church to spy on its followers. Why can’t someone tell God directly without having to use a third party? "

Money it seems allowed some people special consideration. This year’s procession route for instance was changed. But those pesky demanding devotees pulled the procession towards the original miracle highway let good graces pass them by. How dare they change it, I donate to the church, some devotees demanded. Never mind that the new miracle highway is wider and therefore safer for the people. Two people died last year among the 50 or so people heavily injured. But for some, it was collateral damage to a devotion that is blinding as long as you never ever disturb the mass conducted by the Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales. There is such a thing as overacting, just ask Ms Ruffa Gutierrez.

And so it seems in Manila the bigger your gun, I mean your donation the bigger your entitlement would be. With money, thy will be done. But it’s worse when you are from Mindanao. You are urged not to come seeking miracles and atonement in Quiapo. The powers that be had another one of those “HYBRID” statue sent to you so you can rub your hankies and towels yourself instead of asking the centurions to rub it for you. Its only one degree of separation and you may find that you are more blessed than ever.

With all these proclamations of miracles and our religious devotions, then why is the Philippines still forsaken? There are 20 million plus Filipinos that can seek atonement for the sins of the guilty and yet we are continuously abused, sold and traded by the powers within and the powers outside. We can’t seem to get a break, a decent break to get the lives of our compatriots at least better than the dogs of western societies. I mean Australia has a dog hospital who operates on your four legged with cancer.

That is why I refuse to believe that we must suffer in order to receive the miracles of the Lord. Frankly we have been through enough. We have been though more than 300 years of slavery, first under the auspices of Christianity, and then the Japanese and the Americans. What more suffering does one need to inflict upon oneself in order to at least have a decent life?
I am no Voltaire. I am also not the first to contend that the Roman Catholic Church is violent, intolerant, aligned more towards racism and bigotry while investing on ignorance and maintaining hostility from those seeking understanding like HIV sufferers in Africa and the world. It promotes servitude among our citizenry, and inflict upon the hopeless that one is not in control of one’s own life and destiny.

That’s why only in the Philippines can the people allow their lives to be controlled by a handful of masters. From what we eat to the telephone system we use, the same families control everything. Somehow one needs a miracle, a Wowowee handout, to rub a towel on a statue, and to beat one’s body into submission for a better life. Only in the Philippines that “over-devotion”, if there is such a word, can be seen as Faux Pax. For others like me it is considered a systematic abuse. Why then wait for January 9th to be given a miracle.

I’d say one must demand a better living every day, that’s how change begins.

High Society in Crisis

Independence Day Party at Embassy

The right to party. The right to get drunk. The right to stay sober. The right to puke. The right to mispel wurds. The right to take a shit. The right to play. The right to care. The right to give a damn. The right to be repetitive. The right to celebrate. The right to surf. The right to be right. The right to murder bloggers in their sleep. The right to suck. The right to spit. The right to swallow. The right to sleep. With anyone, anywhere. The right to be gone in the morning. The right to a one night stand. The right to break hearts. The right to be vain. The right to call in sick. The right to sing. The right to shop. The right to wear Gucci. The right to get hot. The right to smoke tobacco. The right to snort cocaine. The right to vote. The right to chat. The right to lie. The right to left. The right to grow hair. The right to make love, not war. The right to be inspired. The right to be gay. The right to be gay. The right to rock n’ roll. The right to sing in the shower. The right to fake an orgasm. The right to make a difference. The right to be free.

A SOCIETY IN CRISIS
by: boldstar

Alain Nemarq, the chairman of Mauboussin, the prestige jewellery firm, said that the world of luxury had gone wild in pursuit of the idea that nothing could be too expensive and no profit margin too exorbitant. "The pursuit of exclusive trophies ... is finished," he wrote in Le Figaro last week. "We will now return to reason, decency and discretion." Déjà vu or jamais vu? Either way we are going to get stuffed.

Ladies and gentlemen, please fasten your seatbelt. The economic world is indeed in the midst of turbulence, worst since the great depression and we may need to execute an emergency crash landing. That means back to reality. So buckle up, and assume the brace position because you may find yourself waving goodbye to Lanvin and shopping for ukay ukay in Cubao, letting go of Angus beef for lunch and 0% shopping for beach gowns. Unless you are one of those rare breeds of people who have never been touched by this crisis, consider yourself lucky. Like Miss Paris Hilton, who graced us in Australia with her presence over the New Year and proceeded to apparently buy 31 dresses. But if you ask me I can smell a publicity X-deal.

