Identity Crisis

I've had this blog for a few years now, but have never really thought about the content of it too much. Yes, I wrote in it every now and then, filling it up with things that I love along with a few sponsored posts here and there, but I just realised it has never had any direction or real purpose. It's just a place for me to write and to vent.

Well, now, I kind of want it to be more than just that. I want it to embody who I am as a person and, more importantly, as a geek.

white shirt from RRJ / faux denim cover-up from Folded and Hung / black shorts from Dorothy Perkins / awesome kicks from Nike / white watch from Tomato Time

Let's face it: while I post photos of me and my clothes in here, I'm not really the typical fashown fashion blogger who super dresses up and looks perfect from head to toe.

As such, I don't even claim to be a fashion blogger to begin with. In fact, I'm fine with not standing out when I go to different places because, well, that's just who I am and I don't want to pretend otherwise.

While I do love clothes, nothing makes me go crazier than geeky finds. I'm a casual and comfy dresser and I love injecting geekiness into the mix whenever I can because it's those lil geeky things that really make me go nuts when I'm out shopping somewhere.

Also, I like wearing things that people in the South (where I'm from) would actually be able to wear without being looked at or judged. Coz let's face it: the South is a judge-y place.

So, this 2016, I vow to blog about nothing but geeky things. True to my blog name Wonder Woman Rises, I vow to always have something geeky in every single post. I know I'm starting this off with a post that has nothing remotely geeky in it, but that's going to change from now on.

It may not be what everyone wants nor is it something that everyone will be able to relate to, but I want this blog to be a true representation of who I am and I think that's the best way to do it.

While you will still see the same posts about movies, my daughter, my life and my clothes, expect to see much more geekiness, as well. :D I'll also be blogging more often. :) Hoping for your continued support!

Also, please do leave your blog links in the comments section. I miss reading other people's blogs. :)

Pony Get Scouted: Pony Footwear Introduces Its Campus Ambassadors

Pony Footwear has just embarked on a nationwide search dubbed “Get Scouted” to find youngsters who embody the brand’s unique, independent spirit and its “Let’s get it on” attitude.

Scouring the campuses in Metro Manila and in some parts of the country, Pony has handpicked the crazies and the misfits, the artists and the dreamers, whose personal style fits the brand’s own image.

As Campus ambassadors, the handful of youngsters chosen embody what it means to be a style-setter and a role model to their peers. At an age where fitting in is imperative, these style ambassadors not only possess an independent sense of fashion, but they’ve also shown that one can do away with peer pressure, and being one’s self and being different isn’t bad. One does not have to sacrifice personal style and their own pursuits and interests to be “one with the crowd.”

Last week, the Manila-bound half met for the first time at Taste of Capitol located in Tomas Morato. As with every epic Friday night, it started out nice and normal, but turned out pretty crazy. Filled with awesome bands, singers and sick beats, and with Smirnoff Mule and Monster Energy Drink as drink sponsors, you could tell that this was one of those nights you’ll never forget.

Meet some of Pony's stylish group of brand ambassadors who were at the event:

Bianca Reyes

This 20-year-old from Manila is a Mapua Institute of Technology student taking up IT. She is a beauty queen and a varsity player for volleyball.

Andrea Tuason

This 18-year-old National University student is a thrill-seeker and an outdoor enthusiast. She loves classic rock music, playing instruments, and curling up in bed with a good book.

Julz Aquino

This 20-year-old University of the Philippines student grew up in the US. He likes to play all kinds of sports and he is also into modelling  He is the type of guy who is not afraid of trying new things.

Frank Romuar

Only 17 years old, this freshman from San Beda College is taking up MB Marketing. He is a dancing enthusiast who describes himself as fun and joyful - surely a lovable addition to the group.

Jandall Go, Maria Gigante, Ara Licayen and Patrick Lutz sadly couldn't make it to the event.

Pony’s campus ambassadors embody the spirit of youth that is fun and exciting. They will be featured in fashion spreads in local magazines where readers can get to know them better. Outgoing and adventurous with various interests in life, these kids are stylish, but they will also show the world what it means to be so much more than meets the eye.

