EGYPT VS HOSNI MUBARAK

It has been a bloody week in Cairo and Suez. As Mubarak continues to resist the call for his resignation, the Egyptian civilians continue to flood the streets with protests. Government had already blocked social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, which played big roles in the assembly of anti-Mubarak supporters. The 82-year old dictator has already called out government change and promised reforms. But it seems that Mubarak fails to understand that the Egyptians will not be appeased until he steps down.

Civilians take on the streets as they call for Mubarak's resignation

It is difficult not to feel for the 80M people from Egypt calling for a change in government structure and leadership. It is not too long ago when the Filipinos were also under the same conditions of oppression under a dictator who led a nation to its downfall. In this time of instability, the most we can do is simply pray for a nation that is as broken as we were more than two decades ago. 

the 1986 PEOPLE POWER REVOLUTION

Just like the Philippines, Egypt is also worth fighting for. 

The Spotlight is on James Franco

As I set Palo Alto Stories down, I give myself a moment to reflect on the man who authored such work. James Franco. He is not your run-of-the-mill Hollywood leading man. Through the years, he has proven to be a man of substance. And nowadays, he is a ubiquitous force that shows no signs of slowing down.

I’ve had a crush on this Palo Alto native for the longest time, probably even before he played Spider Man’s frenemy, Harry Osborn, in the movie that catapulted him to celebrity status. He is winsome, charming and unpredictable. But more than these, Franco sets the bar above hundreds of screen actors with his innate metabolism for creative learning and productivity. It is interesting to see his choice of works. He has gone mainstream with movies such as Eat Pray Love, Date Night, Tristan and Isolde, Flyboys, and the widely-acclaimed Milk, indie with Pineapple Express and Howl, joined daytime TV with a short stint in General Hospital, began directorial works in NYU and even Harvard and exhibited  art shows in LA’s Glu and NY’s Clockwater galleries. His performance in 127 Hours also won him a nomination in this year’s Oscars for Best Actor. And let us not discount his being the face of the men’s fragrance Gucci by Gucci.

I find it remarkable that between all these, Franco was able to finish not one but several post-grad degrees from some of the top schools in America. He was an English major with a concentration in creative writing from UCLA. He then moved to New York to simultaneously attend Columbia University’s MFA program, NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts for film making and also finish a fiction writing degree in Brooklyn College.  He is now an English and Film Studies PhD student in Yale University. Not bad for a man of 32 years, eh?

I love the idea of a someone such as James Franco- actor, prolific artist and scholar, integrate himself in these different spheres of the Arts. Admittedly, not everyone has that ability to find such focus and drive - especially under the watchful eyes of Hollywood. Some critics even already liken him to the iconic Andy Warhol. So when Time picked Franco as the Coolest Person of the Year [2010], I could not help but wholeheartedly agree. He makes being a Thinker seem very very cool indeed. 

“[He] is the man who risked looking like an idiot over and over and yet never did. The man who was a movie star, a novelist, a soap-opera actor, a director, a visual artist, a Yale Ph.D. student in English, a Funny or Die video poster, a drag model on the cover of a magazine for transsexuals…”

 – Joel Stein on choosing Franco to be Time’s Coolest Person of the Year.

Under the lights of the Kodak Theatre on Feb 27, we will witness him add yet another to his roster of titles, that of an Academy Awards host, which he will be sharing with the equally fabulous Anne Hathaway. With their good looks and a penchant for comedy, they’re bound to bring in an unforgettable performance. The coolest person and company cannot be anything but awesome. :)

J'adore Leighton Meester!

Blake Lively might have graced more magazine covers than anyone in the last year. But it is Leighton Meester who wins it for me when it comes to fashion and the red carpet - simply for being unpredictable and still being fabulous!  

