IMAGES ASIA 2016 3RD QUARTER EDITION FULL VERSION

IMAGESASIA Volume 3 Number 3 2016 Third Quarter Edition Php 300.00 | US$13.50

the expressions of art, life and style

Mhel Pechera

BEAUTY BLOOMS AMIDST ADVERSITY

6 Publisher & Editor-at-Large ERNEST GONZAGA Editor-in-Chief MINA ANGELES Associate Editor ALEXIS CRUZ Contributing Editor (Los Angeles, CA) SAM AZUREL Contributing Columnist CARMINIA PAVIA Managing Director/Head of Photography VOLTAIRE DOMINGO Advertising/Marketing ADVISION ASIA Graphic/Layout Director JOHN ERNEST GREGORY Chief Photographer HENRY FERRER Senior Photographer RONIN URBINA Contributing Photographer JIC CAFRANCA U.S.A. /Europe Photo Correspondents JAQUELINE ANDREA Las Vegas, NV IRVIN RIVERA Los Angeles, CA MJ CACHERO Geneva, Switzerland

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Mhel Pechara is the epitome of

how people are able to not only conquer adversities but to emerge as an inspiring success story while looking so glamorous.

Widowed at a young age Mhel faced a difficult future which entailed raising 3 young children and running a business wihout the benefit of a college degree. But this did not deter her at all. Looking back, she realized that without knowing it, she had been preparing herself for the day when she would lead her company, Iship Logipack Inc. as its President. She had been active in the company, training from the bottom up, while her husband was running it, she learned to operate the machinery, then attended numerous seminars and training sessions as well.

Hence, when time came for her to lead the company, she knew in her heart that she was ready.

Looking at what her children are today, it is very clear that while she is a big success in the business world, she is an even bigger success at parenting. All of her 3 children are talented and successful in diverse fields.

MHEL PECHERA

Beauty Blooms Amidst Adversity Photographed by HENRY FERRER Gowns by OLIVER TOLENTINO

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Her eldest son Karl Nikko is graduating this summer at an International School with a degree, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, majoring in Marketing. Mhel hopes that he will opt to join her in Iship but she is adamant that her children are free to choose their career paths and to work wherever they want.

Her second son Meray is a bit of jock in another International School where he is currently in the 8th grade and is on the schoolâ€&#x;s basketball varsity team.

Meray is multisport, being an avid golfer like his brother Karl.

Meiko is her youngest child and is quite an achiever not just in academics but in sports as well.

She is consistent honor student and is always on the Deans list in the same International School as her brother Meray. She is also an accomplished gymnast who was the overall champion in her division.

There is more to Mhel than just being a savvy businesswoman and the best parent ever to her children. She is a fitness buff who makes it a point to work out at least three time a week. Her workout is not the typical workout either as she focuses mainly on boxing and circuit training. She also runs and loves joining half marathons (21k) such as the Condura and Run Rio United. She also enjoys hiking and mountain climbing and has conquered the peaks of Mt. Pulag, Mt. Apo, Mt. Maculot and Pico de Loro among others.

She is clearly the type of person who enjoys pushing her body to the limit and overcoming those limits.

This penchant for doing things in an extraordinary manner extends even to what she collects. Parents as a general rule, love collecting photos of their children.

Mhel does this too, but she takes it a giant step further by commissioning large portraits of her children in sizes ranging from 16� x 20� to lifesize. These were commissioned since they were young and up to the present. Displayed throughout her house, it provides her with endless moments of wonder and appreciation at how cute they were before and how much they have grown.

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Unlike many affluent persons, Mhel is not much for collecting other things. She does not give much importance to material things and prefers to buy things for utilitarian purposes. In a nutshell she only buys what would be considered necessities for a woman in her position. This no nonsense approach is see as well in her fashion sense and style. She considers her style as her own and does not follow any fashion trend for the sake of being “in style”. Mhel always prefers to be in “Mhel style”, nothing less. Hence she dresses as she sees fit for the occasion, dressing elegantly for parties and the office, while dressing casually for shopping or bonding time with her children.

Despite all the adversities she had overcome, Mhel remains youthful and glamorous. She credits her active lifestyle for providing her with such a slim figure and for her looks. For her beauty is what others see when you feel beautiful inside.

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Moreover, despite her impressive physical condition, she does not deprive herself of treats, indulging in cheat days but always taking things in moderation.

Looking back on her life, Mhel is most proud of how her children have grown up to be such wonderful and talented persons, This is her greatest achievement, and one which she is most proud of. Second to her family is her business which is now 12 years old and continues to grow under her stewardship.

She looks up to Oprah Winfrey and Angelina Jolie for showing that with determination, one can make a difference in this world.

Deeply religious, Mhel draws strength from her faith and her family. A simple and modest person at heart, she stresses to her children that “we are not rich, but are just blessed”. This is belief that is the cornerstone of her faith, believing that without the blessings of the Lord, nothing would be possible.

Ideally, Mhel would like to grow Iship Logipack Inc. even more, with the help of her children. But she does not want to coerce them in any way. She reminds them that they be whatever they want to be. If they want careers outside the family business, that is perfectly fine. And should they choose to work with her, then they are most welcome. For her, what is important is that her children be happy about where they are. At this point in her life, Mhel looks forward to the task of preparing her children for life. Seeing how she was able to overcome all the trials in her own life, clearly, her children are in very good hands.

It is perhaps fitting then, that we end this article with a quote from Mulan. “The flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of all”

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Hair & Make-up by RAM PAGADORA Location: PALO ALTO FALLS Baras, Rizal

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Balesin: Balesin:

Luxury paradise Luxuryand andexclusivity, Exclusivity,island Island Paradiseininthe thePacific Pacific

By By SAM SAM AZUREL AZUREL

Nestled in the clear blue waters of Eastern Coast Luzon in the

Philippines is an island that has been redefining the meaning of luxury tourism.

Balesin Island, which is located southeast of the country’s Polillo, Quezon Province, is a haven that is the definition of extravagance and exclusivity. It is the new hot estled in the clear blue waters of Eastern Coast Luzon in the Philippines is an spot in the tourism arena, both attracting local and international visitors for its island that has been redefining the meaning of luxury tourism. Balesin Island, which is located beauty and distinctiveness. southeast of the country‟s Polillo, Quezon Province, is a haven that is the definition of extravagance

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and exclusivity. It is the new hot spot in the tourism arena, both attracting local and international The high-end property is a joint venture between Philippine developer visitors for its beauty and distinctiveness.

