Northern Living: 2015 January

January 2015 Volume 8 | Issue 17

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CONT ENTS 12 COVER STORY Lucille Dizon finds inspiration within her family and makes the passed-on craft her own

JANUARY 2015 03 HEALTH Remedy old aches with modern healing methods for enriching the soul

10 SPACE Why it’s crucial to keep mirrors away from bedrooms and beds away from windows

04 BEAUTY How the Chinese apply a dose of natural wonders used for skincare

18 STYLE Otherworldly appeal rests on wearing pastels on golden afternoons

06 NORTHERNER Putting her own spin to fashion trends makes TC Alvarez’s designs fresh

27 RECIPE Recreate the taste of Mexico with huevos rancheros and tortillas Cover photo by Cyrus Panganiban

EDITOR’S NOTE Out of convention Veering away from the common notion that the New Year is a time to start anew, former New York Times editor Hal Borland defines it as “neither an end nor a beginning but a going on with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.”

It is an opportunity to learn from our mistakes and to apply the new wisdom that the past 365 days conferred to us. The New Year is a continuous process of learning and unlearning; we retain what we think are valuable and practical, and we lock away the grim memories of the near and the distant pasts.

For our first issue of 2015, we embrace age-old traditions that are still relevant to the new mode of living. We take notes on what Chinese traditional herbs and medicines are best used for your different skincare needs. And we show you the basic tips on how to maintain a balanced flow of energy in your own home through feng shui practices. To balance the old and the new, Lucille Dizon, noted jewelry designer, shares her penchant for colorful gemstones and how she transforms the classic aesthetic into modern art.

Talk to us on Facebook and you just might win a special prize from us.

Visit www.facebook.com/southernlivingmagazine now. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @slivingph. We’d love to hear from you.

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NORTHERNliving GROUP PUBLISHER BEA J. LEDESMA ASSOCIATE MANAGING EDITOR DENISE DANIELLE ALCANTARA EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS ALLEC TESTADO, PRISTINE L. DE LEON CREATIVE DIRECTOR NIÑA MUALLAM GRAPHIC ARTIST DANICA CONDEZ CONTRIBUTORS WRITERS SEPTEMBER GRACE MAHINO, BEVERLY DALTON, CHRYSSA CELESTINO, DIANNE PINEDA ILLUSTRATOR TRISTAN TAMAYO, SAINTE JAMES TAN STYLISTS EDLENE CABRAL, SAM LIM HAIR AND MAKEUP BAMBI DELA CRUZ, BULLET REYES, CAMILLE VILLARUEL PHOTOGRAPHERS JILSON SECKLER TIU, SAM LIM, JOSEPH PASCUAL, CYRUS PANGANIBAN COPY EDITOR SEPTEMBER GRACE MAHINO EDITORIAL CONSULTANT RIA FRANCISCO-PRIETO CUSTOM ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER DAPHNE SEE ASSOCIATE MANAGING EDITOR PAM BROOKE CASIN PROJECT COORDINATOR RENÉE ESPENILLA EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS PRISTINE L. DE LEON, PAULINE MIRANDA ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES SHANNA MALING, HANNAH RAMOS, INA MATEO GRAPHIC ARTISTS AUBREY PORCIUNCULA, ROI DE CASTRO, TEJ TAN, YAYIE MOTOS PRODUCTION MANAGER NOEL CABIE PRODUCTION ASSISTANT MARICEL GAVINO FINAL ART SUPERVISOR DENNIS CRUZ FA ARTIST JR LAROSA BOARD CHAIRPERSON ALEXANDRA PRIETO-ROMUALDEZ FINANCE ADVISOR AND TREASURER J. FERDINAND DE LUZURIAGA LEGAL ADVISOR ATTY. RUDYARD ARBOLADO HR STRATEGY HEAD RAYMUND SOBERANO VP AND CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER IMELDA ALCANTARA SVP AND GROUP SALES HEAD, INQUIRER GROUP OF COMPANIES FELIPE R. OLARTE SALES DIRECTOR MA. KATRINA MAE GARCIA-DALUSONG KEY ACCOUNTS SPECIALIST ANGELITA TAN-IBAÑEZ ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES ABEGAIL GINAGA, ANDIE ZUÑIGA, SARAH CABALATUNGAN, ALETHEIA ORDIALES SALES SUPPORT ASSISTANTS RECHELLE ENDOZO, MARA KAREN ALIASAS

This magazine was printed responsibly using recycled papers with biodegradable inks.