Leighton in Michael Kors for "The Roommate" premiere

Ellie Saab dresses Leighton for the Golden Globes

Leighton does the flapper in Louis Vuitton

Leighton as the face of Missoni S/S 2011

Leighton in Miu Miu for Glamour Espana

It's pure LOVE. LOVE. LOVE.♥

EUR USD Turns Bullish

I started delving into spot FX trading a couple of months ago through a friend. Admittedly, learning the ropes can be quite challenging. Being a small player in a very very big pond, I limit my positions to intra-day trading with an hour or two timeframe. My favorite pair: EUR/USD. The volatility in these currencies opens a lot of opportunities for gaining big. Or losing big. Exciting!

In December 2010 and the early part of January, the pair was seen ranging along the 1.3000-1.3300 lines with no clear trend. However, in a turn of events, the EUR has become very bullish ending last week’s run above 1.3600, with a 150-pip gain on Friday (and 250 pips for the whole week).

With the fluctuating momentum of both currencies, the significant effects of the QE2 in speeding the US recovery  has yet to be ascertained, and the problems faced by the debt-ridden members of the EU has not been completely eased in investors fears. The big questions right now involve the euro’s capacity to sustain its bullish run and/or if it will soon face a pullback to lower levels. James Chen, chief technical analyst for FX Solutions forecasts a retracement level up around 1.3800 before turning to the downside.

I guess we will have to wait and see. 

We Don't Always Get What We Want

We are not life’s sole designers. Fate, chance and luck also have a role to play in the whole dynamics that will be played out in this life. We just have to try our best to play the game right.

There comes a time when life steers us into a path that is different from our expectations. Surprising or unanticipated they may be, we will have to cope – thru acceptance or fighting against the fate bestowed on us.

This year will be marked by periods of tests for me in both the personal and non-personal spheres. The recent turn-out of events have brought out a bubble of frustration, and sometimes disappointment, in the things I have painstakingly worked hard for. I know I will have to face the challenges of coping as a way of moving forward. But at the moment, I have yet to decide the road to take. I need decisions that are thought-out and reflected thoroughly. This time, I will let my mind take the lead and my heart be in the backseat. The goal is to come out wiser and stronger. BETTER.

I may face setbacks today and tomorrow. But the game continues. The best method of dealing with life is facing it head-on. 

Confessions of An Undisputed BFF

I count myself fortunate to have found that kindred spirit at 17.

There was no moment of eureka, no spark and nothing that gave clue to a friendship that would eventually run so deep.  She is the effervescent social person while I possessed the more reserved yet impulsive persona. Take a long look at us and our contrasting looks and qualities would not make the cut for the typical BFF poster. One would easily wonder how complete opposites could manage to get along so well!

I guess the beauty in friendship is that its beginnings can be credited to chance – a small encounter in a coffee shop, a mutual friend or shared interests, but everything else is attributed to choice. It is a relationship bound by neither obligation nor kinship, but one that is fostered by time and the continual decision to cultivate it. I remain to believe that some friendships are the most unadulterated form of human connection today. Because the greatest reward in friendship is simply friendship itself.  

Ours is 8 years in the making, and still counting. We grew up not knowing each other but our bond lies in the fact that we matured together, in years and in life’s experiences. We met during the first day of college when we were still the idealistic teenagers certain that the universe would conspire to make our wants and dreams come true. As we were trying to forge our place in this world, we saw glimpses of each other’s triumphs and failures, experienced growth, and found our passions. We have had a taste of the world while we traveled, met new people and mastered our crafts. Sure we have had our shares of disappointments, failed relationships, and periods of personal ruts, but they were lessons that must be learnt. Through it all, we made it a choice to standby each other’s most blessed periods and times of personal ordeals. It was our unspoken pact that our lives would be forever entwined in shared glory and travails. Walang iwanan. At almost-25, I have come to value our friendship the most. There is no equal to having a 24/7 listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, and having that friend I am certain would stay by my side through all the joys and hiccups, whether I am right or wrong.