Alphaland and Roberto Ongpin. Ongpin, who was educated at Harvard high-end property isAdministration a joint venture between Philippine developer Alphaland University’sThe Master of Business program, also serves as the chairman and Roberto Ongpin. Ongpin, who was educated at Harvard University‟s Master of Business of Balesin Island.

Administration program, also serves as the chairman of Balesin Island.

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Balesin Island Club is the epitome of topnotch, exclusive tourism. The members-only island can only be accessed via a 20-minute private airplane ride from Philippineâ€&#x;s capital, Manila, and employs electric carts as the primary means of transport within its vicinities. With its own medical center, restaurant complex, and villas, the island is truly a whole new different world of its own.

One of the wonders of the Island Club is its five distinct villages inspired by some of the most luxurious beach destinations around the world. Have you ever wished you could go to St. Tropez and fly to Bali the same day?

At Balesin, you can do this even with just your electric cart in tow.

IMAGESASIA 17 Step into the signature blue and white structures of Mykonos, Greece or delight your eyes with the vibrant candy colors St.Tropez in South France is so popular of. Move on to exploring the wonderful arched doorways and terracotta accents of Toscana, Italy before jumping to Costa del Sol‟s Spanish note-worthy colonial architecture. Relax in the secluded water villas of Bali or spend a few hours admiring the beautiful Buddha statues and scaled roofs of Phuket Thailand. Finally, cap the day off in Balesin and experience the signature warmth of a Filipino home.

The Island Club also has its very own private coves and white sand beaches fringing clear ocean waters teeming with colorful tropical fish and marine life. Once you get tired from all the excitement of the day, you can check in to its posh clubhouse or get a signature massage from the Balesin Spa. More than the luxurious facilities and activities, one thing that makes Balesin different from other worldclass destinations is its exclusivity.

Overcrowded pools and beaches are out of the question as well as packed facilities and noisy general areas. If there is one thing that Balesin is best identified with, it is the peace that it offers to its members, giving them a one-of-a-kind experience that is definitely not for everyone.

Membership in the Island Club is at the current rate of P2.2 million and comes with a free 14 nights of stay at the resort. The figure, while may be a bit pricey to some, is well-compensated by the value of the place which employs only the best of the best, from its well-designed in-villa Jacuzzis down to its 600-thread count cotton sheets.

For the topnotch traveler, Balesin is an island paradise in the Pacific that is definitely deserving of your P2.2 Million pesos. As Alphaland chairman Ongpin says to describe the exclusive experience the Island Club promises, “We do not intend to be, and will never be, all things to people. But what we do will be unique, and will definitely be done well.”

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KYLO CHUA

Mastering the Art of Modern Sculpture Photographed by RONIN URBINA

Kylo Chua has arrived. Not just as a

sculptor but as an entrepreneur. Just 28, he has already established himself as a master of modern sculpture and as a savvy, innovative businessman. An artist and an entrepreneur at heart, Kylo is a sculptor first and a businessman second. Sculptor.asia is home for him and his dad where they collaborate and create their works of art. Because of his technological savvy, Kylo has a formidable online presence and all of his sites are classy and make good use of current web technology.

Coming from a family of artists, it could be said that it was written in the cards that Kylo would someday be an artist too. True enough, after watching his father Seb and his uncle working at their craft, Kylo decided to get into sculpting in a major way. His ever supportive father encouraged him to join competitions and before they knew it, Kylo was winning awards and blazing new trails in modern sculpture.

IMAGESASIA 22 Seb his father, is his role model. It inspires him to see how his dad‟s work has deeply inspired so many in Philippine art societies. So Kylo is consciously following his dads‟ footsteps as an artist and in his approach to life where he is not fazed by challenges and instead takes a step back in order to formulate out of the box ideas. Kylo is truly his father‟s son.

He was educated by the Jesuits for most of this life, beginning with Xavier for nursery thru grade school and high school then moving to Ateneo de Manila for college.

In 2009, while he was an undergraduate in Ateneo, he had two major accomplishments, he was a grand finalist in the HSBC Young Entrepreneurs Awards, and he got Honorable Mention in the National Shell Arts Competition sponsored by Pilipinas Shell. He was taking Fine Arts in the Ateneo de Manila at that time and in his senior year, he received the very first Loyola Schools Awards for the Arts in the Sculpture category in 2010. He graduated from the Ateneo in 2010 with a degree, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Major in Information Design.

Kylo is a very driven person and while he was still in college he had already co-founded two startup companies which gave him valuable information and insights in the world of innovation and technology.

He also had a keen interest in gemology and received an international scholarship from the Gemological Institute of America. This led him to put up Gemcamp Laboratories through which he hopes to be able to uplift and professionalize the gemstone and jewelry business in the Philippines. This he intends to do by providing education and support using the knowledge he acquired during his scholarship.

His other endeavours with his brother Erick are very impressive online ventures as well. They have Shapecloud.ph which is a highly innovative online 3D printing platform geared towards students and businesses. He also created Gemcamp.com, an online marketplace for the jewelry industry, allowing individual sellers to utilize the marketplace to reach out to the world market. Both sites are well done and even techies would be impressed at how well they were designed and how well they work.

While his extensive achievements to date might lead one to think that Kylo is some sort of a recluse, artist and nerd all rolled into one, that thought couldn‟t much further from the truth because like most under 30s, Kylo enjoys sports like badminton, water sports, internet gaming, boardgame cafes and generally just chilling with friends. He enjoys discovering new hangout places and travelling, having travelled extensively with friends and family to Boracay, Alaska and Japan among other places. He especially enjoyed the Alaska trip because it was on a cruise ship and it was, for him, the most memorable among all his travels to date.

IMAGESASIA 23 Kylo states in his profile in an online art site that he is in love with both a girl (his girlfriend Jacq) and his passion for the arts. This is most certainly a statement from the heart. Kyloâ€&#x;s collections reveal the heart of an artist, focusing on collecting memorabilia from family and friends. Collecting souvenirs from all his trips, essentially preserving those precious memories through his collection. The gemologist in him also calls for collecting minerals and gemstones. He loves the beauty and rarity of these gemstones, keeping a collection of moonstone, aquamarine and saphire for his own private collection which is not for sale.

He has a simple fashion style, clean and modern, not unlike his sculptures. His preferred everyday attire is a round-collared shirt and jeans. In a manner not unlike successful people like Mark Zuckerberg and Steve Jobs, he buys multiple exact copies of the same clothing.

He obssesses over this because he believes that if you already found something comfortable, which fits you to a t, whatâ€&#x;s the point in looking for something else?