FEEDBACK

REDISCOVERING “I’ve been hearing a lot about the changes the local communities all over the Philippines are experiencing: lost language, lost tradition, lost magic, lost voices.

And I am glad that the magazine puts emphasis on these subjects. I couldn’t agree more with what Chef Gonzalez said: that the trend nowadays, not just in the culinary circle, is to import from foreign countries, when in fact, our own culture remains full of magic, enchantment, and glory just waiting to be discovered again. Thank you for these discoveries, Northern Living! I am looking forward to reading more of these.”

Reia Dangeros

@nlivingph @nlivingph

November 2014 Volume 8 | Issue 15

www.facebook.com/ northernlivingmagazine nlivingph@hip.ph Share your thoughts on our latest issue and get a chance to win prizes.

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CULTURE HUNTING

Orville Valencia

Hello, I really enjoyed your December issue, and the issues before that. I really enjoy reading each article whatever the topic.

However, I think there is space for improvement regarding your photos - the stories become more striking when the photos better represent what the story tries to say. Just my one cent.

Cheers and happy holidays!

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HEALT H

THE NEW ORDER

stressful situations, as the drawn cards reveal the issues at play for each person, from physical to emotional and psychological.

Let go of old problems through The cards are not meant for fortune-telling; they merely New Age measures illuminate what already is and help theta healers explain to TEXT SEPTEMBER GRACE MAHINO the clients the possible solutions to their pressing problems, such as forgiveness, self-love, and non-attachment. Those ILLUSTRATION TRISTAN TAMAYO who come seeking for very particular answers may come away disappointed but talking to someone else who can be objective Theta healing Certain body aches are psychosomatic symptoms of deeper about a situation can be therapeutic in itself. A session ends issues that are plaguing you, and theta healing helps you make with the theta healer cleansing the client’s aura and transmitting a connection between the two. For example, difficulty in to them the healing and calming energy from the cards. On a deep level, theta healing could get you on the path of healing breathing indicates an unhealthy flow of emotions.

Theta healing sessions involve deep discussions between the yourself through acceptance. On a more immediate scope, you healer and the client, from queries about physical ailments leave a session feeling much lighter than when you came in. to insightful questions on behavior patterns and pressing relationship problems, in a process called “digging.” The Meditation healer helps the client reach the theta state, where the brain Contrary to the belief that meditation involves getting the waves are on the frequency that allows for deep meditation. mind completely blank, it actually means letting thoughts pass “It is when in this state you are able to work directly with through you but without getting attached to the emotions that Source, Spirit, the Universe, God, or Creator of All That Is... color each thought. Meditation teacher Denise Celdran says, to facilitate powerful healings,” describes the website Theta “It’s easy to go into a circle of thoughts grinding inside your head, especially the negative ones. But when you accept your thoughts Alchemy (www.thetaalchemy.com).

Theta healers also do muscle testing, which determines the without judging them, the mind begins to calm down.” kinds of beliefs that a client holds on to as well as if a shift has Centering on your breath is also the key concept in meditation. happened in their belief system after the session. “When a bottom “Notice your breath: it’s shallow when you’re stressed and belief is transformed, [those] stacked above it will automatically thinking negatively. When you deliberately take deeper, longer change—like a house of cards—instantly freeing you from ones, you become calmer; the sting of your thoughts abate.” limiting patterns without the need to relive past traumas.” Meditation and breathing bring a world of wonders when Negative belief systems are transformed from deep within, done regularly: they help you focus on the present, on the allowing the client to recreate their life the way they would like to. act of breathing, and the ability to be non-judgmental about your thoughts is vital in developing detachment—and with detachment comes the lessening of stress and fear. “You watch Millennial card reading and aura cleansing There are also theta healers that use millennial cards to help your thoughts and emotions as if from a third person point of those who need healing to get to the root of their current view: you see them but they don’t eat you up. You’re calm.”

