Umbra Prisma Copper Frame

Just came back from Hong Kong, and since I've been there several times already, I've run out of souvenirs to get myself to remind me of the trip.

This particular trip, though, I came across a nice stall with a calligrapher. She was writing down English names in Chinese characters. For HK$30, I commissioned her to write my name.

The Chinese characters depicting my name meant he is to seek. Makes me feel like I'm some seeker of truth and knowledge.

I didn't know how to present this tiny 5" x 7" paper. I was thinking it would probably look best in a nice picture frame. The tricky part though was finding a frame that I would like. You see, my family isn't normal, in the sense that we don't have family pictures framed and displayed on a mantel, so I was never used to shopping for a photo frame. Having paintings framed, that's where I was trained well by my mom.

I went around Glorietta hoping to find a good frame to showcase my little calligraphy, and I was able to find one that I fell in love with in Dimensione.

I love the copper color, it lends a somewhat modern feel to the timeless Chinese calligraphy. I also adore the angles and lines that create the prism back of the frame, which supports it. The calligraphy, or photo, looks absolutely glorious floating right smack in the center of it.

Such a lovely addition to my office. I have a picture from a 2012 Hong Kong trip that's just on my magnetic memo board, and a picture of the One Serendra team attending a party - I would probably be looking for those also so I can display them in the office.

I guess starting to frame pictures is still a way to preserve special moments and memories that will never go out of style.

Bencab Swatch Watches

Kim's Christmas gifts to me this year were the 2014 and 2015 Bencab collaboration Swatch watches.

The Sabel Swatch was released in 2014, and was also packaged with a Bencab sculpture and a numbered watch. The watch that Kim purchased was in the regular Sabel Swatch packaging:

The Bencab+Swatch collaboration for 2015 is the Ode to the Flag. It is reminiscent of the Philippine Centennial Swatch released to commemorate the 100th Independence of the Philippines, but that one was a Zobel+Swatch collaboration.

I don't intend on wearing the Swatches, I just took them out of their packaging to inspect them further.

Under the specially designed packaging, the watches came in the standard plastic cases of Swatch. The 2015 Swatch's inner packet however had Swatch Club stamped all over it.

Here are pictures of the Swatches out in the wild for a photoshoot:

I really don't mind the size of the Swatch. I would guess without confirming that it is about 39mm. I'm used to wearing watches sized at 44mm upwards. However, the design is really intricately done on the straps and the watch face. The hour and minute hands are also quite distinct - it is noticeable even if the watch face of the Sabel Swatch, for example, is pretty busy with details. 

It was a good thing that Kim was still able to chance upon a Sabel Swatch - it was released 2014, and I suppose they have very limited stocks now. I had made inquiries on the Chinese New Year Swatch designs from the previous years at a Swatch booth, because Bencab also designed a Year of the Horse commemorative Swatch, and unfortunately, the previous years designs are no longer available. 

This further my resolve to purchase the Chinese New Year Swatch come next year - will not let the moment of getting another special Swatch pass me by again (here's to hoping that Bencab will also design it). 

The Bencab Swatches combines two of my passions right now, watches and art. I know I may not be able to afford a Bencab as of yet, but owning a piece, nay, two pieces designed by him at such an affordable cost of PhP 3,500.00 each, is not bad at all! 

Swatch can boast that they single-handedly revived the Swiss watch industry, so the designer-collaborations aside, owning a Swatch is an affordable investment to own a part of Swiss horological history. 

I hope some readers become convinced and go out to buy these beautiful pieces while they're still available!

Back to Mac

I'm finally back to using a Macbook as my home laptop. My previous trustworthy Macbook Pro was accidentally totalled when an officemate of mine spilled water on it. So after several months of deciding whether I was going to buy another one, I finally gave in and just bought another Macbook Pro.

Will be able to go back to writing.

Birthday/Christmas Gift Wants

Still home from the surgery. I should be going back to work by Monday of next week. For this week, since I have near exhausted things to do at home, I will concentrate on deciding what I want to get myself as my birthday/Christmas gift.

Currently, these are the phones that I am using. My Globe work-line is in a Blackberry 9700, awaiting the activation of our Blackberry service.

I am very much happy with the performance of the Blackberry, and have been a loyal Blackberry user for almost two years, one my of previous Blacberries being a white Blackberry Bold 9000, which I absolutely adored. My only issue with my Blackberry is... everybody has one! Blackberry has turned into the new Nokia here in the Philippines.