Obsessive? A little. But it does make a lot of sense. And for successful people like the two mentioned above, it becomes part of your identity and is actually makes it quite iconic and intertwined with your persona. Like the way Zuckerberg has made the hoodie into a icon, a symbol even, of the new generation of entrepreneurs.

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It is perhaps fitting as well that Kylos outlook in life is both simple and profound. He believes it is our job to put our whole hearted efforts in what we love doing, to push as far as we can, for as long as we can and then leave the rest to God. Obviously Kylo is still not done pushing though the Masters has clearly smiled upon his efforts thus far. However, he still looks forward to holding exhibitions in every country and using them as vehicles for collaborating with foreign artists of all generations.

More than this, he also hopes to create a name that will be widely recognized and acknowledged as the last word in elegant sculpture and lavish design worldwide.

Lofty dreams? Perhaps, but Kylo has always had the knack of achieving his dreams.

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A Symphony of Slavic Art

By ERNEST GONZAGA

We introduce to the enlightened Filipino and Southeast Asian collector to the arena of artists

(whose works are sold at Christie's auction, Saatchi gallery and at many other galleries all around the world) who hail from a bastion of classical painting: Ukraine, Russia, Armenia, etc. Those and attendant nations that were once part of the greater Russian Empire were a fulcrum of western classic art for centuries, from the fall of the Byzantine empire, through the Renaissance right up until the Bolshevik revolution of 1917 which overthrew the Russian Empire and established in its place the USSR.

Girl Selling Souvenirs

By Artem Tolstukhin 43cm x 50cm Oil on canvas 2013

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Andrievsky Descent (House of Bulgakov in Kiev)

By Roman Agasyn 50cm x 100cm Oil on canvas 2014

With the onset of the global financial crisis of the late 2000â€&#x;s, coupled with recent geopolitical and economic troubles in Southern Russia and particularly, in the Ukraine in the past couple of years, an opportunity has now arisen for Filipino and Southeast Asian collectors to acquire academically perfect, European paintings of a traditional style at price levels previously unavailable.

At this time V-gallery offers paintings that evoke the romantic, poetic, landscapes of Turgenev and Tolstoy, of emotion and dreams. Impressionist, illusory and decoratively hued, we hope our modet offerings may fulfil critical gaps for the Southeast Asian collector. Our belief is that impressionist painting and romantic landscapes, for example, are not just 19th century period museum pieces. Indeed, while the modern art world will always continue to expunge new forms, controversies, styles and meanings, we believe there is still a space for, and a collector for whom, the traditional European painting shall always beckon.

Pascha

By Polina Kuznetsova 100cm x 70cm oil on canvas 2005

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Calibri

By Roman Agasyn 80cm x 80cm Oill on canvas 2015 Girl by the Window

By Polina Kuznetsova 110 cm x 80 cm oil on canvas 2008

Evening in the South

By Artem Tolstukhin 50cm x 70cm Oil on canvas 2012

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Acknowledgement: V GALLERY Ms. VICTORIA TUREGUN

Still Life With Golden Pears

By Roman Agasyn 45cm x 100 cm Oil on canvas 2012

Sunny Bay

By Artem Tolstukhin 60cm x 90cm Oil on Canvas 2013

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Lilacs

By Roman Agasyn Oil on Canvas 40cm x 50cm 2015

Forever

By Roman Agasyn 75cm x 135cm Oil on canvas 2003

Wine and Pomegrantes

By Roman Agasyn 50cm x 70cm Oil on canvas 2014

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CASA NIEVES A Mountain Gastronomic Haven

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Gambas Al Ajillo

Take a short but scenic drive up the

mountains of Antipolo, away from the bustling metropolis, and you will arrive at the heart of an emerging culinary destination – the home of good design and great food – Casa Nieves.

Here, city-weary diners looking for a new yet familiar experience will enjoy outstanding accommodations together with Antipolo‟s refreshing climate. Wine and dine in Casa Nieves, a new concept restaurant that uses only the freshest local ingredients to support local producers, as well as authentic international ingredients sourced from across the globe to formulate its recipes.

Paella Valenciana

Picture your well-loved, glamorous and sophisticated Tita who can cook a mean osso bucco or paella – that‟s Nieves Escobar Rodriguez-Lanuza, the restaurant‟s namesake, who was known foremost for her great cooking and for throwing amazing parties that brought everyone to the table for an incredible dining experience. Casa Nieves has lived up to her name by serving thoughtully created dishes in a unique, inviting and family-oriented setting.

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Popular and unique in the ala carte menu are Spanish and Italian favorites, which are great for wine or sangria pairing. Also on the top ten favorites are the Beef Salpicao, Gambas Al Ajillo, Croquettas, Chorizo Frito, Osso Buco, Pan Roasted Honey Glazed Salmon, Prawn and Crab Fat Pasta, Vongole, Porchetta, and the top favorite Paella Valenciana.

Aspiring chefs can also learn continental flavors in this restaurant, where everyday is an entirely new day with a thematic lunch and dinner buffet service. Monday is dedicated for local Filipino cuisine, Tuesday is for Thai, Wednesday for Korean, Thursday for Spanish, Friday for Italian, Saturday for American and Sunday for international cuisine.

The desserts are as tempting, charming and appealing as the storeâ€&#x;s interiors look from the outside. Beverage favorites include fresh fruit shakes, creamy milk shakes, and both local and imported beers and wines.

Flavors and servings are generous, good for sharing and reasonably priced. The ambiance positively reflects the quality of food and service that you can expect from a true restaurant.

Chorizo Frito

Caesar Salad

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Classic Carbonara with Spicy Chorizo At Casa Nieves, we believe that our taste buds reunite families and friends from all parts of the globe, culminating in a singular place where we can enjoy our favorite dishes and celebrate priceless moments. If you are looking for great food, something new and extraordinary, a place that is perfect for intimate dinners, a patio dining experience while indoors, a place for family get-togethers, quiet moments with your thoughts and some wine, head on to Casa Nieves at the Lower Ground of Robinsons Place Antipolo, Sumulong Highway Antipolo City Rizal, Philippines.

Go on a road trip and share your experience with the rest.

Osso Buco

Bolognese

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Address: Al Fresco, Lower Ground Robinsons Place Antipolo Sumulong Highway, Antipolo City Rizal, Philippines Tel: 02 997-1894 Mobile: 0917-543-5931

Service Hours: 10am to 11pm Daily Products and Services: Lunch and Dinner Buffet Ala Carte Catering Reservations for Parties and Social Events

Vongole

Pan Roasted Honey Glazed Salmon

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By ERNEST GONZAGA Metro Manille’s some glitzy, glitzy nights

A surprising Hermès party

Manila‟s high-end Hermès store had a

luxury launch and opened its home section on the second floor of its Makati Avenue flagship store recently.