To check out Pony’s latest styles, visit them at SM Department Stores. You may also visit Pony Philippines on Facebook and follow them on Twitter and Instagram at @pony_ph :)

Movie Review: Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Without giving anything away and in a complete nutshell: yes, the movie is worth it; yes, it lived up to my expectations; and yes, it is everything a Star Wars-geek-since-she-was-four-years-old girl could ever hope for.

I'm gonna start by saying that I am very pleased with the cast. Daisy Ridley, who plays Rey, is like Keira Knightly of the early 2000s. She is fresh-faced, downright gorgeous, has a killer accent and is a fabulous actress. I loved her. I loved her so much. And the best part is that she didn't have any annoying sidekick with her. No C3PO. No Jar Jar Binks.

There weren't any unnecessary scenes in this one, either (early-2000 trilogy, I'm talking to you), and there wasn't even any cheesy love story to be annoyed about, either. No. In true 'new era Disney' fashion, they stuck to the 'a woman does not need a man to be happy' mantra of the Queen Elsas and Maleficents of the world, and they stuck by the 'girl power' theme, too.

For the first time in Star Wars movie history, (SPOILER - highlight to read): a woman FINALLY wields a lightsaber in true Jedi fashion. Yes, I am aware that there are female Jedi in the older movies, but none of them were ever main characters.

Continue highlighting to read: And now here Rey is in all of her beauty fighting with a freaking lightsaber instead of shooting at enemies from afar. Believe it or not, that is the main reason why I never liked the idea of dressing up as Princess Leia or Queen Amidala: no lightsaber. (That, and no hot body to be Slave Leia.)

And while we're on the subject of girl power: is that a female Rebel Alliance pilot in that star fighter? YES IT FREAKING IS!!!

Aside from that, The Force Awakens fixed everything wrong with the old movies. Not that there was anything wrong per se, but they improved everything for the newer generation.

I have a 5-year-old daughter, so I'm actually basing this on a kid from today's generation. I have tried so hard to get her into Star Wars the way I was into Star Wars when I was her age, but she always found something to complain about.

"Why is R2-D2 so slow, mommy?" Well, there you go: ROLL, ROLL, ROLL LIKE THE WIND, BB8!!! "What do you mean the Stormtroopers are people?" Well, there you go: not only do they move more like people in The Force Awakens, you actually get to know Finn as a real live human Stormtrooper. "Why is the chair moving so much? (Pertaining to shooting from the Millennium Falcon)" And they poke fun at exactly that in this one. Perfectly made for this generation of kids, I'm telling you.

Even the storyline works well for this generation as it is pretty similar to A New Hope in terms of characters and story lines  Let's face it, though: how many kids will love A New Hope the way we did? Basically, The Force Awakens is a revamped version of A New Hope and does exactly what I think Disney set out to do: make this generation of children fall in love with Star Wars the way we did. And they succeed exceedingly well at doing so.

That doesn't go to say that the 'oldies' won't enjoy it, though. The 'this is too similar to A New Hope' feelings aside, the mere nostalgia of it all will put you to tears. The minute I heard the opening credits and read the opening credits, the old feelings came back and my heart leapt for joy. My heart didn't go nuts until I first set eyes on the Millennium Falcon, though. My hand literally tightened around my boyfriend's hand the minute I realised it was there. And man, that Han and Leia reunion. AHHHHHH.

It wasn't a perfect movie, though. I wanted to see exchanges between Han and Leia that hit closer to my heart. An "I love you" - "I know" or at least a kiss. But if they had done that, then I might have left the movie house in tears, so maybe that's a good thing.

Also, I hated (SPOILER - highlight to read): that Luke pulled a worse version of Leonardo DiCaprio in Django Unchained in that he only showed up at the very end.

And it didn't quite feel the same without Yoda, but I guess Maz is a nice replacement for him. She's cute and memorable. Other than that, there really isn't much more to say. Your kids will love this and you will, too. Don't worry if you haven't seen the older movies. You can start your love for Star Wars for this one. And if you're a die-hard fan like me, then you can continue it with peace in your heart, knowing that it didn't fail like The Phantom Menace did.

Wonder Woman Awakens

This is it, guys! It's Star Wars week. I haven't been this excited for a movie since the first Hobbit movie came out.

