Fashion

How See Things Eyewear Climbed its Way to the Top

The team behind the brand offers a way to take care of your eyesight issues without having to lose sight of style.

Since its creation in the beginning of this year, See Things Eyewear has been gaining a following online for their collection of on-trend frames that flatter various face shapes. Those factors might seem like a given for any brand that ventures out into eyewear, but this one has something that gives it an extra boost in credibility—it has an ophthalmologist behind it.

Practicing ophthalmologist Charles Ting had been wanting to create a line of good quality and reasonably priced prescription eyewear for his patients, and finally he’d decided to take the venture together with his wife, physician Maan Briones-Ting, and long-time friend Bruce Sy. “Bruce has always been looking for a business that he could start, while Charles always thought that there should be quality frames that his charity patients can afford,” says Maan.

After designing their first line of glasses, they had initially made it available to optical shops, but presenting the line to their friends brought on a different idea. “Almost all of our friends wanted to buy it, which made us realize that there was a good market for selling them ourselves,” the team shared. “We naturally expanded to sunglasses, still with the objective of offering trendy and classic pieces, while maintaining our affordability.”

The shift created the need for strengthening the brand, and the trio was up for the challenge. In fact, they show their creativity in their name—the team brought together their last names Sy and Ting for an interesting juxtaposition.

To make their collaboration even more superfluous, each person has their own task to take care of. “I’m in charge of conceptualizing designs, while Charles guides us in terms of the frames’ structure and quality,” Maan explains. “I also help out in marketing and sales, as I’m in charge of the brand’s social media presence.”

“With my background, I’m in charge of sales and marketing direction,” adds Bruce, who works in real estate and has a degree in Developmental Studies. He admits, though, that the start-up does require them stepping into each others’ job descriptions. “With this team, we overlap each others’ roles as we help out in all aspects, which works because we all have full-time jobs outside of this.”

Inspiration comes by way of classic frames that have stood the test of time—wayfarers, aviators and more—but See Things Eyewear put their own spin on the designs to give them a trendy look. “Our frames for prescription eyewear are named after our friends, so we had their different face shapes and profiles in mind when we were coming up with the different designs,” Maan shares. Their sunglasses, on the other hand, are named after cities, so the lifestyle of these destinations inspired those shapes.

It seems that their formula for creativity is working, with See Things Eyewear having already released four batches in their six months of operations. “Each batch is conceptualized with consideration to consumer feedback and current trends in mind,” they explain, but they emphasize that being fashionable still isn’t their primary goal. “We have an eye doctor on board, so all designs are carefully crafted with your eyes’ anatomy and comfort in mind,” says the team.

The steady growth is an inspiring one for those who hope to start their own business, and the trio has some pieces of advice for budding entrepreneurs. “There are so many aspects in starting any business,” they admit. “Don’t be afraid to ask for help and advice from those who already know what they’re doing.”

It’s easy to understand why See Things Eyewear’s chic frames are finding success. But of course, it’s more than that—the team behind the brand offers a way to take care of your eyesight issues without having to lose sight of style.

Fashion

Ravens, Runways, and Revelations: A Glimpse of Amato

by OJ HOFER | photo credit JOSEPH ONG | jewelry ROYAL GEM

Fashion had become as instinctive as breathing—so natural that one scarcely noticed it. Yet, after seasons adrift in sartorial limbo, the piercing peal of Birds of Prey by Amato Furne One jolted this archipelago’s fashion scene to attention. Amato’s spectacle soared beyond mundane couture, drawing me from the quiet of my atelier to the intoxicating front row at the reinvented Tops in Busay—from the low murmur of machines to the electrifying brouhaha of the style set.

: A lattice dress with an aureole, beautifully bedecked with Birds of Prey, opens the show.

: A winged bustier frames the face with bold curlicues.

: A fringe dress with a farthingale rustles mysteriously in the nocturnal stillness.

: A bell-shaped T’nalak dress, woven with vivid dreams, sways with mystery.

: A T’nalak ballgown, shrouded in black mesh, catches the moonlight like a whispered secret.

: An entrance-making tulle and T’nalak off-shoulder ensemble commands attention.

: A crystal-studded bodysuit paired with a vinyl trench coat burns with fierce intensity.

: A red lacewing butterfly emerges, shedding the remnants of a tattered cocoon.

: A fiery ensemble, cloaked in phantom glamour, leaves an unforgettable impression long after the wearer’s exit.

Amato is not merely a label; it is a visionary ideal stitched in silk and dreams, a symphony of artistry that transforms yarns, fibers, and fabric into fashion phantasmagoria. Under the deft hands of Furne One, Amato has adorned the world’s most fearless icons—Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Jennifer Lopez—women who, like his creations, embody style, strength, and spectacle. His couture is not merely worn; it takes flight, transforming the wearer into a mesmerizing apparition of fleeting beauty—a phenomenal vision that lingers long after the moment has passed.