The second-level home section by Maison is kind a bit small by its standards but what it needs in space, makes up for with the opulent choices. It comprises of the top sellers of Hermès Maison worldwide from the understated Pantographe desk lamp to the Canaletto walnut desk.

Since the newly-opened space can‟t hold an after-cocktails reception, the upper crust guests was transported aboard a comfy bus from the store to guess where? To an unspecified destination.

The swanky Hermès party venue

Queenie Gee, Serla Russel, Agile Zamora and Tokie Tantoco

Chery Tiu, Crystal Cunningham and Duday Tuason

Ofelia Wadle, Nikki Tang and Yoli Ayson

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The guests were brought to the nearby park in San Lorenzo Village, into an amazingly adorned tented basketball court cum air-conditioner. The court was altered into a swanky and stylish hall. It was beautified with a white drape to conceal the ceiling ampled by theatrical lighting with contemporary vibrant cut paperboards figures all over.

The A-list guests relished cocktail food served from tofu to steaks, and endless pour of wines.

International theater artist Leo Valdez entertained the crowd with the live playing the „80s music to date.

Hats off once more to Mario Katigbak who was responsible for the very well organized affair.

Duday Tuason, Linda Ley, Maurice Arcache, Agile Zamora and Nikki Tang

Marissa Fenton, Yoli Ayson, Agile Zamora, Roi Philips and Lilibeth Campos

Philip Cu-unjieng and Issa Litton

Victoria Turegun, Tess Schoefer, Leo Valdes and Lilibeth Campos

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John Hardy 2016 Spring Collection Exclusive Preview

John Hardy is an artist and visionary,

he visited Bali in the 1970s and was enchanted by the island‟s sublime beauty. There, he founded an authentic collective with local artisans.

John Hardy was established in Bali in 1975; John Hardy is dedicated to the creation of ultimate beauty through artisan hand-crafted jewelry.

Our master artisans honor original craft through the perfection of modern design, creating timeless one-ofa-kind pieces that are brilliantly alive. Since inception, the company has remained passionately committed to community, artisanship and sustainability.

John Hardy model, Manolyne Taylor and Serla Russel

Each of John Hardy‟s distinctive collections convey evocative symbolism and honor the transmission of creative energy from the artisan to the wearer. More than jewelry - an eternal connection to the source of inspiration. For the seekers, the explorers, the storytellers.

John Hardy‟s exclusive VIP preview of their 2016 Spring Collection at Rustan‟s Makati was held recently. Good friend and one of Manila‟ s known party hostess, Agile Zamora played one of the hosts in the much attended cocktail event. Inquirer‟s Tessa Prieto Valdes emceed the event.

John Hardy president, Tokie Tantoco Enriquez, Agile Zamora and Anton Huang

Elsie Pascua, Agile Zamora and Rose Basa

Shelly Lazaro, Agile Zamora, Ann Ong, Nikki Tang , Connie Haw and Dina Arroyo

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Carol Ocampo Mercado, Agile Zamora, Ann Ong, Elsie Pascua, Eni Alba, Maila Garcia King, Ernest Gonzaga, Marian Ong Nuguid and Nikki Tang

Tokie Tantoco Enriquez of Rustan‟s was on hand to welcome guests. Rustan‟s grand old man, former Ambassador Bienvenido Tantoco Sr. came and so with daughter, Nedy Tantoco.

Some of the beautiful people who attended the glimpse of John Hardy‟s Spring collection were Eni Alba, Elaine Rojas Villar, renown jewelry designer Ann Ong, Marian Ong Nuguid, Mayenne Carmona, Francis de Leon, Chris Badiola, Maila Garcia King, Nikki Tang, Rosemarie Basa, Nene Leonor, Roi Philips, Serla Russel, Manolyn Taylor, Aiko Melendez, Angela Pia Santos, Tiffany Cuna, to mention a few.

Agile Zamora, Nedy Tantoco and Ambassador BienvenidoTantoco, Sr.

Chris Badiola, Tiffany Syson Cuña, Catherine Melendez and Angela Pia Santos.

Angele Pia Santos, Catherine Melendez and Tessa Valdes

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EVENT

Be a part of another publication from Images Asia Publishing An exciting compilation of awesome images and articles about life, places, travel destinations, food, interior designs exciting people, and about YOU!

PEOPLE, LIFE AND STYLE

OFF THE PRESS VERY SOON

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BUCKET LIST There is no other SUV in the local market today, that can provide the level of safety that the XC90 delivers.

So the question is what price are you willing to pay for safety on the road? And at this price level you wonâ€&#x;t see yourself coming and going.

When we entered the showroom, the XC90 immediately caught my eye. It looked a lot better in person than in photos. This car will truly stand out in a sea of Monteros and Fortuners.

Think of it this way, the XC90 is a form of life insurance that you buy to ensure continuity of life in the chaos of the Philippine driving environment. From this perspective the XC90 will look like a bargain.

As far as standard equipment goes, the XC90 is quite well appointed. All of the seats are finished in leather and in true Volvo style, very comfortable. Both front seats are power adjustable and the car has seven individual seats. Two in front, three in the second row and two in the third row. Climate control in Volvos are one of the best in the industry and the XC90 continues the tradition with generous vents for all three rows.

For safety there are front and side airbags for the driver and front passenger. Then there is an inflatable curtain that deploys on the sides extending from the second to the third row. Then there are a lot of active safety features that alert the driver to objects in his blind spot, lane departure warning, collision avoidance and whole lot more.

SAMSUNG GALAXY S7 EDGE The Samsung S7 Edge is proving to be one of the hottest phones this 2016.

Both Smart and Globe are offering this flagship mobile and its been flying off the shelves as fast as they could replenish it. As this article went to press, Apple reported its second quarter earnings and they were bleak. iPhone sales in particular, are down 10 million units from the same time period last year.

Basically it all boils down to this. Yes, this car is expensive even by luxury car standards but this Volvo is all about getting you and your family from point A to point B in safety and in style.

Blame Samsung for this mass exodus, because the S7 Edge is one classy unit particularly in titanium gold and it looks awesome in silver which unfortunately is not available in the Philippines.

BUCKET LIST

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Volvo XC90

Summer time. That means road trips to fabulous destinations. Volvos have established their niche in safety and that is one important consideration here in the Philippines.

The Volvo XC90 has been around since 2002 and was a very popular car for buyers a mid size luxury crossover SUV. This vehicle got raves from reviewers the world over and perhaps one of the biggest compliments to the XC90 is that Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear owned three of these cars and held them in high regard. In fact, this new XC90 is the SUV of the Year in the UK Car of the year awards.

