LOOKBOOK | 'Plaidly' buttoned up

It's probably easier to wear a plaid shirt than plaid pants. Maybe it's because most pants are plain, so wearing a printed or patterned top doesn't really become a problem at all--unless matching colors already is a challenge for you to begin with.

But wearing plaid pants shouldn't be hard if we go by that logic on wearing a plaid shirt with plain pants. Just do it in reverse.

LOOKBOOK | Gray day

Rainy day today--with occasional wind gusts and flooding in areas to boot. While a pop of color would be nice to cheer things up a bit, I shunned all thoughts of wearing something colorful on a gloomy day. Instead I embraced the gloom and wore gray.

LOOKBOOK | Teddy bear fluffy

Dark skies and rain have once again held court after a very summer-like hot and sunny few days. Time to enjoy this really soft and supple fleece jacket from my favorite store Uniqlo. T'was another unplanned purchase but how can I resist its softness? It's so fluffy!

LOOKBOOK | Vacay mode in floral and teal

I know it's cliché but where else is it best to wear florals but to the beach? For weekend getaways and other short vacations, sneak in a collared floral shirt or two into your bag to break the monotony of your t-shirt and tank top-dominated wardrobe.

FRAGRANCE | Penhaligon's English Fern: Classic and dependable

English Fern is my first bottle of Penhaligon's.

Despite my penchant for fragrances, I still know very little about them, brands included. Case in point: my discovery of Penhaligon's, which I've never heard of prior to that time I walked into Adora in Greenbelt 5 and caught a few sniffs. I guess the fact that their fragrances are not as ubiquitous as the likes of Ralph Lauren, Davidoff, or Bvlgari explains my ignorance. But just a couple of spritzes and I already fell in love.

Penhaligon's is a very old brand, dating back to 1870. It's also been awarded two Royal Warrants that they proudly display on their fragrances's packaging. With such a wide selection available, it was hard to pick my first bottle. Eventually, though, I settled for English Fern.

LOOKBOOK | Brown and cerulean blue

We probably all know that brown and blue are perfect together. This mix, however, is often associated with navy or dark blue clothing and brown leather. It's a classic. But how about other shades?

Here I tried brown with a light cerulean blue shade. I probably wouldn't have thought of it if not for the shirt's print. It was an aha moment for me and I immediately remembered I had pants in almost the exact same hue. Perfect, I thought.

TRAVEL | The once famed Hinulugang Taktak of Antipolo: There's hope

Still beautiful in its own right.

I first learned of Hinulugang Taktak from Araling Panlipunan (Social Studies) textbooks back in grade school. From what I remember it was a popular place where people can actually bathe and swim. There's even a folk song called Tayo na sa Antipolo (Let's Go to Antipolo) where this waterfall is prominently featured in its lyrics.

Too bad I've never seen Hinulugang Taktak during its glory days because as urbanization spread, houses and establishments gradually inched closer towards the waterfall and the waterways that feed it, dumping sewage and garbage in the process. Sad, I know, considering the place is declared a national park.

LOOKBOOK | Camo coordinated redux

It's been a while since I last sported a camo on camo ensemble, more so this matching camo shirt and joggers set that's been hiding in my closet for some time now.

Wearing a camo piece is fun, so why not double the fun by going all camo? To avoid looking awkward I guess you just have to exude confidence and own it. Yeah!

TRAVEL | St Moritz Swiss Inn: A small and homey B&B in Antipolo

Our bedroom during our stay at St Moritz Swiss Inn.

When I think of bed and breakfasts, it's Tagaytay and Laguna that usually come to mind. Personally I wouldn't think of Antipolo at all. I know the place has pool resorts the likes of Pansol and Los Baños in Laguna but a B&B would never cross my mind. However, when we chanced upon Vieux Chalet Swiss Restaurant, we learned that they have a B&B. Perfect, I thought, because Antipolo is an out of town destination for me and I've long wanted to visit Pinto Art Museum and Hinulugang Taktak.

St Mortiz Swiss Inn is a small 3-bedroom B&B right next to Vieux Chalet. Here's a rundown of our experience.

LOOKBOOK | Barong Tagalog and sneakers for 'Buwan ng Wika'

Looking oh, so dignified here.

Although the celebrations are normally concentrated in elementary schools, August is Buwan ng Wika (Language Month) in the Philippines. Along with dressing up in various traditional Filipino costumes, schools usually hold programs and contests showcasing the national language and traditional Filipino songs and dances.

Our department decided to join in the fun by designating a special day yesterday where everyone was required to wear a traditional Filipino costume reinterpreted for modern times. Two years ago when we first held this event, I found myself wearing an ethnic-designed shirt with a malong.

This year I decided on a Barong Tagalog, considered our national formal wear for men. But no one wants to go all formal on a Friday, so I wore my Barong Tagalog with sneakers. I thought, if a full-on suit works just fine with sneakers, a barong would be just as perfect with this type of footwear.