A Different Miss Asia Pacific International This Year

 

Certainly, this year's Miss Asia Pacific International pageant felt so different. Last October 8th, Cebu Coliseum became the venue for the crowning of this year's queen, Isabela Fernandes of Brazil. Her advocacy on education and sustainability proved to be a huge factor in her gaining the crown. 

1st Runner Up went to the Philippines very own Anita Rose Gomez while 2nd, 3rd and 4th Runner Up posts went to Bowomrat Maneerat of Thailand, Jana Jannsens of Belgium and Delilah Almira Wildboer of the Netherlands. These ladies showcased not just their culture, but the individual causes they support in line with their own stories and the event's theme #HERStoryAblaze. These ladies also competed for their National Costume, Swimsuit and Evening Gowns. The special awards went to Bowomorat Maneerat representing Thailand for the National Costume, Anita Rose Gomez of the Philippines for the Best in Swimsuit and Isabela Fernandes of Brazil for the Evening Gown. They gave the Miss Photogenic award to Danube Kangjam of India and the Peoples Choice to UK's Anne Gomes.

This year also marks a new set of women representing the best of the regions, they're named Continental Queens. For the Americas, Michelle Whilar Lazarte of Peru won it. For Asia Aisyah Amini of Indonesia got it. For Europe Delilah Elmira Wildeboer of the Netherlands got the crown. For Africa, it went to South Africa's Bejandri Lourens while for Oceania was awarded to New Zealand's Hannah Leigh Cross. 

A Heartfelt Advocacy

All 43 delegates have experienced the 6.9 magnitude earthquake in the province of Cebu (Bogo City). Instead of the usual fanfare, the queens took part in relief efforts and took to streets and shelters, joined several partner NGO's, private entities to make sure they got to comfort those ravaged by the calamity. They were also in the Operation Smile gala when it happened, and it was heartwarming to see them helping during that time. They're definitely beauty queens with compassion, took their gloves off and cared for those in need. That made it all different this year, the pageant had lux and elegance, but it was being human that mattered most. Seeing that was certainly precious!

Blue Water Day Spa's Newest Services

One of the biggest names in the spa and care industry just introduced new services that's even a little easy in the pocket. Blue Water and Day Spa that's got branches in Ortigas, Makati, Eastwood, Tomas Morato, Capitol Hills, Naga City and Cotabato City will now have EMANS Massage and their favorite Brazilian Hand and Foot Massage as part of their services.

Now you must be wondering who these celebrities are on the poster, yes that's Anthony and David Semerad on the cover. They're the new image models for Blue Water and Day Spa and it was nice to see them in the flesh as part of the celebrations that afternoon. They really hit two birds with one stone.

The Brazilian Hand and Foot massage was basically made to lift your body. It also hastens to regenerate your skin and make your complexion a tad better. It utilizes a special massage for the hand and feet which techniques were made for the prevention of the appearance of varicose veins by using special crystals. It's something comparable to acupuncture since they concentrate on pressure points without really using needles. It is also said to prevent pain in the wrist and fingers making it all good for hand and muscle motion. Best of all, if you're tired and want to relax from blogging all day... this is the perfect way to get back in the groove again like pampering specific for the hands and feet.

Make Your Own Havaianas 2014

When I posted this photo on Instagram I immediately said that "I'll have what she's having!" because as you see she's doing the salsa like nobody's there! It was festive, it was like mardi gras in Manila right smack in the middle of Glorietta. Well I couldn't blame them because it is after all the start of Make Your Own Havaianas 2014. It will be open to the public from May 8 - 11 at the Glorietta Activity center in Makati City. I partied big time that evening with personalities and celebrities, some of whom you might actually recognize I'm sure.

From Salsa numbers, to Phil and James Younghusband, to Basti Artadi and Elmo Magalona and his siblings, it was an awesome day of making our own Havaianas. We felt that we were in the streets of Rio crumping and jumping to the tunes like nobody's watching. When I got the chance to do mine, a very friendly guy Adrian rushed to the counter and grabbed my Havaianas passport. The passport basically contains a checklist of items which you can just tick. From the actual rubber sole to the strap and the pins you would want to have, it's all there! He went to the back and got what I chose then started to assemble my Havaianas. :)

Geeky version of Adrian holding my Havaianas Passport. This is our trip to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil!

They had two tools that they heavily use. One was the small pole which they use to put the straps in. The other one was a crimper so you could choose and put in pins on the strap. It was really fast and I didn't really have to wait that long since there were stars behind me hahaha!

It's beginning to look like a pair of slippers now and they're putting in the cute pins. :)

Now I have MY OWN HAVAIANAS! :) It's as cute as me and the guy who made it with me agree!? Now go to Glorietta's Activity Center and Make Your Own Havaianas today til the 11th! :)