The second generation was introduced in late 2014 and was officially on sale in 2015. The new XC90 is now available in local dealerships and recently, Volvo, as a token of thanks for record world wide sales, has implemented substantial discounts on their units and this translates to a 500 thousand peso discount for its XC90 units.

The diesel, D5 version of the XC90 retails for 6,495,000 so with the discount that comes out to 5,995,000. While the gas, T6 version of the XC90 retails for 6,895,000 with a net price of 6,395,000.

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BUCKET LIST

After this, they also learned the cooking process directly from the locals because they believe certain regional practices are important to maintain the uniqueness of the regions delicacy.

We were able to discuss at length with Nick, Harlene and their Chef how Salu was conceptualized and the work that went into it to turn concept into reality.

When they had selected all that they deemed to be representative of the region, they carefully documented the entire process from getting the raw materials to the final preparation of each dish.

Finally, they located the growers and farmers themselves and tapped them as suppliers and taking care of the logistics to ensure that ingredients are as fresh as possible. As far as sourcing ingredients was concerned, their main goal was to eliminate the middle man in order to increase the profits for the producer.

For some select dishes the local version is served in its entirety, as authentic as possible. For others however, they took It one step further by working hand in hand with their talented chef to create unique dishes where different cuisines and specialties were combined resulting in one-of-a-kind creations.

Salu pays homage to the local cuisine all over the Philippines by taking the best of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao and showcasing them in their extensive menu.

We were invited to a tasting session during which we were introduced to their concept and their dishes. At first glance, it was a visually appealing spread where the food looked almost to good to eat. But since it was a tasting session we then proceeded to try the food.

Having eaten just about a month ago in two renowned Filipino restaurants we were not expecting to see much diversity.

But we were mistaken, because from the unique salad with a strawberry vinaigrette to the kakanin desserts, everything had a unique taste or twist, yet it remained true to its regional roots. In fact, even the different fruit juices were native but unique and really good.

We were amazed at their dedication and their very admirable sense of social responsibility for their suppliers. If there is a restaurant with a conscience, this would be it.

Moreover, their determination to make Filipino cuisine world class is admirable and unique. They intend to do this, not by integrating concepts from outside the country, but by using very diverse (and yummy) combinations and techniques from within the Philippines.

Visit Salu to taste just how delicious this fusion and see Filipino food in a new light.

Salu is at Scout Torillo corner Scout Fernandez Quezon City

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THE BUCKET LIST

By ALEXIS CRUZ

Welcome to the very first Bucket List.

In order to address the special and discerning tastes of the readership of Images Asia, I will feature here noteworthy places, events and items that would look perfectly at home in the bucket list of our readers.

Each quarter, I will feature places like restaurants, bars, social events, getaways in the Philippines and many more. I will also feature newly trappings of luxury like watches, personal luxury items, gadgets, automobiles among other things. And of course, no self respecting bucket list would be complete without featuring the occasional selected real estate investments for the discerning investor.

They began by personally going to each region and once there, they painstakingly started the process of understanding, creating and preserving the cuisine of the region.

First they went around tasting the different versions of the local cuisine. The reason being that aside from regional differences, there are variants within the region itself. One good example of this is the longanisa of a region like Baguio. There are several variants, probably over 2 dozen at least, each one saying that they are the original. The only way to resolve the situation is by going by taste and reputation. Once they have chosen the version, they immersed themselves in the production process and tried the different ways of planting, growing and harvesting vegetables and other ingredients.

SALU (https://www.facebook.com/Saluresto/) To start off this Quarters‟ list, I‟d like to feature this new restaurant that is in the final stages of completion as we go to press and should be open by the time you read this.

Salu is the project of husband and wife team Romnick and Harlene Tejedor. Located in the original restaurant district in Quezon City, it‟s a unique concept in dining where they wanted to feature all the different types of Filipino cuisine but giving it their own special twist.

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Moreover, you also represent the Republic of the Philippines, with whom the Holy See signed an Agreement on the Cultural Heritage of the Catholic Church, which entered into force in May 2008. The Preamble of that Agreement emphasizes, “Considering that the cultural heritage of the Catholic Church in the Philippines constitutes a very significant part of the cultural patrimony of the Nation,” and “realizing the need for close cooperation between the Church and the State as regards the ecclesiastical cultural heritage, … the Holy See and the Republic of the Philippines, each within its competence, are committed to cooperate for the protection of the cultural heritage of the Catholic Church.” (Art. I).

As a fruit of that Agreement, the Church and local government in Bohol are therefore working with national heritage authorities to bring that cooperation to full fruition.

I would like to thank the Bohol Restoration Group, under the energetic leadership of Margaret Ecarma, for organizing tonight‟s event.

When I went home to visit my parents in Bohol last February, the Bohol Restoration Group launched one of its many projects. The project consists in financing the restoration of the retablo of one of the coral-stone churches, which was reduced to small pieces, some of which were beyond restoration. The project includes a specialized training of poor out-of-school young people in the arts of stone carving and carpentry as they were practiced during the Spanish colonial times in Bohol. Their mission is to restore the damaged pieces and to recreate the missing pieces of the retablo.

The objective of the project is not only to recover what was damaged and recreate what was lost, but also to provide poor young people opportunities to learn and master a trade. Rebuild that beautiful retablo… and put some bowl of rice and fish on the table. Indeed, the restoration of our cultural heritage can also or should also be a productive economic activity.

Dear Friends, We all share the same passion for cultural heritage. It defined our past and continues to define our present. The identity of the Boholanos is so intricately tied to their Catholic faith.

Churches are part and parcel of their life. When my home diocese was created thirty years ago, the population was 99.2% catholic. And it has remained more or less like that until now. The population of the entire island of Bohol is around 93% catholic.

One can thus understand the attachment the people have to their churches, and the sense of great loss when the most historic and beautiful ones were destroyed by a natural catastrophe. Those churches were our common wealth, our common home, our common inheritance from our ancestors, our common legacy that we intended to bequeath to future generations.

Three or four centuries ago, our ancestors hauled huge coral stones from the sea and those huge pieces of timber from the forests. This memory of our ancestors will not allow us to leave those churches forever in ruin. We will raise those ruins again. We will rise above the ruins.

This tremendous yet exhilarating challenge has reenergized our faith communities and civic society; it has renewed social cohesion; it has fostered a rediscovery of our collective ownership and collective responsibility to care for our cultural heritage, spurring us to a greater participation in the restoration and management of our common wealth. We have rediscovered that our cultural heritage is an asset for all and a responsibility for all. Thank you for sharing this passion.

