My 3 Minutes With Kenneth Cobonpue

I once got inside an elevator with Diether Ocampo, alone. I know he's cute and all, but no, not a single butterfly in my stomach.

On another occasion, my trip to Kenneth Cobonpue's office is a walk to remember. Thanks to our friend Patet, one of Kenneth's talented graphic artists, who invited us to Kenneth's showroom.

On our way out of the showroom where i went to see all Kenneth's creations, i asked Patet if kenneth was there inside his office. I said i just wanted to meet him, my idol. So Patet went to check on him. A few seconds later, there came kenneth in a black collared shirt. I knew i blushed the moment i saw him. I remember reaching out to shake his hand even though i was still a few meters away from him. I even remember how icy cold and sweaty my hands were. I was so nervous.

Then we got introduced. In fact, with a nervous smile and a twisted tongue i introduced myself. I said i was Oca's daughter (he knew my dad) and i told him, "Sir, you're my idol. You're an inspiration to us Filipino designers." He said thank you and answered all my flattering words with "You're doing great job too in your company". I think, partly, he knew i was working for Artwork (our family business). Of course i blushed twice as red and then i said thanks. I mentioned right away our new store that we formed. When i mentioned the name, he said he goes there! My gosh!! He wears our 'other' brand!

After a few more seconds, after being so elated at what i have found out (that he knows our new brand), the awkward stage came. The time when conversation suddenly halts like an angel just interrupts. To break it, i tried asking silly questions about his new approach in design. But after three more seconds i felt i was not making sense so i just stopped and politely said i knew he was busy and that i just begged Patet that i be introduced to him finally.

And there we said our thank you's and goodbye's.

The next day we sent him a shirt from our new store. He thanked me through text saying he was actually wearing a shirt he recently bought from our store and that now he got a new one again. I kept his text message. Wanted to print it out and frame it. Gosh. Thank you Patet, for the wonderful time.


with my friend patet

here's kenneth

My Camera Isn't Bad

I once joked my dad that he buy me a Leica camera. He replied with mild violence saying, "Naku, napaka-mahal nun!" I understand that during their time, Leica cameras were the hippest and were like the Rolls Royce of cameras. But as i was once watching Euromaxx, i saw a feature on Leica's latest offerings so that they'd be able to compete in the global market today. The feature admitted that it hopes to bring Leica back to its glory days. It only means that the digital world did not make it easy for them.

Forget Leica. My camera is a Nikon Coolpix P5100. It's like a tiny SLR, sometimes you'd also think it's a version of a lomo cam from afar. But it's nothing like that. It's just a plain, point-and-shoot camera with some "added" features. Plus, the name doesn't even sound as hip. I find "Coolpix" baduy. But that's okay. At least it's promising enough for documenting memories. The quality for this non-professional point-and-shoot isn't bad at all (provided that i tinker with its settings).


Take a look at this. Quality not bad, ei?

This one not bad either.

I'm thinking about switching to a real camera. I've no money, but it's fun just thinking about it :)

A New Fave Watch

Now that I dropped my longing for the Timex 80 watch (a tacky choice, now that i've actually seen it), I got my new darling now. I found it when i was queuing for the cashier to pay for an overpriced headband and a new set of pastel cotton socks at H&M. Oh wait, i was already at the cashier's desk when i found my new darling. It was actually on the cashier's wrist. The cashier's classy, black, graphic watch. While she was ringing my items, i told her i liked her watch and asked her if i could take a picture of it. She showed me, then i clicked. Lo and behold, i reviewed my shot and found out it was an Anna Sui watch. She casually told me where i could get it. When i went to the store to find the watch, i was half-expecting i could afford it. But man, it was something like HK$1200. Forget it. I love Anna Sui, but i must admit I could not afford her watch neither could i ever afford her dress.