It is also in man’s nature to thrive in the company of others. And friendships become the great teachers of this. My inexperience in dealing with life and its complexities is also compensated with having people like her who continue to teach me life’s lessons. Every person that manages to touch me so deeply also teaches me a lesson so affecting. Through her, I have learned bits and pieces of a valued life: honesty and respect, sincerity and loyalty, and genuineness. At the end of the day, our goal has always been to be wiser and braver players in this world, the best persons we can possibly be. I have become a stronger person, an improved student of life, and a much better friend. We have become each other’s helpers in this mission.

Our journey as friends is far from over. Together, we continue to trek life with anticipation and excitement.  Each new day, we rest our foot forward in hopes of carving and finding our destinies - wishful, hopeful and prayerful for each other’s happiness and success. And when we have found our balance and serenity, we will be grateful. And we will be happy for each other because we know Happiness and Peace have been found.

I had always thought that with soul mates came romance. That is, until I met my best friend.

“We made a deal ages ago. Men, babies, doesn't matter. We're soul mates!”

-       Samantha Jones, Sex and the City 2

Let's Call It The GOLD Fever.

For once, fashion and the financial market have one thing in common: they’re both thinking GOLD.  

IN the past 5 years, the financial market has seen the price of gold triple in value. Investor forecasts also maintain that 2011 will be a groundbreaking year as XAU (gold) is expected to exceed the $1,500 mark (at this writing, XAU is $1,369/ounce). As fears of dollar devaluation and EUR instability do not abate, individuals in possession of these currencies are expected to trade up to the less risky and more stable investment.  It’s a currency war and gold has come out the safest and surest alternative. 

The sentiment for gold is widespread, encompassing even fashion and style.

In the past year, gold has made a comeback and it looks like it’s bound to stay longer. The use of gold in luxe, high street, and couture fashion have been truly novel – from the red carpet ensembles of celebrities to the fall fashion looks of top designers.   

Who could ever forget Cameron Diaz's Oscar de la Renta gown? It was a divine strapless dress with gold sequins in tulle.Or the Georges Chakra cocktail dress worn by Kristen Bell and Taylor Swift? 

Balmain Fall 2010

Apart from the usual runways and events, we have also seen an influx in the use of gold in other fashion items. Model’s Own recently came out with its innovative Gold Rush Nail polish, priced at $130,000! Too expensive? Aficionados are given cheaper alternatives by Rococo’s Gold Leaf nail polish ($32) which contains 24K gold flakes suspended in a clear base!

Model's Own Gold Rush Nail Varnish comes with 1,118 diamonds encrusted in a golden lid

Rococo's Gold Leaf Nail Polish-  with real 24K gold flakes!

The year 2011 will see a new twist in the gold trend as top designers and fashion brands will continue to spur out their golden creations. For the meantime, Kirsten Stewart has continued the trend wearing a Reem Acra 2011 Spring collection for the 2011 People's Choice Awards, and Diesel is now out with its Black Gold Collection. 

The Gold Standard may be obsolete, but Gold still lives on. 

My Bucketlist

TRAVEL. BE CRAZY. LAUGH. LOVE. LIVE.

In retrospect, these have become my lifetime’s to-do list.

.Live in NYC for a period of my life, be it 6 months, a year or two.

.Share my thoughts, write a book. 

.Experience free fall – go bungy jumping!

.Watch a Cirque du Soleil performance. 

.Feel love in the City of Lights. 

.Love the work I do.

.See the Pope. 

.Meet and greet Al Greenspan, George Soros and Bill Clinton.

.Set foot in all 7 continents of the world.

.Fly first class.

.Sit on a jury.

.Date a bull rider.

.Watch the Olympics and the World Cup live.

.Befriend a child. Appreciate their innocence.

.Sleep under the starlit sky.

.One full day of good luck. 

.Start a charity.

.Eat without the guilt.

.Crash a party.

.Own a business.

.Earn at least 2 graduate degrees.

.A photo op with Karl Lagerfeld.

.Fall in love.

 .Find happiness.

At the end of the road, I would want to see myself, the girl-traveler, a wiser and more passionate student of life and of the world.