Tonight, we have come together: -for the sake of the future generations of Boholanos who need a memory of their past and a reflection of their identity; -for the sake of Mother Spain – which, for some, was not always a good mother! – and above all for the glory and honor of the missionaries who brought the faith and build monumental churches in Bohol; - for the sake of those who mourn the loss of our heritage churches – which means all of us!; - for the sake of the beautiful and spiritual legacy of the past, so that it continue to be a source of joy and inspiration in the present and in the future; - for our sake and for all, the restoration of Bohol‟s cultural heritage is a task worth pursuing...

There‟s a famous Boholano proverb that most of us are used to: “Ang kasingkasing sa mga tao mao ang kasingkasing sa langit.” I suppose that all of you understand Boholano! If not, you can still understand the proverb, because it talks about the heart… and the heart that loves understands all things, and a heart that believes has reason that reason doesn‟t have! The proverb means: “The heart of the people is the heart of heaven.”

Boholanos live on earth with their hearts lifted upward. This project of restoration, therefore, is not just any other rebuilding effort, but it‟s a means by which, in rebuilding these Churches and sacred art that lift our hearts to God, we are restoring the heart of our people. bless you all.

Thank you for being a part of it. God

IMAGESASIA 29 We call that progress without harming the environment! Sadly though, extensive portions of the cemented roads were also damaged by the earthquake.

Nothing could have prepared me to see so many of those beautiful coral stone-built Spanish colonial churches reduced to smithereens, and with them priceless altar pieces, retablos and statues. The October 2015 7.2 earthquake that struck Bohol completely destroyed many of them. It severely damaged scores of others, among which was the most precious of them all: the Church of La Purísima Concepción de la Vírgen Maria in Baclayon, whose foundations were laid in 1595. In less than a minute, we lost the heritage that our ancestors bequeathed to us and to future generations. Honestly, I had never realized how precious our cultural patrimony was until I saw those churches reduced to rubble.

KEYNOTE ADDRESS Archbishop Bernardito Auza Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations Gala Dinner Rising Above the Ruins UN Delegates Dining Room, New York, 20 April 2016 Your Excellency Ambassador Jose Cuisia, Jr, and Mrs. Cuisia, Mme Marie-Paule Roudil, UNESCO Representative to the UN in New York ; Distinguished Guests, Dear Friends, Ladies and Gentlemen: I am deeply honored by your presence tonight and I thank you most sincerely for your generosity, because the cause of tonight‟s Gala Dinner is not only very close to my heart, it is in my heart and in my DNA! I was born and raised in the village of President Carlos P. Garcia, in the town of Talibon in the northern part of the island of Bohol, Philippines. My four years of high school studies in the southern part of the island, in the Provincial Capital City of Tagbilaran, provided me with many opportunities to admire and know the Spanish colonial churches that dotted many towns along the roads that ring the round-shaped island of Bohol and the interior route that cuts through the famous Chocolate Hills.

I took those roads so many times, so muddy during raining season and so dusty during the dry season. Every two weeks my younger brother and I traveled home to visit our family, get our laundry done and pick up some pocket money! I loved those serpentine roads along coastlines or across forests in the interior part of the island. While the lush scenery and the blue sea have hardly changed in these intervening 44 years, the mud and the dust are practically gone, as the roads have been cemented.

Ladies and Gentlemen, We know that outstanding cultural heritage is a precious legacy that needs to be preserved, enriched, and handed down from one generation to the next. That patrimony tells us much of the history and the identity of a people.

In our days, preserving cultural heritage has become a huge challenge. A great number of cultural treasures have been destroyed and are gone forever. Some were destroyed by natural catastrophes, like the Bohol Spanish colonial churches; others due to neglect because the preservation of cultural heritage is undeservingly low in national priorities; others fall victim to changing cultural tastes; and, sadder still, many have been destroyed by utter human folly, like the iconoclasm that destroyed the Buddhas of Bamiyan and the Roman antiquities of Palmyra. Alas, protecting cultural heritage in the midst of conflicts has become one of the biggest challenges facing cultural preservation and restoration in our days!

Once lost, destroyed or damaged, the restoration of cultural heritage is tremendously challenging. But we, Boholanos, and our friends believe that we can - and we must - recover the cultural patrimony lost or damaged during the 2013 earthquake. And we want you to be a part of this dream. We believe that, by your presence tonight, you share our dream, our dream to rise above the ruins! There are churches to be completely rebuilt and there are those that need major restoration.

There are masterful altar pieces and statues whose broken pieces need to be put back together and those that are beyond recuperation but can be reproduced using the ancient methods of sculpting.

Ambassador Cuisia and Mrs. Cuisia, Your presence here this evening is a demonstration of your generous and persevering commitment to rebuild and restore the cultural patrimony and the local communities in Bohol… It is even more admirable for the fact that you are not Boholanos!

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Photo credits: MANNY CABALLERO

H.E. Ambassador Cuisia, Jr. delivers opening remarks at the gala

UNESCO Representative to the United Nations Madame Marie-Paule Roudil empowers audience on importance of BRG's work focusing on cultural heritage restoration

H.E. Ambassador Cuisia, Jr. with the Sto. Nino de Palaboy

H.E. Archbishop Bernardito Auza accepts Sto. Nino de Palaboy handed by NY Consul General Mario de Leon.

H.E. Archbishop Auza takes last group shot with BRG, Office of the Holy See and with H.E. Ambassador Cuisia and wife, Victoria.

BRG Executive Director Margaret Lacson-Ecarma far right.

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Sto. Nino de Palaboy by SEB CHUA Photo by RONIN URBINA

Rising Above the Ruins Holy See, Philippine Embassy and UNESCO applaud BRG's Restore and Rebuild Heritage Mission for Bohol at the United Nations

The Bohol Restoration Group's (BRG) restore and rebuild heritage missions for disaster-torn

historical churches and communities in Bohol, Philippines applauded at benefit gala, Rising Above the Ruins, at the Delegates Dining Room of the United Nations.

In appreciation for the support of BRG's work, UNICEF awardee sculpture and artist Seb Chua donates limited edition of Sto. Nino de Palaboy to H.E. Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, handed by NY Consul General Mario de Leon and to H.E. Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Cuisia Jr and wife, Madame BRG's cultural heritage restoration projects currently focus on the totally collapsed heritage sites in the towns of Maribojoc and Loon in rebuilding structures that will help alleviate poverty, engage local livelihood and education, and restore community's place of worship.

