Sarah Meier

My Dearest Kaya,

I’m writing this in April of the year 2012, skin glowing from the kiss of the Palawan sun, head still rocking from the turbulence that jostled our tiny plane as we prepared to land back in Manila. 

This is the return from a trip that was initially supposed to be about widening my perspective of the ins and outs of the pearl farming industry, but I have left the islands with oceans more than a crash course in oyster reproduction. I am inclined to tell you to become a marine biologist when you grow up because of this (it seems to be a fascinating and peaceful job), but because my story is more about understanding ones natural role and purpose on this planet than anything else, let me not tinker with what your path has in store for you in a manner other than providing you with information and open mindedness.

Just to reiterate, it is 2012, which means you are 6 and I am 30. The only beach I frequented enough when I was your age to consider “home” was the island of Boracay, and considering what my serene childhood haven has transformed into, perhaps that can be the basis and catalyst for you to understand why it is imperative for me to sanctify the here and now for Palawan. 

She’s beautiful, my love.

Waters teeming with life in the complexity of forms, functions, and colors a thousand creative meetings could not conjure up. A thirty-minute snorkel lent me a glimpse into the lives of barracuda, squid, and needle fish – and a unique sighting of a lapu-lapu that I initially thought was growling at me, until I realized it was only bearing its teeth so the little dentist fish I finally spotted could clean them.

Nature, so simple to witness at work.

 Hundreds of virtually untouched islands that lend us a glimpse into what the world might have looked like before it was seen by eyes of man - man whose hands found ways to use the land, failing to understand the repercussions of haste and waste. There are sides of mountains shaved of greenery, like a bald spot on a head otherwise full of hair. The orange-brown earth almost neon in its disruptiveness. This is the result of the slashing and burning of trees by villagers that are not in tune with the long-term side effects of a seemingly resourceful act.

 The fish in tanks at Chinese restaurants? My love, do not eat them, for in order for these fish to look appetizing (sans hook marks or missing scales, which are brandings of natural rod and net fishing), they are drugged with cyanide, scooped out of the water in their incapacitated state, and hauled onto illegal Chinese fishing boats bobbing on the water in the black of night. 

Nature, so unarmed to defend itself from violation.

— 

Pearl of the Orient

The name was bestowed upon our nation by the West, which, considering the Perlas ng Silanganan inclusion in our national anthem, I would not have guessed. But there is much that the average Filipino does not know; that the pearl is our national gem, for example, or that the highly revered beauty that is the golden South Sea pearl – used by the Cartiers and Tiffanys of this world – is mostly produced in Philippine waters. Which means nearly anytime you see a perfectly round, large, lustrous, smooth, and distinctly gold pearl in jewelry shop windows along the high streets of Paris and New York, you can smile and say “ours”.

But the pride, my dear child, is not merely of the surface kind. Much like a tree trunk tells us a story with it’s rings of age, the nacre layers of the pearl are a time capsule of both beauty and travesty that our country goes through – altered by every earthquake, volcanic eruption, and typhoon. Each little gem holds the weight of a nation’s tale – boasting perfection, if it was a year of peace (or otherwise).

Which is why symbiosis between man and nature in Palawan is an artful balance, a beautiful dance of reciprocity that must be respected, and perfected with time. Currently, the Save Palawan Seas Foundation is educating communities on how to make a living without having to resort to dynamite fishing or scalping the terrain. When I visited, townsfolk were being taught recipes for various cashew products; polvoron, honey glazed nuts, or even wine and prunes from the cashew fruit. Organic farming, too, is one of the alternate sources of both income and food, which is a massive breakthrough in education for a community that has been swayed by advertising to believe that the canned food they cannot afford is actually healthy for their children. (This shocked me!) Thankfully, the result of eating organically farmed vegetables is beginning to take shape in these vicinities, where once stick thin youngsters with bloated bellies, are now visions of optimum health.

I hope you get the chance to visit the islands years from now with this letter in mind, and come back to me with a smile on your face. Not a Boracay smile, which is one of bars and resorts, camaraderie and loud music, and drinking til dawn — but a Palawan smile, which is smile of serenity and inner peace, understanding of nature, and alignment with the Universe.

I have attached many pictures to this letter. If you can dedicate your life to making sure the ones you take 20 years from now look just like mine, I promise you, it will be a life well lived.

I love you very much.

~Mama.

Throwback video blog from New York Fashion Week - September 2010.

Blessed to do what I do.

-s.

Remembering #PlatformShow 2012 — The Teaser. Full recap coming your way…soon.

thebridgefiles.com

Build and they will come.