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BEAUT Y

ASIAN HERBIVORE

Remedies as old as time show that the Chinese know a thing or two about herbal skincare TEXT BEVERLY DALTON ILLUSTRATION DANICA CONDEZ

In our skincare regimen, we’ve come to a point where we slather at least five products on our faces to avoid aging: retinol, eye cream, whitening, night cream, collagen cream, and who knows what else.

But there are Old World miracles long developed and used by the Chinese that are all-natural and basic, yes, yet just as effective as drugstore products. Traditional herbal medicine helps the body’s self-healing capacity to correct conditions that cause skin problems in the first place. The next time you’re in Chinatown, add these to your shopping list.

Ling zhi Rich in minerals, amino acids, vitamins, and essential oils, this mushroom helps cellular regeneration, and its strong antioxidant properties make it an effective skin anti-pollutant.

It also helps retain water and maintain

elasticity, keeping the skin hydrated and smooth.

Bai guo More commonly known as gingko, it is one of the most precious plants in China and contains amino acids and collagen. Gingko helps maintain the skin’s elasticity, keeping it younglooking and fresh as it reduces the appearance of wrinkles. It also has compounds that are anti-bacterial and anti-fungal, which make it a great natural cleanser.

Zhu ru You’ll never have pimples with zhu ru.

It is actually shaved bamboo and can be used as a gentle exfoliant that also moisturizes skin. The zhu ru’s pulp contains lignan, which helps balance oil production and prevent clogged pores, which are the beginnings of acne.

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Ju hua Known better by its English name chrysanthemum, this flower contains energizing compounds that stimulate circulation. It nourishes and invigorates the skin and gets rid of fatty deposits such as cellulite when combined with massage and warmth. It also has anti-inflammatory properties to tighten skin.

Ren shen This fleshy-rooted plant, popularly known as ginseng, promotes blood circulation to improve cellular function and regeneration. It also contains saponin, which has the ability to make rough skin smooth by removing excess oil and dirt from the outermost layers of the dermis. In addition, saponin has a compound called panagy acid that keeps skin hydrated. The overall effect: supple and younger-looking skin.

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NORT HERNER TC Alvarez stands by the fact that she’s a wife and mother first before she is a fashion designer, a brand owner of Two Chic and a consultant for Josie Natori.

TOO CHIC FOR MILAN, NEW YORK, AND JAPAN Designer TC Alvarez’s balancing act

TEXT ALLEC TESTADO PHOTOGRAPHY JILSON SECKLER TIU

Making women instantly feeling sexy, empowered, and happy is the objective for every piece designed by TC Alvarez.

“It makes me happy when they feel good wearing my clothes, even though it’s very superficial. It’s not lasting happiness, but sometimes you have to take the little things and enjoy it.”

After finishing college, Alvarez’s love for clothes had pushed her into entering fashion design. Inno Sotto’s 1998 Fashion Watch was her big break, and her potential brought her to work in New York for Josie Natori.

“The office environment was tough and competitive,” Alvarez says of her first year at Natori, which she also describes as the hardest. “But I learned perseverance and how to trust my intuition, how to trust your own eye. Those are what you have to hone as a designer. If you see it in your mind and you keep working at

it, then others will see what you see; experience has taught me that.” On overcoming the freshman struggle at the Big Apple, she says, “[I just had] to be exposed to the environment, just breathe it in. Working for another designer is always a good thing rather than starting on your own right away, because you learn a lot from other people.”

Alvarez stopped designing in 2003 to start a family, but her passion for creating clothes and developing concepts led her to return, and within five years, Alvarez and her sister got to create their own brand Two Chic. “Two Chic gives me time to make clothes the way I like [them]: with a lot of detail, with a lot of thought involved. It’s the very antithesis of fast fashion. I want to make clothes that are very interesting, clothes that have a lot of character, and clothes that elicit an emotional

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response. That’s what I like, making pieces that are very emotional.”

As a designer, uniqueness in her work even as she observes current trends is a must. “The trick is how I’d interpret them. Each designer’s interpretation is where the difference comes from.” As for the women buying the clothes, she advises, “You don’t have to be a victim in the sense that, from head to toe, you’re trendy. Know where to inject [the trends], because if everything is trendy from head to toe, then it’s not real [style].”