Unfortunately for high end retailers like Chanel which slashed 200 jobs 2 days before 2009, and saw the cancellation of its mobile artistic installation featuring its quilted handbag, the meltdown in sales has clearly walloped its interlocking facade. The luxury purveyor is now starting to feel the brunt and will continue as its high net worth customers fortunes disappear into thin air. China Daily reported that Chinese billionaires dropped from 66 in 2007 to 24 in 2008 (China Daily, 2008). While LVMH, the biggest conglomerate, cancelled a plan for a megastore in Tokyo after losing 44% of its share value last year. Alain Nemarq believes they are facing a harsh future after a decade in which greed and easy money led to hubris.

As much as it is hard for the House of Chanel to admit its current losses it cannot shut its doors like when Madame Chanel closed shop just before the Nazis took over Europe and checked herself in at the Ritz for 30 years. If Madame Chanel recognised the irrelevance of fashion, what then would the relevance be for fashion blogs like Shoppingera, Bryanboy, and Chuvaness? Should they follow Madame Coco and retire? Or should they just morphed into something else focusing less on expensive wanting needing anything thereby showing us their skills, creativity and survival chutzpah to transform with the changing socioeconomic conditions and sentiments. Or would it be a free for all "bakbakan" in the blogosphere, and he/she who dares wins. Remember, their blogs are about their latest purchases, their lifestyle oozing with money and never-ending society dos, first class travels, and charitable efforts. No one can seriously disassociate the commercial objectives of such artistic endeavours. How else would these fashion blogs survive without x-deals, advertising rents and media freebies?

People it seems are no longer interested in the latest "It" whatever, and going to fancy designer installations that is fundamentally just a shrine to decadence and wanton spending for something malignant. So blog traffic to Mabuhay girls, BB's and Chuvaness's may seriously be dented by this crisis. Unless of course the "Chikatime" fever, arising from the dominant pastimes of every Filipinas and Filipinos I know, here and abroad would reveal that all three are mortal enemies.

In a small Manila fashion pond, jealousies, intrigues and debt obligations do create havoc between relationships. By writing about these blogs does it also mean that I am aiding and abetting their survival? Hopefully my efforts can be seen not just as a panacea to the ills of our society but as a stepping stone for all our personal growth.

But then again there is Hermes. Saved by the bell, err I mean Twill, silk scarves which are its entry level product. And so does Gucci, and Tods', in that rarefied status. Crisis! What crisis? For some, at least if you are wealthy and working like Chuvaness, its LV to the max and hello bodyguard. For Shoppingera Mabuhay Girl, it is a case of Scarlett asking, "Rhett, if you go, where shall I go? What shall I do?" He answers, "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn". OK that was just for drama as it is actually rent me! Rent me; rent my blog, this space for yours!

Therefore amidst the crescendos of bravados, I shall name thee Jenni Diversification Epperson, mabuhay extraordinaire.

And then there's Bryanboy, who would probably state in his will to get buried in haute couture outfit by any members of the Chambre syndicale de la haute couture wrapped in a chinchilla full length fur coat. And then like Paola Fendi bribe the officials of Campo Verano, an exclusive but full cemetery just to get buried next to the exalted of Roman society. Hence, for some, luxury till they depart or, holding a Hermes bag while they are being departed. With rampant lay-offs and specially in manila where poverty is hard to ignore, it would be suicide carrying a Louis Vuitton bag worth 150,000+ pesos around unless of course one never venture beyond the borders of one's gated community, air-conditioned car and shopping malls accompanied by a bodyguard. Personally, I would feel like Robert (Will Smith) in "I am Legend" hunted by 588 million Darkseekers.

For other mere mortals, like many Chinese professionals, extolling the virtues of frugality is a necessity. So in with living for a "100-yuan for a week" campaign, blogging budget tips, and recipes for meals, that cost less than 10 Yuan ($1.46), wrote Michael Wei from Reuters International. But then again millions of Filipinos have been living for a dollar each day as proof of our martyrdom in this never ending political thievery.

Reason, decency, discretion, and frugality are our survival mantras. Overall, if you don't have it, don't borrow to spend it, and pretend rich, because as much as you'd think rich and be rich ala Tim Yap, there is such a thing as "can't really afford it" and some of us who knows the truth. Wake up! Because like a tiger in an African savannah, who hide it's captured prey up a tree away from thieving hyenas, the natural law of the jungle will eventually force you to share it.

