A walk in the clouds in Mt. Dupongan and soak on the vastness and splendour of Mindanao especially in our province of Zamboanga del Sur, it's more fun in the PHILIPPINES!

 Carabaos bath in the roadside rivers and white herons on the golden rice paddies as far as your eyes can see, travel is more adventurous and imaginative all the time. It empowers us to roam the world and enjoy whatever is our choice. Mine?...enough of European holidays I go for Asia, my country..my home.

The wonderlust raged in my capillaries, a tropical paradise with sapphire waters picked out with shimmering spangles of sunlight, bright blue skies and sighing blissful white puffs of cloud breath.

And stretched across the sands,hooked on to two convenient palms-is a hammock. Out of which I laid with wisp of fresh cold wind dipped with that just a little bit sway to make a perfect boomerang of relaxation. This days, it seems that everyone travel for the pleasurable heck of it. Some went to Boracay and Dakak  as their exotic Shangrila destinations, to ogle and gasp at these tropical indulgence on their heady romance for travel.

But I have my home, to amble and loiter on its slow-mo simple life and routines. So I simply disconnect my Blackberry and connect my self with Mother Nature.

Walk, don't drive......bike don't fly. Hug trees...dance in the rain and get kissed by morning dews. Go and dine by the light of the fireflies ... listen to the forest's breath and simply marvel at the harlequin frogs singing in the night before they disappear.

The mango and the mahogany trees that framed the spectacular view of the farm, the foggy Bacauan mountain that almost nugged were a magnet of variey of birds and bird watching is my passionate afternoon time pass as I sipped hot coffee in the verandah.

The feeling is simply marvelous...with the thick foliage branches dance to the symphony of wind, an eco -orchestra that entertains my tired spirit. The refreshing fragrance of Ylang-Ylang flowers on the side of the creek that permeated on unspoilt air, the soothing music of the birds will instantly eased my exhaustion.

 Nature therapy nourished, blend and massage my inner being, it is bewitching moments that spell  out a sense of peace so special and so different from the chaotic urban zones.

I had experience a sense of peace perhaps......because I was at home, or rather I WAS HOME.....like finding my CAMELOT, AND LIVING IT TO TELL THE TALE...........

LAGRING LEARNS ENGLISH

After my baby Baste finished his breakfast of fried rice, scrambled egg, Bibo hotdog(his favorite) and hot milk, Lagring prepared the school bag with another milk and water for the kinder break at 9 am. Baste looks cute schoolboy even without the uniform. 

Baste will be having his birthday party in the parochial school together with his friends his age or less who became his schoolmates. My baby at that young age acts like a politician, the one pack of 12 pieces bought at Carriaga's near the Agora in Pagadian is having an estimate at least his snack at school for  12 school days....I supposed.

He wittingly sneaked the refrigerator and placed at least 4 biscuits in his Ben 10 bag. At school, he usually share all four biscuit packs among his classmates. Lagring always complain about the biscuit-crisis in the ref, and I always ended up just smiling about it. I love my baby's little gesture of kindness, and it has been tolerated. 

Time passed so quickly and I saw my kid running towards me and jumps for a hug. " Daddeeee, adto na ta sa Gaisano? he ask coyly". Yes baby, gahulat na gani kog dugay para nimo ha, unya nak, kinsa diay imong ka kauban nga medyo hurot-hurot na imong supply? I ask him back. " Si Iboy, si Aj, si Jeeboy ug si janplong dadee" Asus daghan diay kag ka team mate sa imong snack supply nak....ahahahaha....nah wala rabay investment imong daddy sa Aman, mapordoy ta ani nak, I sigh.

Baste just gave me a naughy sweet smile while he kissed me on the cheek. He knows how to make me melt and his techniques work on me. I told Lagring to change quick Baste so we could drive our way to the city. Lagring sat quietly at the backset, there must be something she wants to blurt out yet maybe shy enough of maybe afraid to say so. I just obesrved her while enjoying the ride in my Ed Hardy jeep.

The Running Chicken & Inday Clet, the 3 Days YAYA

I was in my afternoon siesta nap when an old woman  was shouting to the top of her lungs. "Manok, netib manok baligyaaaaa!!!! " I was unceremoniously awaken by her shouting.  " Inday Clet...Inday Clet, tan-awa ra god tong manok nga baligya sa gawas..!!!!! my quick response, knowingly that barrio women move fast to sell their stuffs and in a hurry. These women sell their poultry produce in town and the money they earned are use in buying some necessties back home in the barrio. They bought dried fish as well as fresh ones. Salts, cooking oils, vetsin and kerosine gas are additonal items they will bring home.