At Alvarez’s design studio, there is a big corkboard where all her visual inspirations are pinned, including her children’s drawings. Just as she gives her own spin to what’s current, Alvarez deftly mixes being a fashion designer and a brand owner with being a wife and a mother who’s greatly inspired by her family.

NORT HERNER Alvarez’s own interpretation of the whimsical trend (extreme left). Looking for the right fabric is always a challenge for TC Alvarez (left). Two Chic designs have greater focus on beading and embroidery (below).

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SPACE

INTO THE NATURAL The key to achieving Zen-inspired spaces is to bring as much of nature into your home TEXT PRISTINE DE LEON ILLUSTRATION SAINTE JAMES TAN

1. Fill the room with soft, earthy colors to usher in a feeling of peace and relaxation. Have the furniture and the walls suffused with shades of beige, white, and gray.

2. Replace the brash fluorescent lights on the ceiling with more soothing means of illumination. Let natural light in and play with possibilities of using lamps and candle light.

3. Keep it simple. Steer clear of excess and overly-intricate designs. Let the interior of your home be structured with uncomplicated lines and patterns.

4. Design your space with elements of nature: wood lining the walls, bamboo shoots, water fountains, and hints of rocks and flowers embellishing the room.

5. Keep your bed a sacred space. Place it close to an open window where sunlight would easily stream in. Keep it away from busy areas, such as doors or other passageways.

Keep it high from the floor; the height, just fit for your level of comfort.

6. Have sweet, natural fragrances fan the air. Let essential oils, scented candles, incense, and freshly cut flowers simultaneously soothe and revitalize the spirit.

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COVCR ERAF STORY T

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COV ER STORY

More than 10 years since she started designing jewelry, Lucille Dizon has kept her sense of wonder and fascination with the exacting brilliance of her craft TEXT SEPTEMBER GRACE MAHINO PHOTOGRAPHY CYRUS PANGANIBAN

Marrying into a family whose matriarch’s legacy looms When did you know that jewelry design is what you’d large could be intimidating, to say the least, to anybody, love to do for the rest of your life? but Lucille Dizon isn’t just “anybody.” She joined the The very first time I saw my created piece, the feeling was Dizon family business of creating exquisite pieces of surreal. I hope to continue that wide-eyed surprise and joy, jewelry in 2002 and has since found her niche beside her no matter how many obstacles may come my way. sisters-in-law, Janina Dizon Hoschka and Candy Dizon, and her mother-in-law, the late Jul B. Dizon. Though she How was the late Jul B. Dizon like as a mother-in-law didn’t have any formal training in the craft, she has had the and a fellow designer? best learning environment possible, surrounded by women She always encouraged us to think out of the box. To her, who are passionate about transforming colorful stones designing has no boundaries. into wearable pieces of art. With each of them having their own aesthetic, Dizon has found Oriental themes and the Art Deco her specialty in turning vintage items aesthetic are frequent sources of into something more contemporary, inspiration for you. What about “The very first time I balancing the romanticism of the them attracts you? Are there new saw my created piece, classic with the refreshing appeal of influences that you’re exploring now modern art. for your designs? the feeling was surreal.

The new year looks bright for Dizon.

I think it’s the eclecticism in these I hope to continue that Aside from the yearly family tradition styles, their rich colors and geometric of presenting a new collection, which patterns. But lately, I’ve been wide-eyed surprise and happens every July, she is also looking designing with the use of white quartz joy, no matter how forward to enjoying her Gemological combined with colored stones. There’s many obstacles may Institute of America scholarship and still a vintage feel to them, though. the doors of potential that it will come my way.” open for her. 12 years now into her What is the usual setting whenever craft, it is all still fresh and exciting for you work? her. “Making jewelry remains a welcome challenge,” she I’m surrounded by colorful gemstones, with sometimes the says. Despite the inherent limitations of the materials she giggles and screams of my kids as my music. works with and the exacting processes that they call for in order to be transformed, re-imagining how else a cuff, How do you balance your autonomy as a creative with a neckpiece, or a pair of earrings could be seen and worn the business aspect of jewelry design? keeps Dizon drawn. “Updating an existing piece while It’s the hardest part of my job: balancing what people keeping it wearable for the next 10 years—that is a process would want [with what I want]. When designing, I try to I find exciting.” consider the lifestyle of my clients, which I have been able to adhere to by creating pieces that they can wear from day Before finding your passion for jewelry design, you had to night just by adding or detaching a few details. dabbled in fashion and the culinary arts. What is about creating that you find attractive, whether it’s creating What do you look at to get your mind going? jewelry or clothes or a dish?