As much as I'd like to say I get this excited over every geeky movie out there, that wouldn't be true. I could survive days without watching an Avengers movie, for example, but this… this is a whole new level altogether.

faux denim top from Folded and Hung / floral skirt from my momma's closet / R2-D2 pin from Pop Junk Love / Death Star pouch from Bugis Junction, Singapore / dangling bracelet watch from Swatch / Airmax Thea shoes from Nike

Aside from finding the last trilogy of Star Wars a bit disappointing (if I wasn't such a huge Ewan McGregor when that trilogy came out, I probably never would have watched it more than once), this gives Star Wars a whole new start to be awesome once again and I can't wait to see what Disney will do with the franchise.

Plus, it is the first Star Wars movie of my daughter's generation and I'm hoping that it will stir her heart the way the original trilogy stirred mine. Maybe, just maybe, she'll stop calling Chewbacca a lion after this movie comes out and maybe, just maybe, I'll have a little Padawan in my midst. #goals She already asked me for a lightsaber after the Globe event this past weekend, so there is definitely hope for this.

The downsides to this new movie are that finding awesome Star Wars merch is no longer a miracle and that I'm spending so much more money on toys than usual, but I'm trying to look at the upside to it all.

When I was in Singapore recently, Hezron asked me to buy him Star Wars merch and the other day, Seph actually texted me to ask in which order he should watch the Star Wars movies. Booyah! Sorry, but knowing that people I care about are suddenly getting interested in the original movies because of this new one has given me renewed hope.

No longer shall I be the only geek in Manila! No longer shall people roll their eyes at me whenever I squeal for finding something Star Wars-y! No, everyone shall now be a geek and everyone shall now understand my fascination with the galaxy far, far away. Let's all cross our fingers and hope that this movie will be a blast… though I'm pretty sure there will be a new annoying character because after C3PO in the original trilogy and Jar Jar in the trilogy after that, I'd say it's inevitable. :p

The Biggest Zalora Sale is Happening on 12/12! Mark Your Calendars!!!

Are you and your wallet ready for 12/12? Coz my wallet and I definitely are!

12/12 is the one day of the year when you can expect the best offers on Zalora. So, if you find yourself scouring Zalora for great finds on a regular basis like I do (did you enjoy that last 98% off sale with me?!??), then you need to mark your calendars for this one, too. 

This Zalora-led initiative began last year and this year, more than 250 brands and partners across Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan will be part of it. Get ready to enjoy free returns, cash on delivery, free shipping and more on December 12.

I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to getting some great offers from Mango, RayBan, Oakley and Factorie. This is the perfect time to go almost-last-minute Christmas shopping! :D Zalora is the bomb!

Time to bookmark this link: http://www.zalora.com.ph/online-fever

iflix Now Offers Download Now, Watch Offline Feature

I fell in love with iflix at first sight. I loved the aesthetics. I loved the convenience. I loved the TV show and movie choices. I loved the quality. And I loved that I could share my account with my loved ones.

I still love all of these things about iflix, of course. However, they have taken things a notch higher by adding an all-new feature that has made me love them even more: the Download Now, Watch Offline feature.

Exactly as it sounds, this new feature will allow you to download  content at your convenience, so that you can watch it later on - even if you don't have any Internet connection.

Yes, yes. You might think you don't need it coz you have Wi-Fi that you can bring everywhere or 3G that you can access anytime, but that really isn't the case. I used to think that way, too… until I got bored in an airplane once. And until my Wi-Fi ran out of battery once and I didn't want to use my 3G for fear that my phone would run out of battery, too. (Bloody iPhone battery problems.) And until I was stuck traveling without any Wi-Fi at my disposal. Sad times.

Now there is nothing to worry about anymore, thanks to this new feature. The coolest thing is that iflix is actually one of the first and only subscription streaming services in the world to offer this particular feature on this scale. There's no additional charge for it, either. Plus, you can choose if you want to download it as a low, medium or high quality file depending on how much storage space you have left in your device.

Mark Britt, iflix Group CEO, put it perfect, "This feature is a game changer and represents a huge competitive leap forward for iflix. Wherever our subscribers are - on a plane, traveling, on vacation, or anywhere in the world - they can enjoy their favorite programs, regardless of Internet availability."