Major sponsors for the gala are: AIG, Leuterio Thomas, The Path to Peace Foundation, Catholic World Mission, ANCOP, St. Teresa of Avila Parish, Ramos Law Firm, and Norman & Lourdes San Agustin. Appreciation to Midshipman Giovanni Sessoms on trumpet playing both American and Philippine National Anthems and special performance of Broadway artist Lydia Gaston. Video presentation by DigiScript Philippines and production designs by Josie Thompson and Rhea Donnes.

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Common decency is simply taking care that one does not feel good at the expense of others.

It does strain one's imagination to figure out how one can feel good while making other's miserable.

But then again there are a plethora of would-be Einsteins. And these are those who go to formal functions in T-shirt, jeans, and sneakers with nary a care in the world about the discomfiture of their host or other guests.

Only a blessed few can afford the leisure of a closer look. Chances are even those who can and do so won't, unless in the brevity of their first glance they descry something appealing. Or unappealing.

Or those who make the dead blink in their biers at wakes and funerals with blazing neon disco outfits and glitter in their hair.

Common decency simply demands that we show respect for others in the way we dress, that is, wear an attire suitable to the function or occasion.

The odds are of course, the scenario becomes progressively appalling as what they first see run the gamut from nondescript through subtly off to downright repugnant.

lf you have foresworn wearing anything other than shorts and slippers, then don't go to a debutante's ball although it's quite doubtful if you'd be invited in the first place

With such a dire scenario, the question of what to wear attains validity and becomes a worthwhile consideration. And clearly it doesn't quite have to do with being fashionable as much as dressing in the appropriate fashion. One does not need to be an Einstein to discern this. But anyone who cannot or will not be bothered had better have a similar lQ.

Ordinarily the criterion I use should suffice. lf you feel good in it, wear it. Which brings us to the crux of the matter. A sense of fashion begins with a sense of self. Thus, to be fashionable one must heed the inlunctlon of the ancient Greek philosophers.

Thus do we find ourselves still left with the unanswered question, What to wear? I've always had a simple answer to this question. lf it feels good, I wear it.

This may appear to be a rather trite answer but I can think of no better criterion. lf I can enjoy myself in the attire I'm wearing then I'm confident that I'm appropriately dressed. And that confidence is discerned by the viewer thus leading to a self fulfilling belief.

Dressed, here, is used in its widest sense to encompass not only articles of apparel like clothes, hosiery, and shoes but all we wear that determines the way we let others perceive us including hair styles, cosmetiques and fragrances, jewelry and other accessories.

In this day and age we are allowed a wide latitude with regard to the manner we dress. The stuffy conventions of a bygone era Are happily no longer operative. There are, however, certain limits which must still be observed but these are rather few and quite basic.

And all have to do with the inviolable canons of common decency. No churchy overtones here, No prescriptions on how much skin to bare upon pain of being rendered ex cathedra.

To know what to wear, first know thyself.

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By CARMINIA PAVIA

I

t's seven in the morning and you're fresh out of the shower, excited as your boss has asked you to join him for a breakfast meeting at eight with your firm's principal client.

You'd already decided what to wear last night before retiring. But, suddenly you're not quite sure whether your choice is appropriate after all.

With a growing sense of panic, you start going through your closet, examining then discarding one attire after another. Then before you know it, it's half past seven and you're not yet dressed.

Hastily dressed, you rush out of the house and your frazzled nerves keep echoing a dark refrain of impending doom. Scenes from “The Emperors New Clothes” keep flashing through your mind. You‟re not yet done.

Familiar scene? All of us have had such an experience or know of someone who has. Circumstances may vary.

Dinner for the first time with your special friend's family.

A final interview for a coveted position in a prestigious firm.

A gala night at the theater followed by a formal reception.

There comes a time when what to wear can be excruciatingly difficult to decide. Impossible even. All of a sudden you experience something not unlike fashion paralysis Question: Aren't we simply allowing this business of clothes to get out of hand? Who needs to be fashionable anyway? Why bother in the first place? Why bother, indeed? Most of us are acquainted with the old saw about the book and its cover and not a few subscribe to its wisdom. Whether we subscribe or not, many's the time when we've found ourselves either so judging or being so judged.

A lot of people do go by their initial impressions. And not necessarlly by choice or inclination either.

All too often the frenetic pace of modern living will simply not allow more than a fleetlng glimpse of people wlth whom we deal.

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“REACHING OUT” (2016) Size: 15” x 12” x 21” Medium: Cast Marble In High Gloss Lacquer Finish

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“TRANSITION” (2016) Size: 25” x 15” x 17” Medium: Cast In Marble In High Gloss Lacquer Finish “SHARP EYE” (2016) Size: 15” x 11” x 20” Medium: Cast Marble In High Gloss Lacquer Finish

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ABSTRACTS

By SEB CHUA

“INNER STRENGTH” (2014) Size: 20.5” x 11.5” Medium: Cast Marble In Bronze Photographed by RONIN URBINA

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The People of Bhutan

BHUTAN

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Bhutanese Food

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Bhutanâ€&#x;s Art & Culture The culture of Bhutan is fully reflected in Thimphu

in respect of literature, religion, customs, and national dress code, the monastic practices of the monasteries, music, dance, literature and in the media. Tshechu is an important festival when mask dances, popularly known as Cham dances, are performed in the courtyards of the Taschicho Dzong in Thimphu. It is a fourday festival held every year during Autumn, September or October, on dates corresponding to the Bhutanese calendar.

Mask dance by the Bhutan Royal Academy of Performing Arts

Bhutan Royal Academy of Performing Arts

Bhutanese weaver

A female festival participant

Drukpa Kuenley

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Zilukha, Thimphu

Zilukha is the biggest nunnery in Bhutan. It is perched on a promontory overlooking the Tashichhoedzong ot Thimphu Dzong and its surrounding golf course.

Thangtong Dewachen Dupthop Nunnery, Thimphu, Bhutan

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Thimphu, Capital City of Bhutan

Thimphu, formerly spelled Thimbu is

the capital and largest city of Bhutan. It is situated in the western central part of Bhutan and the surrounding valley is one of Bhutanâ€&#x;s dzongkhaggs, the Thimphu District. The city became the capital of Bhutan in 1961.

Thimphu, as the political and economic center of Bhutan, has a dominant agricultural and livestock base, which contributes to 45% of the country's GNP. Tourism, though a contributor to the economy, is strictly regulated, maintaining a balance between the traditional, development and modernization. Thimphu contains most of the important political buildings in Bhutan, including the National Assembly of the newly formed parliamentary democracy and Dechencholing Palace, the official residence of the King, located to the north of the city. As a metropolis and capital city, Thimphu is coordinated by the "Thimphu Structure Plan", an Urban Development Plan which evolved in 1998 with the objective of protecting the fragile ecology of the valley.