"Oo sir!, kadyot lang", as she ran outside in the main gate. " Nang, nang, agi ra gud dire kay paliton ni Sir imong mga manok!!!.

Inday Anacleta Torres, or Inday  "Clet" was my new yaya in the house. She just started working yesterday, before I hired Lagring. Taga diin diay ka day? I asked her. Taga Suminot Sir...didto ko natawo, pero pagkaminyo nako sa Baganian Peninsula na mi namuyo sa akong bana Sir, kay mananagat man gud to sya...she shyly answered my queries. Mao ba?....I squaked as I was inspecting her looks. "Pila nay imong edad diay? naa kay mga anak? asa naman imong bana....naa gihapon ka sa Baganian tig-ulian?" were my rapid interview questions to her.

" Wala na Sir, kay nagbulag na mis akong ika-tulo ka bana...she moaned as she was shy telling such private and personal questions. Wow, I was really amazed about her having three husbands...how she manged to have three. Inday was looking frail, and looked younger than I thought...maybe 40?..38?...thanks to her make-up, maybe brought from Maranaw hawkers, and pink Ching chang Soo plus dark red lipstick. Her worn out blouse, looked like bought from ukay-ukay somewhere with some Chinese drawings on the front. She was wearing faded jeans that matched the pink t-shirt.
"Unya...ang imong mga anak asa naman?...I was outright inruding deeper into her private life. "Wala man koy mga anak Sir, kay nag palayget ko !!!! she blushes. I was embarrassed too. So after a while I accepted Inday and let her to start working that day.

The native chicken is my favorite fowl...Nanay used to get fresh eggs from a nearby "pugaran" and add the egg yolks to my hot "NILUGAW". I love eating porridge till now but without those eggs, after modern times, the pugarans just disappeared in the house.
 

The two hens I bought looked so healthy, they have spotted feathers, their stomach bloated...I thought maybe those hens were forced to eat bananas or mais or maybe nails? to increase their kilos.
I instructed Inday to kep the two chickens being binded together with plastic straws. I was feeling sleepy again so I continued my additional nap in a bamboo sofa, the amihan wind made my eyes drowsy.

"Sir,Sir ...nawala ang duha ka manok!!!!!!! " Inday screamed that woke me up. " Asa man diay nimo gibutang Inday....impossible jud nga mawala to ay, panihapon biya to natong usa ka manok, kay gusto nakog tinula." I said to her.

"Dire nako gibutang sa ilalom sa sofa set Sir....ambot nganong nga nawala sila." I was beginning to feel angry on her, my God! imagine in two days, she made mistakes, the nerve....the price of two chicken cost already her one week salary, and the worst is we will have no hot chicken tinola soup.

" Hala pangitaa jud tong mga manok, kay ikaw jud akong itak-ang diris kawa....!!!!!! I shouted at her. Wow, how can she be that dumb? why should she put those chicken in the sala under those furniture????? 

"Hala Sir nakabuhi diay...nia sa likod sa balay! " she was shouting while she was chasing both chicken. " Sir, kusog man managan uy....dili nako madakpan." Yay!!!!!!dakpa jud na kay wala tay panihapon.
True to itself, Inday was gasping her breath, the chicken disappeared ....together with my dinner....my tinolang manok. My tinolang native na manok.

So I called my niece to just go to the carenderia on the side of the public market to buy some dinner for me. So from hot sabaw of chicken....it was adobong manok on the table. It was the only available food left in the closing restaurant.

Lagring Chronicles: Minirva...the Engliserang Yaya

It was during my participation at the Philippine Fashion Week previous seasons ago when Lagrimas called me while I was in Manila.

"Sir, pasensya jud sir....kay mingtawag akong inahan sa kanunayng gitabang nga papa-ulion daw ko sa amoa bisan one week lang kuno Sir" Lagring said.

"Ngano diay Lagring, unsay nahitabo?" I question her in worried tone.

"Ay, sir uy, kasal man gud sa akong iyaan nga gikan sa Saudi, mao nga motambong ko sir....hangyo lang"

"Pero Lagrimas sa sunod adlaw pa ko maka uli kay show nako ugma, kinsa may mobantay sa akong anak?...musta na diay si Baste?"