-s.

Props to DJ Fabian for being a propagator of passion.

platformshow:

PLATFORM SHOW MANILA 2012 video recap by DJ Fabian

Photography | Dix Perez
Creative Direction and Styling | John Lozano
Styling Assistant | Tsard Chua
Makeup | RB Chanco
Clothes and Accessories | Kenneth Chua 
Location | Newport Theater, Resorts World —

Postura Project. Wear something Filipino everyday.

We set ourselves up for a 30-day challenge to wear at least one Filipino made item daily, with the hopes of triggering awareness and opening eyes to the wonderful options we have to express our style, right here in the Philippines.

Are you up for the challenge?

posturaproject.com

Kim Reyes-Palanca revisits 20 of MEGA’s MEMORABLE COVERS that have CHALLENGED and REDEFINED Filipina beauty.

In this month’s 20th Anniversary Issue of MEGA Magazine. On stands now.

—

Grateful to have been included in this feature :)

My very first cover for MEGA was when I was a scrawny little teen, and every cover shoot we’ve done since then has been nothing short of a blessing.

All smiles,

-s.

• The way Kendrick Lamar’s voice breaks in his verse on “His Pain” - a track by BJ the Chicago Kid. “I don’t know why you keep blessing me…”
• The smell of tinola cooking in my kitchen.
• How many major brands are taking interest in our Platform event.
• The love note my 6 year old daughter just gave me (and how she’s unflinching in her desire to come watch a J.Dilla tribute documentary showing with me while her Dad plays basketball tonight).
• My brother’s unhindered genius in words and music.
• The work that has been flowing in and making quality of life just…superb.
• That I woke up this morning.
• That my “Stay Gold” tattoo is permanent.
• The amazing things I’m able to do for Philippine fashion and independent designers in the next few weeks with both Platform and The Postura Project.
• For the burn in my triceps and thighs after a painful first visit to my trainer in 3 years.
• Everyone that takes the time to tell me little things that moved them, or that they appreciated, on Tumblr, on Twitter, in person - even though they know I’m weird and shy about replying or taking compliments like that.
• That my eyes are green, my skin is brown, and my hair is black.
• Assistance, in the form of assistants, and team mates, and friends, and family.
• My iPhone. No joke.
• Skin Science offering to be my dermatologist sponsor, and Alex Carbonell at Studio Fix  finally coming back into the picture to take care of my hair.
• The Fernando sisters - listeners of our radio show that turned into two of the biggest supporters I’ve ever known. Regular box deliveries of homemade pandesal and cupcakes, banana chips, pastillas…you name it. Texts and DMs that you were remembered at Mass. So consistent.
• MY SQUAD. Teamwork makes the dream work, and I think I’ve finally found my magic links for the chain I need to haul this vision into reality. #TheBridge
• Sago’t Gulaman. Yun lang.
• And this amazing art installation by Claire Morgan:

-s.

“Now I know why He keeps blessing me…
…so I can bless you.”
- Kendrick Lamar

Once upon a time…

…a few kids decided to throw a party in conjunction with Sinulog, a religious festival on the Philippine island of Cebu.

But it was more than chance that grew the crowd from 400 people to 50,000. It was a unique blend of history, passion, devotion, and love for life and music that made this one of the most pivotal events in verge culture history.

Avicii, bottles of Patron, face paint, whistle blowing, and dancing — all topped off with the “Pit Senyor” chant over Hip Hop, house, and dubstep beats that the crowd spontaneously erupted into every fifteen minutes.

Church.

-s.

This video was created for and by Out of Scratch. DJs on deck are DJ Aryan and Nix Damn P! The event was a brainchild of the boys behind Rhipstop, and supported by Bodyrock Lifestyle.

Through my eyes — and the lens of the Samsung Multiview the @statusmagazine Team handed me at the door of the Ayala Museum last Saturday.

(Except for the last picture. That one was taken by my daughter, Kaya. Baym.)

Shouts to my homegirl Rosario Herrera, head honcho at Status, for being the change we seek. Love you, woman. Stay inspired.

-s.

June Marieezy ft. RBTO with “Sometimes”.

Making music. #itsmorefuninthephilippines

Pulled this link from a Philippine Airlines Tweet, of all things, and was surprised to find our city nightlife options quite comprehensively represented.

Save this somewhere, for a future trip, an e-mail to an overseas friend, for you or a friend’s moonlit tour of Manila’s best.

http://eastgatepublishing.com/2011/12/nightlife-manila-style/

banjbillions:

HIP HOP HAS HEART 2011

vickyherrera:

It Just Got Real.