A SOCIETY IN CRISIS

Independence Day Party at Embassy

The right to party. The right to get drunk. The right to stay sober. The right to puke. The right to mispel wurds. The right to take a shit. The right to play. The right to care. The right to give a damn. The right to be repetitive. The right to celebrate. The right to surf. The right to be right. The right to murder bloggers in their sleep. The right to suck. The right to spit. The right to swallow. The right to sleep. With anyone, anywhere. The right to be gone in the morning. The right to a one night stand. The right to break hearts. The right to be vain. The right to call in sick. The right to sing. The right to shop. The right to wear Gucci. The right to get hot. The right to smoke tobacco. The right to snort cocaine. The right to vote. The right to chat. The right to lie. The right to left. The right to grow hair. The right to make love, not war. The right to be inspired. The right to be gay. The right to be gay. The right to rock n’ roll. The right to sing in the shower. The right to fake an orgasm. The right to make a difference. The right to be free.

A SOCIETY IN CRISIS
by: boldstar

Alain Nemarq, the chairman of Mauboussin, the prestige jewellery firm, said that the world of luxury had gone wild in pursuit of the idea that nothing could be too expensive and no profit margin too exorbitant. "The pursuit of exclusive trophies ... is finished," he wrote in Le Figaro last week. "We will now return to reason, decency and discretion." Déjà vu or jamais vu? Either way we are going to get stuffed.

Ladies and gentlemen, please fasten your seatbelt. The economic world is indeed in the midst of turbulence, worst since the great depression and we may need to execute an emergency crash landing. That means back to reality. So buckle up, and assume the brace position because you may find yourself waving goodbye to Lanvin and shopping for ukay ukay in Cubao, letting go of Angus beef for lunch and 0% shopping for beach gowns. Unless you are one of those rare breeds of people who have never been touched by this crisis, consider yourself lucky. Like Miss Paris Hilton, who graced us in Australia with her presence over the New Year and proceeded to apparently buy 31 dresses. But if you ask me I can smell a publicity X-deal.

Unfortunately for high end retailers like Chanel which slashed 200 jobs 2 days before 2009, and saw the cancellation of its mobile artistic installation featuring its quilted handbag, the meltdown in sales has clearly walloped its interlocking facade. The luxury purveyor is now starting to feel the brunt and will continue as its high net worth customers fortunes disappear into thin air. China Daily reported that Chinese billionaires dropped from 66 in 2007 to 24 in 2008 (China Daily, 2008). While LVMH, the biggest conglomerate, cancelled a plan for a megastore in Tokyo after losing 44% of its share value last year. Alain Nemarq believes they are facing a harsh future after a decade in which greed and easy money led to hubris.

As much as it is hard for the House of Chanel to admit its current losses it cannot shut its doors like when Madame Chanel closed shop just before the Nazis took over Europe and checked herself in at the Ritz for 30 years. If Madame Chanel recognised the irrelevance of fashion, what then would the relevance be for fashion blogs like Shoppingera, Bryanboy, and Chuvaness? Should they follow Madame Coco and retire? Or should they just morphed into something else focusing less on expensive wanting needing anything thereby showing us their skills, creativity and survival chutzpah to transform with the changing socioeconomic conditions and sentiments. Or would it be a free for all "bakbakan" in the blogosphere, and he/she who dares wins. Remember, their blogs are about their latest purchases, their lifestyle oozing with money and never-ending society dos, first class travels, and charitable efforts. No one can seriously disassociate the commercial objectives of such artistic endeavours. How else would these fashion blogs survive without x-deals, advertising rents and media freebies?

People it seems are no longer interested in the latest "It" whatever, and going to fancy designer installations that is fundamentally just a shrine to decadence and wanton spending for something malignant. So blog traffic to Mabuhay girls, BB's and Chuvaness's may seriously be dented by this crisis. Unless of course the "Chikatime" fever, arising from the dominant pastimes of every Filipinas and Filipinos I know, here and abroad would reveal that all three are mortal enemies.

In a small Manila fashion pond, jealousies, intrigues and debt obligations do create havoc between relationships. By writing about these blogs does it also mean that I am aiding and abetting their survival? Hopefully my efforts can be seen not just as a panacea to the ills of our society but as a stepping stone for all our personal growth.