" Oki ra man si Bantong sir....kusog na gani molakaw, dayon kusog pod mokaon ug moinom ug gatas. Ayaw lang ug kabalaka Sir, kay naa man koy kapuli kanang akong pag-umangkon sa akong pang-agawan nga parente pod namo sa among iyaan nga pag-umangkon usab sa......"

"Okey na Lagrimas...pun-an pa jud nimo ...ang sakit sa bangs niana.....basta promise me nga atimanon jud nyag maayo si Baste ha?"

I boarded a Cebu Pacific flight next day with tensions...I supposed to have an interview with my just finished fashion week collection and runway show, but I could not stay knowingly Lagring took a sudden vacation for a week.

Good morning Sir, my name is Minirva Patalinghog, just call me Nerv for short.....(wow ha, Nerv? or the nerve..? kalokah agad!...mmmmm)........

...And by the way Sir, kini mao akongCV:

(ansabee????? anodaw? ay unsa diay???)BIODATA ni INDAY

Work Experience:

3 years, Household Service Manager (kasambahay/household helper), Mr. & Mrs. Lugronio Paalisbo/Barangay Nipis,Tambasakan St.

Name: Maria Minirva Conchita Jane Barbie Cutie Constancia Dahilig Pac-an Patalinghog

Nickname: just call me Nerv...but never Inday
Age: 23
Parents: Mom & Dad
Siblings: Kingking, Makmak, Eboy

Educational Background

College: St. Claire College 2nd year (scholar ng bayan)
High School: Ak-ak High School (Valedictorian, Best in English)
Elementary: Santa Catalina Elementary School (Valedictorian, Best in Pole Dancing)

----mmmm...nalokah ako sa biodata ha....

"In accordance to the Labor Law of the Republic of the Philippines,
all services rendered should be given a fair and just compensation...

"In relation, it is mandated by law than an incentive be given
according to the length of his/her service in the said establishment
or in this residence."

Signed & attested and red ribonned:

Minirva

" Sure ka ba Me-nerve, este Minirva nga parente ka ni Lagrimas??? ug sure jud ka nga yaya imong gi applyan dili amo"(lol)

"Though I have nothing against your wisdom and philosophical
approaches, it seems that I see a certain clash between our
thoughts and your projected manners will result to clashes.
You seem to be flacid sometimes apropos the way you establish a persiflage, and honestly it gives ennui to my proposed work because people choose jobs for reasons...maybe it's humiliating leaving an impression of digression..but it is still a job," SIR!!!!

Na amang kog kadjut...kay i have this jet lag kuno....ahahahahaha...unya wa pa koy pamahaw oi.

I was caught in a quagmire (choz)....

"O sige na...dawat na ka inday Nerv....."

"Don't call me Inday Sir..the statute restricts my capacity to give  a good performance and calling me Inday will be a proximate cause of humiliation!"

ansabee???????

My Shangrila: Plantacion Montana Fuentes

Dotted with mahogany trees and mangoes…an intriguing interplay of light and colour of greens  imbued a feel of placid state, the flavor of course is my  personality that is reflected as  fashion designer, a freelance writer and a blogger  interacting  a lifestyle about living in a dream ‘paradise’.

                   

Montana Fuentes  is my state of mind, built precisely from my kind of visuals …I have found a home.

And, amongst this intriguing mix, is my choice to shift the idyllic  piece of tranquility that nestled amongst the trees into a tightly private playground that gives little clue about the personality of its occupant. A  place where I unwind far away from the excitement and applause of the catwalks, the limelight and the highs of the fashion world.

The home is eco- inspired  with the feel and flavour of the country sides. It is also naturally endowed with the personality of its dweller.

Speaking about my symbiotic relationship with the eco-system and my decision to make this place my abode, it is a land blessed by God in many ways and it's my duty to protect the habitat and nourish it, above all, Montana Fuentes  is my own shangrila, frankly, I knew the moment I laid my eyes and it was one of those great life altering transitions.”

Although  we can be inspired anywhere, but living in Montana is to live with nature. Most people see a mango and take it for granted. I smell the perfumes of the blooms in December, I warm the blooms with mini bonfires in February to keep them warm. That is what being close to nature is about. You learn to respect unconditionally when you live with it.

I have travelled literally to the corners of the world…to  Europe, the countries of the East, lived in the world’s most luxurious hotels, dined with high cuisine, but my favourite place is still home.