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Queen Jetsun Pema

Photo Credits: TOURISM COUNCIL OF BHUTAN LYNSEY ADDARIO JOHN ERNEST GREGORY/IMAGES ASIA King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema

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The King and Queen of Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema

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Bhutan's landscape ranges from subtropical plains in the south to the sub-alphine Himalayan heights in the north, where some peaks exceed 7,000 metres (23,000 ft). Bhutan's state religion is Vajrayana Buddhism and the population is predominantly Buddhist. Hinduism is the secondlargest religion.

In 2008, Bhutan made the transition from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy and held its first general election. As well as being a member of the United Nations, Bhutan is a member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC. Bhutan is a relative newcomer to modernity: the country's first paved road was completed in 1962, and the Internet and TV were not introduced until 1999. Since 2000, however, the pace of its development has snowballed.

That acceleration is particularly evident in the country's shifting demographics. Sixty percent of the country's population is below the age of 34.

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Bhutan officially the Kingdom of

Bhutan, is a landlocked country in South Asia at the eastern end of the Himalayas. Bhutan, sometimes called 'The Forbidden Kingdom' by outsiders, borders China to the north and India to the south, east and west. To the west, it is separated from Nepal by the Indian state of Sikkim; farther south it is separated from Bangladesh by the Indian states of Assam and West Bengal. Bhutan's capital and largest city is Thimphu.

Bhutan existed as a patchwork of minor warring fiefs until the early 17th century. At that time the lama and military leader Ngawang Namgyal, the first Zhabdrung Rinpoche, who was fleeing religious persecution in Tibet, unified the area and cultivated a distinct Bhutanese identity. In the early 20th century, Bhutan came into contact with the British Empire and retained strong bilateral relations with India upon its independence. In 2006, based on a global survey, Business Week rated Bhutan the happiest country in Asia and the eighth-happiest in the world. In 2016, the World Happiness Report published by the United Nations ranks Bhutan as the 84th happiest country.

Kyichu Lhakhang Temple

Exploring Bhutan

By ERNEST GONZAGA

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Clothes by BCBG MAX AZRIA Make up Artist: PATRICK ALCOBER Hairstylist: AVRIL

Location: Fashion Design by PAUL CORNELISSEN 2307 Chino Roces Avenue (formerly Pasong Tamo Extension), Makati City

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Michelle is very proud of her family, particulalry her husband Kevin who is very supportive of her and is a very loving father to their children. She admires how her husband works hard to give his family a good life.

Kevin has a business that deals in liquor importation and one of their star products is Soju made by Lotte Korea which is a traditional Korean drink. Itâ€&#x;s also highly recommended by Michelle as a must try.

She looks forward to being able to be part of her childrens growth. To see their achievements in life and witness the fulfillment of their dreams. Along with this, Michelle wants to travel to even more places with family and friends. Because to her what is key is to make the most of life with the people she loves the most.

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Michelle is also quite the globetrotter, having travelled to Korea, France and Italy. In each of these places, there are certain things that appeal to her the most. She likes the culture, food and shopping in Korea, while in France and Italy, she is a big fan of shopping, food and wine. She is no stranger to her own country either and she loves going to beaches all over the Philippines like Boracay, Palawan, Batangas and Ilocos Norte. In all of these travels, half the fun is from the traveling companions so family and friends are de rigeur.

While she is a friendly and outgoing person at heart, Michelle prefers to focus most on her family and her small circle of true friends. She has this aversion for fair weather friends and treasures most her friends who have been with her through the worst.

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Michelle however, is not your typical yogi insofar as fashion is concerned because this lady is one fashionable yogi. She loves keeping up with fashion trends and always looks forward to events where she could dress up to her hearts delight. While she is partial to jeans and comfy blouses for normal days, she still does it with style favoring Zara for her everyday stuff. For the days when she has to be more glamorous, she looks to BCBG, Balenciaga and Gucci.

Her collection which revolves around bags and shoes reflect her preference for high fashion as well. For bags, she is partial to Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, YSL and Givenchy. She prefers YSL when buying comfortable shoes and when style is important, she gets that from Alexander McQueen. In order to ensure that her collection is updated, Michelle has this rule that whenever she travels, she must buy at least 5 bags and a dozen pairs of shoes. If it were up to her, she prefers to buy all these in Europe since they are cheaper there. But if that is not possible, then she does her shopping in HK and Korea.

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She got a brand new BMW 3 series on her own merits. It wasnâ€&#x;t courtesy of her family or a gift. It was in recognition of her exemplary performance as a sales executive in BMW Prestige cars when she managed to sell 23 units in 8 months when her yearly quota was just 18 units.

That is Michelle in action. After she married her Korean husband Kevin, she began her career as an entrepreneur. In quick succession she opened Korean groceries, sauna spa and she opened restaurants in both Korea and the Philippines. Take note that she was doing all this while raising 3 kids.

Her eldest is her 17 year old daughter Yehrim who is currently taking her IB course at the British School in Manila. Her second child is daughter Yehjin who is 15 and is studying in Colegio de San Agustin. Her youngest and only boy Yechan is 11 and is also studying in Colegio de San Agustin.

Despite her busy schedule, Michelle makes it a point to engage in Ashtanga Yoga as much as possible. She has been into it for the last 5 years and recently, thanks to a hardcore yogi friend who is both her teacher and yoga buddy, she is into it very seriously.

In fact the two people she admires the most are both yoga gurus and they have provided Michelle with a lot of motivation and knowledge. One of her highest points in her life as a yoga practictioner was when she was able to meet and have classes with Richard Freeman in Thailand and in Manila. Aside from keeping to a healthy diet of mostly vegetables, she considers 3 to 4 sessions of yoga a week as largely responsible for her lovely figure.

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MICHELLE RIVERA LEE The Fashionable Yogi

Photographed by HENRY FERRER

How does one describe Michelle Rivera Lee? Beautiful? Fashionable? Driven?

Overachiever? Has a zest for life? Lives life to the max?

Michelle is all of the above and more. She is the type of person who believes that whatever is worth doing is worth doing well.

One need not look further than her second job after graduation to see just how Michelle was able to achieve something that many junior executives could only dream of.

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IMAGESASIA Volume 3 Number 3 2016 Third Quarter Edition Php 300.00 | US$13.50

the expressions of art, life and style

Jetsun Pema QUEEN OF BHUTAN