Until now, I still love looking at fashion magazines and fashion Growing up, I developed a fascination for fashion blogs. I like going to places that are rich in history and culture. magazines, clothes, and jewelry. I think my artistic desires have shaped who I’ve become, with the help of my mother- Is there a particular person that you think embodies in-law; my innate interest in design just transferred from what your jewelry is about? fashion to jewelry when I married into the Dizon family. Tina Chow. I love her personal style. She has never been For me, jewelry designing is a joyful process and it gives me a fashion follower but rather a leader with her own sense a sense of fulfillment. of style.

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“I’m surrounded by colorful gemstones, with sometimes the giggles and screams of my kids as my music.”

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HAIR AND MAKEUP BAMBI DELA CRUZ.

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ST YLE

GOLDEN HOUR Greet the last breath of daylight with pastel colors, evoking the flowers’ enduring bloom STYLING EDLENE CABRAL PHOTOGRAPHY JOSEPH PASCUAL

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ST YLE

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On Crystalle: Fringe jacket, P4,790, River Island, SM Aura Premier. Satin skirt, P2,690, Miss Selfridge, Robinsons Magnolia.

On Jo: Tube dress, P4,490, and fur jacket, P6,990, both River Island, SM Aura Premier.

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ST YLE

HAIR BULLET REYES. MAKEUP CHUCHIE LEDESMA. MODELS CRYSTALLE AND JO OF ELITE MANILA.

Quarter-sleeved top, P1,999, Sfera, SM City Makati.

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Shift dress, P3,495, Topshop, TriNoma Mall. Laurel headband, P995, SuiteBlanco, SM Aura Premier.

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ST YLE

Draped gown, price available upon request, made to order by Eric de los Santos, ericdlsantos@yahoo.com.

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EATS Duck and Buvette offers their specialty duck confit, whole grain mustard, ratatouille duck rice, red wine sauce, and cranberry carrots (right) paired with grilled romaine salad on the side (extreme right).

LITTLE CHARMER

This cozy and casual restaurant shows the less intimidating side of French dining TEXT DIANNE PINEDA PHOTOGRAPHY JILSON SECKLER TIU

French restaurants have a tendency to be misunderstood as highfaluting and snobby. With fancy-sounding dishes often served with a refined presentation by a staff dressed in crisp white uniforms, their cuisine is typically construed as befitting only those who are rich and cultured.

Duck and Buvette, tucked in the corner of the old wing of Shangri-La Plaza, is an unexpectedly inviting place that serves casual, no-fuss French specialties. It is the protégé of Café Provençal, an older café for the mature crowd that serves rustic French cuisine from the same group of owners.

This time, D&B is made more suitable for everyone: no dress code required but certainly the food is no less sophisticated.

The restaurant’s refreshing light blue and gray interiors play up this friendly and cozy vibe.

The anchor dish is the crispy Duck Confit, a duck slowcooked in its own fat and made three days in advance.

There are no shortcuts taken in its cooking technique as the flavors of the duck are wheedled until it comes out rich and textured. Applying the same age-old process of preservation as the French, D&B considers the making of the confit as an art form, cooking the duck with secret spices and saltcuring the meat. The result is indeed a masterpiece: the

skin is crisp and brown on the outside, while the meat falls voluntarily off the bones with a single prodding of the fork.

Instead of the usual quarter-sized serving, the dish is served in half-duck portions, with sides of ratatouille duck rice and cranberry carrots. The red wine sauce adds another layer of taste to the meat, though the duck itself is flavorful enough to be eaten on its own.

The slow, red wine-braised Beef Burgundy is a best-selling dish in Café Provençal that had customers clamoring for more, so D&B couldn’t resist adding it to their menu. And while salads are usually the second leads in any meal, the Grilled Romaine Salad holds some clout of its own with its charred romaine leaves on a plate of garlic cooked in duck fat, anchovies, almonds, and shaved cheese drizzled with special aioli dressing. The grilling of the romaine salad is a clever idea as the slightly burnt taste balances the richness of the garlic confit.