But how does one conjure such fantastical transformations? To offer a glimpse into the mind of this visionary, we posed three playful questions:

Oj: If you were a bird, would you soar as a mighty raptor or scheme as a clever corvid?
Furne: I’d be a raven—sharp-witted, shrouded in mystery, and draped in the perfect shade of midnight. Its inky plumage matches my flair for dark romance; because even in shadows, I prefer a little drama.

Oj: What would be your most formidable power?
Furne: As a raven, I straddle the seen and unseen—transcendence is my superpower.

Oj: What bird would you absolutely refuse to be reborn as?
Furne: Never a turkey—too commercial, too festive, and far too likely to end up as Thanksgiving dinner.

Fashion

Lucky Colors of 2025: Harness the Energies of Emerald Green & Carmine Red for Success

Thom Browne Cropped tweed jacket

by Oj Hofer

With the Year of the Wood Snake underway, understanding the significance of lucky colors can help align us with its energetic flow. Rooted in Chinese astrology and Feng Shui, the year’s fortifying shades—emerald green and carmine red—offer mindfulness and good intention attracting luck, and fostering personal growth.

Emerald green, associated with the Wood element, symbolizes renewal, clarity, and inner peace. In the year of the wood snake, its dynamic energies will empower and inspire you, fostering growth, renewal and wise transformations. The hue is ideal for moments of self-reflection, study, or creativity. Wearing or incorporating this shade into your space enhances balance and mental focus.

Carmine red, linked to the Fire element, embodies passion, confidence, and vitality. This year, which according to the Bazi Four Pillars Chart, has a lack of metal, earth and fire elements, it will bring balance and the propitious energies. It’s perfect for professional meetings, decision-making, and moments requiring assertiveness as a splash of red can energize and embolden you throughout the day.

Stella Macartney vegan Leather tote

Stefano Ricci silk tie with paisley print

To fully harness their benefits, use these colors in a contemporary, mobile context; through clothing, jewelry, bags and accessories. Alternate between these two potent tints based on your needs. For example, wear green for calmness and clarity when you are going into stressful and mind challenging meetings or appointments. Choose red when you are going into places or situations where you need courage and motivation such as fashion galas, elite socials, prestige affairs, VIP gatherings and so forth.

Saint Laurent crepe de chine mules

Optionally, you can also choose to wear these colors inconspicuously in small details, such as a garnet or jade bracelet, or a ruby or emerald pendant and earrings set. Men can wear a burgundy or forest green tie or pocket square, or casual polo shirts with poppies or with botanical prints, or jade and garnet jewelry. Doing so can subtly align your energy with the year’s vibrational flow.

Jan Leslie emerald bracelet

Daily Mood Cuff Links with red tiger’s eye tubes

The use of colors is more than just aesthetic choices or preferential picks. Colors can serve as energetic tools, reminding you of your good intentions and keeping you mindful of you daily motions. Effecting an optimistic mental state in the wearer, they can effectively shield you from negativity while fostering prosperity and emotional balance. Thoughtfully incorporating them into your wardrobe and surroundings ensures that you move through 2025 with confidence and the right intentions.

Embracing emerald green for tranquility and carmine red for strength are intentional, mindful choices that have the power to transform your energy and shape your path forward. May you have the best of luck in navigating through Year of the Snake with harmony, energy, and the power to attract good fortune.

Events

The First NUSTAR BALL

Janine Taylor, June Alegrado, Jackie Lotzof, Frances Siao, Ina Ronquillo and Christine Pelaez

The NUSTAR Ballroom, a magnificent venue at the NUSTAR Resort and Casino in Cebu, sets the stage for last night’s first-ever NUSTAR Ball.

Black was the color of night at the Zee table.

Glamorous guests from Manila and Cebu converged at the NUSTAR Ballroom, an exquisite venue within the NUSTAR Resort and Casino in Cebu. The evening unfolded with a seated 5-course dinner. The opulent feast started with Beetroot Salmon Gravlax, adorned with caper berries, caviar, set with delicate edible flowers; and a main course of Compressed Pork Belly with Crackling Skin and Baby Scallops. Another highlight was the auction of coveted items like Dior and YSL handbags, a limited-edition Bulgari watch, and an exclusive 2-night stay in Nustar’s opulent 3-bedroom villa—complete with a private pool and a dedicated butler. The charity evening benefited the Cameleon Association, an NGO based in Iloilo City created in 1997 that developed a global approach to act on the causes and effects of sexual violence against children.