For my Sun Cellular, I was using a Blackberry until I chanced upon a sale in Globotel Greenbelt 1, where I was able to purchase a Nokia N8 for almost 40% off the list price, 0% installment onto my BDO credit card, at that.

The specs of the phone are great. I love the camera, at 12MP. I don't need to bring a camera wherever I go anymore. If I need to take a quick picture, I just bring out the Nokia, and snap! Oddly enough, it's easier to sync my phone to the laptop via Nokia Suite, compared to Blackberry Desktop Manager.

My only issue with the Nokia is it doesn't have that much accessories. Unlike the Blackberry, or the, *sigh*, iPhone, not a lot of designers try to dress up the Nokia. So, as much as I am happy with the N8's performance, I may need to give this up to my sister pretty soon and get myself a new phone.

So what are my options for a new phone as my annual birthday/Christmas gift to myself? Here's the list, and I hope people reading this can help me out:

1. White Apple iPhone 4/White Apple iPhone 4S

This phone is the most dressed by designers. All the accessories for cellphones I see online are almost for the iPhone. I want one just so I can dress it up like a pooch. What I don't like about it?

a. Everybody has one too. Every Tom, Dick, and Juan dela Cruz riding the cab, jeep, bus, and MRT has one. Where's the exclusivity, then, for a device that's priced astronomically here in the Philippines.

b. It's astronomically priced here in the Philippines! Really, it's being sold for over Php 40,000.00 (for an iPhone 4S) and that's Greenhills price already. It's cheaper in the US, HK, or SG. Which means, if ever I do decide to buy this, I'll have to wait for the next trip abroad and purchase it there. Because even if I were to go to HK just for one day to purchase an iPhone 4S, it'll probably come out cheaper than buying it here in Metro Manila.

And yes, it specifically has to be white, because I want it to match my white iPad 2.

2. Blackberry Torch

The Torch is a good option because the price point is way lower than that of the iPhone. I have had no bad experiences with my previous Blackberries, and trust me, I've used a Blackberry Curve 8520, Curve 8900, Pearl 8100, Curve 8320, World 8800, and a Bold 9000, and I have had no complaints. What's stopping me?

a. For you to enjoy the Blackberry, you need BIS. If my company will activate my 9700's BIS, I don't need another Blackberry with BIS, and all I'll put is my Sun cellular postpaid.

b. Everybody has a Blackberry Torch! Every Tom, Dick, and Juan dela Cruz walking on the sidewalk is toting a Blackberry. Even the crass prostitutes in the P. Burgos area have a Torch. And these people don't even activate their BIS, so what's the point of their having a Blackberry, more so a Torch?

3. Blackberry Bold 9900

This phone is more expensive than the Torch. Plus, I do love the form factor. What's preventing me from getting this model?

a. For you to enjoy the Blackberry, you need BIS. If my company will activate my 9700's BIS, I don't need another Blackberry with BIS, and all I'll put is my Sun cellular postpaid.


b. It's more expensive than the Torch, which means the price point is close to the iPhone 4S already, so why not get the iPhone 4S instead? Not much worried about a lot of people buying this phone, because not a lot of people can afford it, and if they do splurge their life's savings on a phone at that price point, I'm sure they'll get an iPhone instead.

c. I want to wait for this model to come out in white!

4. Acer Iconia Smart

I love this phone because of the screen-size. Its screen is so big, a family of 3 could live in it! And it's made of metal, shiny metal! Love! It will catch so much attention if I'm on a call because it's longer than the usual cellphone, and would go rather well with my slightly longer/larger face. Plus, it's the cheapest phone in my list. So why not buy this very unique phone?

a. It's such a unique phone, I'm sure no one will be making any accessories for it.

b. Repair center? Is there even one available in Manila?

5. HTC Desire HD

Now among all the phones I've listed, this phone has to have one of the best technical specifications. The product's hardware probably has good support here in Metro Manila. The screen real estate is great as well. Resolution is superb. 8MP camera allegedly is one of the best. So what's stopping me?

a. Accessories. No designer has ever come up with a leather holster for an HTC Desire HD. 


So dear readers, if I have any, please help me decide by commenting which phone I should probably get. Thanks a lot!