But then again there is Hermes. Saved by the bell, err I mean Twill, silk scarves which are its entry level product. And so does Gucci, and Tods', in that rarefied status. Crisis! What crisis? For some, at least if you are wealthy and working like Chuvaness, its LV to the max and hello bodyguard. For Shoppingera Mabuhay Girl, it is a case of Scarlett asking, "Rhett, if you go, where shall I go? What shall I do?" He answers, "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn". OK that was just for drama as it is actually rent me! Rent me; rent my blog, this space for yours!

Therefore amidst the crescendos of bravados, I shall name thee Jenni Diversification Epperson, mabuhay extraordinaire.

And then there's Bryanboy, who would probably state in his will to get buried in haute couture outfit by any members of the Chambre syndicale de la haute couture wrapped in a chinchilla full length fur coat. And then like Paola Fendi bribe the officials of Campo Verano, an exclusive but full cemetery just to get buried next to the exalted of Roman society. Hence, for some, luxury till they depart or, holding a Hermes bag while they are being departed. With rampant lay-offs and specially in manila where poverty is hard to ignore, it would be suicide carrying a Louis Vuitton bag worth 150,000+ pesos around unless of course one never venture beyond the borders of one's gated community, air-conditioned car and shopping malls accompanied by a bodyguard. Personally, I would feel like Robert (Will Smith) in "I am Legend" hunted by 588 million Darkseekers.

For other mere mortals, like many Chinese professionals, extolling the virtues of frugality is a necessity. So in with living for a "100-yuan for a week" campaign, blogging budget tips, and recipes for meals, that cost less than 10 Yuan ($1.46), wrote Michael Wei from Reuters International. But then again millions of Filipinos have been living for a dollar each day as proof of our martyrdom in this never ending political thievery.

Reason, decency, discretion, and frugality are our survival mantras. Overall, if you don't have it, don't borrow to spend it, and pretend rich, because as much as you'd think rich and be rich ala Tim Yap, there is such a thing as "can't really afford it" and some of us who knows the truth. Wake up! Because like a tiger in an African savannah, who hide it's captured prey up a tree away from thieving hyenas, the natural law of the jungle will eventually force you to share it.

A holiday free of pretension and debauchery

by: boldstar

Everyone has a minimum travel requirement. The Queen of England always travels in style, our president who is BFF with Bill Clinton travels with an entourage and her family to official State functions in a rented 747, Bryanboy (BB) never travel economy, and even Malu holiday inn Fernandez would travel in style if she can afford it. My mother has to have her presents all wrapped up for all the people she knew dead or alive back in her village, and she would not care if she gets there in planes, trains, magic carpet, broom or bamboo raft. That’s her minimum. Except Philippine Airlines but that’s another story. I, on the other hand agree with BB.

Travelling at least business class only means comfort and rest. I don’t sleep well on airplanes so jet lag becomes my best-friend for the next two days at a destination. Having only 2 weeks, that’s 2 useless days, when you could have ate, shopped and walked to death. Unlike my partner who couldn’t care less as he can practically sleep sitting, standing, lying down as long as you give him a very cold San Miguel, Tiger, and Singha beer on arrival, he’ll get there happy. I, on the other hand needed to be horizontal. However, that’s my only travel requirement.

There are two types of holidays for us multicultural families. One is going back home type of holiday visiting families and friends, and two is our discovery and relaxation holiday.

The going back home type involves at least 1 month of your mother "informing" you that auntie A will pick us up at the airport, Auntie B is organising her friend to have us billeted when we get to the city as staying in a hotel usually means crying. That is Auntie B crying "why are the kids staying at the hotel when we have family in the city". Uncle A is organising "things to do"; while everyone is buying new air cons, freezers and FOOD. That is western FOOD or what they consider you eat being from abroad and all. Because you know they’ve seen pictures of your modern living and as we Filipinos are well known for our parties and hospitality, they have to "surprise" you. It means that on arrival, they will have a buffet full of delicacies they’ve made for two days that could feed the whole barangay for a week. The efforts are astounding, you’d thank them profusely considering that if a meal takes longer to prepare and cook than 15 minutes you’d ditch it and call the local Thai restaurant. And they have also just spent the money you sent them last month..

Unfortunately gluttony is not us.