 The Plantacion Montana Fuentes  houses me. It directs and channels my personality!”

“I’m a taga-bukid, first and last”

A Tricky Trek to the Montana Falls

Walking through winding riverside imagined road, we walked with weary soaked smile, knowingly that our destination means sweat, rugged and unpredictable way ahead.

Dramatic landscape was  the first visual exhilarating attraction, drawing strength from within to continue with our destination: The Montana Falls. The mountains are always our call to explore an adventure, but to weary minds, they offer a different unrestrained glimpse of inner peace and tranquility. Set amidst glorious foliage that ranges from timeless evergreens to the delicate blooms of the wild flora, the panorama recreates an untamed luxury, an inviting atmosphere.
                                                              

After my short stint at the Philippine Fashion Week last May 19 to 23,2013, what more refreshing to me is an escape from city life like Manila and Dubai. I need a rejuvenating escape, a sort of an idyllic holiday…that was I thought till I joined this tricky trek.

As the cliché goes, it’s an adventure once in my lifetime…or maybe twice if I succeed, at least I’ve tried. The Montana trek
 is more than just scenery, the deafening  silence of the inner sanctum radiates eeriness and mystified my physical presence….what is more-to- it- than- just- meets- the- eye?

  My adrenaline pumping and I was near exhaustion when the team photographer Marvin “Manong “ Mejorada waved his hand and started to prepare his camera. The stylist and the make up artist started doing their job on our model, my nephew Amixter Fuentes Emol, a gold national swimmer from Pagadian,

The thick foliage from the banyan tree known locally as balite was our first stop. The soft cold breeze from the thick canopy of the trees gave us the necessary boost to our tired legs.

 My up-close and personal encounter with nature came in the form of the untamed flora and fauna, my ultimate way to experience the green habitat of my farm. Whoever said, that was right, because I can’t think of anything more fun, exhilarating and personally enriching.

 There is something extraordinary about admiring the pristine beauty of the falls– an overwhelming rush of emotions takes over, as the vast expanse of swirly, turquoise green and glittering water fringed with lush greenery opens up before our very eyes. I’ve travelled the world, but Montana landscape for me is perhaps one of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen.

Maybe for some it was so passé, so trite and so cliché, but the experience of my cranky desire to hold back again and I had given it a shot, but then if it wasn’t worked for me suddenly seemed inconsequential. I reached the location and stood grudgingly…alas I made it, I love you Montana Fuentes, au revoir! Surely I will miss you.

the team:

photographer: MARVIN MEJORADA

mauh: JONIE CALAINAN

stylist: GLEN DE LEON 

model: AMIXTER FUENTES EMOL

Dining Out at THE ARMANI HOTEL

I had a dinner last night at Ristorante in Armani Hotel Dubai..a new temple of fine dining.
The moment I saw the sheer elegance  of the place, I felt like I was going to an Armani  Fashion Show ...on front row.
 

stylemonger with fashionista/boutiqueowner/designer-RAHIL HESAN

Tall, well-built and handsome security guards with taut bodies that work out to a regimental rhythm, importing some ethos of sexiness..SESSO!!!! almost a dozen  in tight fit black  Armani shirt paired with equally tight Armani jeans came rushing to our car  helping us out. The feeling is just haute, the feeling is SIMPLY DIVA-ine!... screaming  just so...!!!

 

RAHIL HESAN

My third time  at  the Armani Hotel , I was still mesmerized.
 Wearing a classic  Zara white shirt  with Zara black outer t- shirt and  black Zara jeans, I felt  like a brand ambassador!!!..thanks to my style breaker:Dolce & Gabbana high cut boots and my own made uber- sized zebra  necktie..I dazzled.

While we waited for awhile at the lobby, I couldn't stop appreciating those Armani's kind of interiors: neutral tones, subdued lights, and minimalist luxe furnishings. The staff don Armani suits and dresses as hotel uniforms, and  oh lala..the guests just scream fab too, with their HERMES  bags...almost a dozen, another runway show??????
 Standing tall, Armani  hotel  become the new  'fashion playground' in Dubai, aside from being cosmopolitan and chic. You'll see super-cool people with trendy outfits here all the year round, not just during Fashion Weeks!

wine cellar

  
Completely different from the others, Ristorante is more of a 'cuisine de charme' than a restaurant.
 

the most expensive wine: 15,000.00 us dollars/bottle!