So far, I've downloaded a bunch of Once Upon a Time and How I Met Your Mother episodes for offline viewing just in case the need for it ever arises.

iflix rules! Get a subscription for only Php129 a month for unlimited access without ads! You can also get a free 30-day trial first before you commit to see if you'll like it. :) Woot! Visit iflix.com to register.

A Long Time Ago in a Galaxy Not so Far Away

Isn't it strange how people work so hard to fit in and then, when they finally do, they panic and run for the nearest cave? That's me right now.

grey Luke Skywalker shirt from Uniqlo / grey jogger pants from RRJ / printed socks from Stance / maroon shoes from adidas / R2-D2 bag from Loungefly

See, a long time ago in a galaxy not so far away… Well, right here, about a year ago, no one really cared about Star Wars. Or Justin Bieber. And now, all of a sudden, everyone is dressing up as Princess Leia and everyone is praising the Biebs for his great music left and right.

And while that's great because I can finally relate to people, it's kind of scaring me. The world is changing and it's scary because I no longer feel unique and weird. And I've been weird for the longest time, I don't really know how to fit in anymore.

Don't get me wrong. I love that more and more people are finally understanding my obsessions, but I suddenly miss my boyfriend giving a confused smirk when I go nuts over a Millennium Falcon toy. I miss my best friend's glazed eyes whenever she zones out when I geek out. I miss making Star Wars jokes and references and waiting to see who actually gets me. And above all things, I miss Star Wars merch not being sold out when I want them. Lol.

Maybe I would have been more receptive to this if this had happened at an earlier time - say, last year, before I was mocked and ridiculed for posting Justin Bieber photos and made fun of and laughed at for spending 10K on Star Wars merch.

Maybe I'm just bitter.

Maybe it's Maybelline.

My Belkin Wishlist

Have you heard of the brand Belkin before? I'm not sure how this brand escaped my radar, but I'm happy I finally got introduced to them since, to put it simply, they can easily take care of all of my gadget needs (and at much cheaper prices compared to my usual go-to gadget store to boot!)

Here are five items on my current Belkin wishlist that will really make life much easier once I catch have them all *cue Pokemon song*:

5. Belkin Mixit 1.2m Lightning Sync/Charge Cable

In red, of course. Coz Wonder Woman.

Aside from being available in a pretty Wonder Woman-y color, every Apple user needs a charging cable to charge their devices on a daly basis. If you're a blogger like me, then transferring data with this cable is just as vital.

That's why charging cables always need to be replaced the same day they get lost or stop working. I'd actually go so far as to say that charging cables are just as important as breathing nowadays.

4. Belkin Universal Window and Dash Car Navigation Mount for Smartphones

Coz I have horrible navigational skills.

Now, not everybody will need this, but I definitely do. See, I have ZERO navigational skills and this will help ensure that I stop getting lost everyday. Sure, I know I can just use my GPS as normal, but I tend to always look down on it instead of waiting for the GPS lady to tell me where to go and that spells "DANGER" on the road more than anything.

This mount will ensure that I get to where I'm going with ease and safety. What I love about it the most, though, is that it can also be tilted and rotated as needed for easier navigation.

3. Belkin Charger Kit with Lightning to USB Cable

Coz chargers deserve to be fashionable, too.

What is not to love about the color on this Belkin charger? Sure, being fashown might not be as important for chargers, but I love having unique items to avoid mixing them up with family members and friends. Walang basagan ng trip! :p

2. Belkin Sport-Fit Armband for iPhone 6

More pretty colours!

By now it should be obvious that Belkin wins my heart because of the pops of colours that they add to their phone accessories. I love the pink of this one.

I have actually been searching far and wide for a sport-fit armband because I have started running with my boyfriend every week (shocker, I know!) and I've just been holding my phone every time we run. Once I have this, my weekly runs will go much more smoother, that's for sure! Plus, it's so pretty in pink!!! Oh, did I say that already?

1. Belkin Economy Series 8 Socket Surge Protector

All of my devices, rejoice!

Belkin doesn't just cater to phone accessories, either. This socket surge protector is the ultimate must-have for a movie buff and gamer like me! Not only will I get to charge all of my daily-needed gadgets on this thing, but I'll also get to watch movies or play games while I'm at it. Lots of socket space for everyone! Hallelujah!

So, there you have it: my Belkin wishlist in all of its glory!