Simplicity is luxury.

So you have to tell them these random wisdoms:

1) Lechon looks nice and taste incredible BUT pork is full of FAT and will force your cholesterol into hyperinflation faster than you can say; the achievement of KC Concepcion. Either sell the pigs and make some money instead or do not buy pigs with my money. It’s for your kids’ tuition fees.

2) Biko or sticky rice cooked in coconut milk is full of sugar, its’ best friends with diabetes, sister of obesity, brother of tooth decay, and mistress of coronary heart disease. You have to be careful because Manila hospitals will not treat you unless you are a millionaire or have OFW money.

3) Don’t let the relatives ‘surprise’ you by taking you to that American Burger Joint with the gay rainbow and that green coffee shop because it’s western FOOD. In some countries people who value their health and not contribute to the obesity epidemic avoid it like I avoid polyester. While some people think it’s just common to sit in a coffee shop for 4 hours, it’s for the faux socialites too. It's better to take me to the cemetery, speak with my ancestors and take photos of the amazing Chinese mini mausoleums.

4) White bread is not a sign of affluence, it looks good but like anything in Manila looks can be deceiving. It’s been bleached out of nutritious personality. Ditto, for white rice. Brown rice is the king. It helps your daily ROYAL ritual. It also goes without saying that filtered water is better for you than soft-drinks that filled the refrigerator. You are not rich because you can afford Coke and Pepsi, just stupid. Most soft drinks even the "diet" ones actually have a worrying mixture of neurotoxic and potentially carcinogenic high intensity sweeteners like aspartame and acesulfame K, tooth and bone destroying phosphoric acid and DNA damaging colourings like sulphite ammonia caramel. Scared yet!

5) Manang Rosita’s vegetables are organic. ORGANIC food is very expensive abroad and you must insist that there is a difference between CAGED and FREE-RANGE chickens and eggs. Free-range taste better. Growing a fully grown chicken in 8 weeks is NOT good so do not buy a chicken from "THAT" farm like it’s the entry to Embassy. It’s full of drugs.

6) Cleanliness is next to godliness but you need infection to strengthen your immune system, you do not need to bleach your children clean for stupid’s sakes. Children with running noses mean their bodies are fighting viruses well. Yes! That’s you Tracey Isabel Borres. You should be more careful of a smiling politician, best friend’s one day ATM (automated teller machine) the next. The same goes for a long lost relative who needed money for eye surgery.

7) Fresh air is better in the village and you’d soon acclimatize to the balmy weather and let the breeze fan you. You only need a mosquito net. Insect sprays are full of carcinogens and carbon propellant which are not good for the environment. If you fail to acclimatize you have circulation problems, see your GP pronto. Yes! That’s you Malu Fernandez. And may I add make up is not pore friendly, wash it and put some SPF30 broad spectrum sunscreen.

8) Luxury among the wealthy is either owning your own island or being able to afford to be in an island just you, the husband and a short wave radio. So do not take me to the BEST white sand island in the world, as the Ati’s have put a curse on it. There are other 7106 islands on low tide to choose from. Yes, Boracay is beautiful but it’s full of freeloading sharks with fake Louis Vuitton fins. The "Cosmo Manille" press card species as one society columnist puts it. Oh Ok Tim Yap, Malu, second wives, politicians mistresses, and socialites.

9) Creating a bonfire and grilling your own fish is a luxury the wealthy craves (even with a butler). As oppose to sitting your fat ass in an air-conditioned Discovery Shores Hotel Lobby sipping cocktails, it means you are a lazy drunk, not very well travelled, and very common. Anyone we know?

10) If you have a "white" husband or "KANO" walk him around town and he will be a magnet for all the kids and invite all of them to the poshiest place called "Jollibee". Buy them all lunch and ice cream. And I swear to my Anitos you’ll have at least 15 Bodyguards, 15 Tour guides and 15 Patola patrol spies (borrowed from Miss Kitty) for the duration of your stay. And most importantly the look on the faces of the snooty staff and snooty diners would be priceless. Memories that last forever.

The relaxation and discovery type of holiday consists of very cold beers, a bottle or two of cabernet sauvignon and some smoked salmon antipasto in my back deck, inside my house I call my castle. You can sleep all you want and not be bothered by room service and two legged sharks. That’s du vrai luxe and bon vivant.

I love the Philippines.

So what's your non pretentious holiday.