Everything, from the bread and sourdough pizza to their desserts, is made from scratch—the only way the French do their food. After a rich, satisfying meal, order a soothing cup of their famous Intelligentsia coffee or opt to cool your palate with the honey thyme and vanilla bean ice cream.

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EATS With D&B’s Flamenkuch (right), taste a sumptuous mix of bacon, créme fraiche, onions, topped with duck egg. Then, try honey thyme and vanilla bean ice cream (extreme right) as a sweet way to cap off the meal.

Duck and Buvette. 2F Main Wing, Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Mandaluyong City. 631-0675. www.facebook.com/duckbuvette.

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RECIPE RECIPE

TASTE OF MEXICO

Go on a joyride of crispy textures and spicy flavors with this Mexican meal TEXT, PHOTOGRAPHY AND STYLING SAM LIM

HUEVOS RANCHEROS WITH CRISPY TORTILLAS INGREDIENTS

1 medium red onions 3 cloves of garlic 4 red chili 1 can of baked beans 1 medium bell pepper A pinch of cumin A pinch of paprika 1 can of diced tomato 1 tablespoon of tomato paste 1 egg 2-3 pcs medium flour tortilla Chopped cilantro (optional) Olive oil Salt and pepper

PREPARATION 1. Heat olive oil in a pan, sauté onions, garlic, chilli, beans, and bell pepper.

2. Add cumin and paprika and continue cooking.

3. Add tomato paste and continue sautéing for 3 minutes.

4. Add diced tomatoes and simmer until most of the liquid evaporates.

5. Make a well and crack the egg in the middle of the beans. Cover with lid and cook the egg until it’s done.

Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Garnish with some chopped cilantro.

6. Meanwhile, cut tortillas into triangles then deep fry until golden and crispy. Serve along with the baked beans.

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T HE GET

AN OPEN SECRET

The only time peeping is allowed is when opening this antique keepsakes drawer TEXT CHRYSSA CELESTINO

There exists a collective yearning for manners of the past, and ways of the old. As technology finds itself in people’s modern needs, vintage inconveniences such as playing vinyl records have newfound importance. Suddenly, preserving history has turned into a practiced priority.

Histories are not always etched in word. For some, history is a moving picture or a still-image. At Chrysara Nest, a home décor company established over 30 years ago by ballerina legend Alice Reyes and her daughter Sara Upton, history is carved and kept on a woman of size.

Chrysara has been a hushed secret of the loyal few. Back in Pampanga, the brand is known for crafting devotional icons and tiny furniture as a creative manufacturing company, and later exporting them to countries outside our own. When it finally debuted as a local brand in Manila, Reyes adds Nest to the portmanteau named after her children, Chris and Sara.

Made in hand-cast resin with a vintage finish, the Fat Lady Drawer embodies an age gone by. It flaunts the 1920s obsession with the nautical. It tells of the trends that are bobbed hair, voluptuousness, and endless swimming back in the day. Like Chrysara Nest’s other home accents, the item comes off as antique but effortlessly modern as it blends well in contemporary house settings. It lends an old-world charm to spaces characterized by futuristic metals and smooth wood—a worn-out misfit amid the urban perfection.

Before finding the small drawer slides, one has to stay discreet but naughty when peeking into the woman’s towel. Of course, what you will see are not body parts, but sentimental items. The drawer can store keepsakes from diamond earrings granted by parents to a tarnished ring given by a past lover.

Chrysara Nest. Angeles Industrial Park, Calibutbut, Bacolor, Pampanga. chrysara@chrysara.com. chrysara-nest.myshopify.com.

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OPENING

FIRST QUARTER OF 2015 To be opened in 2015, B Hotel Quezon City is situated in 14 Scout Rallos St., Diliman, Quezon City. Chic, bright and contemporary, it raises the brands commitment-to-value to a new level. A state-of-the-art business center and function rooms, a restaurant, a fitness center, a pool and 111 well-appointed rooms to suit your eclectic taste. Sense an ambiance that’s suited for the well-travelled individuals.

M A N A G E D

B Y

www.thebellevue.com

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