Lucky for me, they are all still available on Lazada. :) Want to check out the rest of the Belkin products out there? Just visit this link: http://www.lazada.com.ph/belkin-ph-by-macpower :)

Hey Sugar: Put Your Mind at Ease at This Waxing Salon

I have tried almost every single waxing salon in the Metro. Why? Because I couldn't find that safe-haven-of-a-place where I actually feel at ease.

Sure, I love Strip to death, but I soon realised that I couldn't keep going all the way to Makati or BGC whenever I needed a wax - which is every three weeks or so. So, when I was told to try out Hey Sugar in Festival Mall, the South girl in me leapt at the chance!

The mere interiors of Hey Sugar in itself already got me excited to try out their services.

Look at how bright and happy the colours are!

There's nothing intimidating about this place at all!

The bright and happy colours cane found all throughout the salon.

Even all the way into the actual waxing room.

As with Strip, Hey Sugar uses hot wax for their waxing procedures, which means that you will hardly feel anything at all as you get waxed! No pain, no mahapdi feeling afterwards, and most importantly, no ingrown hairs! And the wax technicians? Super friendly and accommodating and they have a very soft touch.

The differences between Hey Sugar and Strip? The prices are more affordable at Hey Sugar and they have a branch in the South! This makes them number one on my current waxing salon list. Yes, no longer will I have to endure the pain that comes with Lay Bare. Hey Sugar is my new go-to place for waxing! You should make it yours, too!

Don't believe in their awesomeness just yet? Try it out yourself! I have a giveaway for one wax treatment of your choice - and you can bring a friend to enjoy a wax treatment with you! :) Just fill up this Rafflecopter form:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck! For now, don't forget to like Hey Sugar on Facebook and follow them on Twitter and Instagram at @heysugarphils :) They've got branches in Festival Mall, SM Bicutan, UP Town Center and SM Sucat in the Metro!

Snow Caps: Get the "In Love Glow" (Even If You're Not In Love)

If you've been reading my blog and following me on social media for a while now, you should know that I'm not really that obsessed with looking whiter. In fact, I don't believe that white skin = kutis mayaman as a lot of whitening products seem to claim or at least call it. Maybe it has something to do with me growing up abroad, where most people embrace dark skin and love to tan to get a healthy and sexy glow.

However, after I had tried out the ever-effective MySlim, I decided to check out the rest of their products, too - Snow Caps included.

Obviously, most people use Snow Caps because of its whitening properties. However, what I love the most about it is the fact that it has a lot of other benefits under its sleeve, as well.

For starters, it has Vitamin C in it. For someone who doesn't take any kinds of vitamins at all, I thought this would be a step up and if I ended up looking better because of it, well, then that would just be a plus.

Second of all, I found out L-Glutathione, one of the ingredients in Snow Caps also works as an antioxidant and is helpful for one's liver health, cognitive health and skin health. Love it!

The effects were really interesting. Just three days after starting to take Snow Caps, people started complimenting me more. They chalked it up to being in a relationship, saying I was glowing because I was in love, but I knew it had more to do with Snow Caps than my boo.

Even I noticed and felt the difference. Every morning, kahit bagong gising, I would look in the bathroom mirror and notice my cheeks kinda glowing - without makeup(!!!) I looked like I had a bit of blush on when I didn't.

This is important because I always look like a zombie in the morning and don't even look like a decent human being until I've had my first cup of coffee and put on some foundation. Now, I can ditch the face makeup altogether, slather on some lipstick and I'm good to go:

Again: if you've known me for a while, you'll know that I'm not fond of posting selfies, either. I'd say I used to average about one selfie every twenty Instagram posts. Now, I'm up to at least one selfie a week. Hahaha.

Call it vanity or whatever, but I'd like to call it confidence - and it's partly thanks to of Snow Caps. I mean, if you wake up feeling confident and prettier-than-usual everyday, I'm sure you'll start posting more selfish, too (to the ire of everyone around you sometimes, but YOLO!)

You should definitely try it out. You might end up liking it, too. (Alden Richards does!)

Find out more about Snow Caps on Snow Caps' Facebook page, or follow them on Twitter (@snowgluta) or on Instagram (@snowwhitening) #WhiteVanity