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Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Get together with @mszenzest, magazine work and @iheartjasmin 's b-day

Hello fierces!!!

A huge apology for not updating due to lots of work in the office. This post is quite very late but nevertheless kuwento akesh!

Last July 4, ZenZest founder and President Michelle Fontelera invited the fierces to come to Glorietta to visit the ZenZest store. I knew Michelle way back when I interviewed her for an Ever Bilena story (see the link to Living the Zen Life below)  and how coincidence that her younger sister Carla was a former classmate of mine back in Miriam Grade School. :)

When I arrived, the Fierces were already having photos of Divine outside of the store. I gave my greetings to Michelle and was asked to choose a bottle of perfume (I chose Thistle) which was distributed with a ZenZest gift pack during the dinner at California Pizza Kitchen. I also catch up some conversation with the group most notably Fifi as I have been seeking alot of fashion styling questions for my articles in the magazine. As much as I love fashion, it is a huge comfort to seek one who is really knowledgeable about the trends. I also met Sal who I really became fond of since we were discussing alot of things from fashion to relationships to personal advice.

Going back to ZenZest, Michelle shared her story how she started the business. She was always into colognes and perfumes way back when she was young and after graduating from La Salle University, she decided to make her own concoctions starting at the family's kitchen. She told everyone that she was doing it all from the cooking to packaging with help from her family and do the delivery and join bazaars. ZenZest formally started in a small stall in MegaMall and today is one of the most affordable and booming businesses with stalls and stores all over the country. As with her personal life, Michelle is a mother of two and happily married to Sunday Fontelera. I encourage the Fierces to buy the Go Negosyo book on Women entrepreneurs where you can read more about Michelle and ZenZest's story. :)

It was also during the get together that we also celebrated Jasmin's birthday. Unknown to our Fierce organizer, we were secretly talking to one another (led by Jencee) to chip in for a birthday cake. Imagine Jas's surprise when John came in with the cake followed by another cake from Michelle. We were like paparrazi taking photos of the event hehehe. ;)


The ZenZest store in Glorietta

Divine arriving in a white Grecian dress and yes from a taping.

Surprise!!! John Rufo hands Jasmin the birthday cake we all chipped in for her.

Jas with her two birthday cakes. One from the Fierces and the other from Ms. ZenZest herself. :)
Strike a pose ang apat L-R: Fifi, Sal, Lavern and Yanyan ;)
Parang artista si Jas that day hahaha :D

Yours truly with Divine. I'm glad I really met this girl :)

Me, Mel and Divine Carrmelo :)



Sal and Ms ZenZest Michelle Fontelera


The group with Divine and Michelle. We were given gift packs that day.

On another note, I am busy closing the pages of the magazine I am in charge with as senior writer. I have never been excited so much. The opportunity that I have now has opened alot of doors and as I mentioned before, I will take it one day at a time learning everything and absorbing it like a sponge.  I really can't wait to share the magazine with everyone once it comes out.

Special mention to Sal Fife-Garcia for the photos.

For Michelle's story from the Philippine Star --http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=512956&publicationSubCategoryId=89

Bye for now!!

Alexa

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Random thoughts...

It's already July and for some strange reason, floods of emotions came back to me. Hindi kaila sa Fierces that I have been through a rough personal crisis at the start of the year. I left my job in the newspaper last February, had an unstable emotional rollercoaster  ride jumping from a job in April that I realize was not for me until last June I was finally able to land a position as senior writer for Zen Health Magazine under Fame Publishing. Looking back at the first six months, I did not know how I was able to survive it all.

I am so grateful for the people who backed me up despite the vague situation. Some of the Fierces knew but understood why I rather keep quiet. After all, if you love something and treasured it like your own, it bounds to hurt when you leave it.

As with regards to the new chapter in my life, I am very please to write for the magazine. Its a new challenge since it's a new environment. But like any neophyte in the industry, I learn everyday and I am looking forward to learning more and embrace the industry which I believe is my calling.

-Alexa

Eto na! Fierce profile @fifi_abboudie

Siya na ang future stylist ng mga Fierces and apprentice ni @mattgozun. Also my guardian angel in styling questions. Thank you sis!!! -ALEXA

Full Name: Firas Solomon Abboud
Stylist na stylist just by looking at this photo collage ;)

Interests/hobbies: Of course everything fashion, reading, writing, cooking, eating, dancing, traveling etc. I love to learn and explore new things!

What made you follow Divine in Twitter? Well, I first saw Divine in the Lounge Section of Preview Magazine, I fell in love with her style instantly, I googled Divine Lee, and one of the results included her twitter account, I followed her on the spot.  

How surprised are you that the group is growing? As a matter of fact, I am not surprised at all. Well, maybe I am surprised on the fact that the group grew really fast! 

What do you think Divine has that people love and started following her? Divine is a huge ball of sunshine and positivity. And each time the ball shines, more and more people gets hit by the wonder Divine exudes, thus making them love and follow her! She is brave, down-to-earth, funny, caring, spontaneous and so much more good adjectives. How could you not love a person like Divine Lee? 

What is your dream for the fierce group? What do you think makes the Fierces different from other groups? Hmmm, now that the group is growing, my dream is that everyone will be open to one another so that the fierce bond will be so powerful and unbreakable. The fact that we laugh at almost everything, we really know how to have a good time don't we?

You are known as the budding stylist in the group so how would you style Divine in a photo shoot? What would be your dream setting for it?


Last month, I had the privilege of actually styling Divine Lee being the intern of Matt Gozun. But if  I were to conceptualize a shoot for Divine and style her for it, I have two concepts. One is a goddess shoot on the Columns in Greece to mark the goddess that she is, and two a bare shoot, just like a polaroid shot, maybe because we are used to seeing Divine all glammed up, it would be interesting to see her bare it all, the makeup, accessories, the sparkle and showcase Divine, just Divine.