Featured

NOSTALGIA: La Bella Vita

Italian furniture designer Carlo Cordaro settles stylishly in Cebu by way of a stunning residence that doesn’t just depict his views on architectural and interior aesthetic. More than that, it’s a residence that shows off the appreciation for the finer things in life while still recognizing that living spaces are meant for living.

The hills of Maria Luisa affords some of its residents the most magnificent views, which would probably be a good trade-off considering the amount of effort for construction at the more steep sites. Furniture designer Carlo Cordaro, the one behind luxury design brand Atelier A of Cebu Fil Veneer Corporation, has a house that sits on a particularly slanted road, the last one at the end of the street before it curves into a zigzag down the lower lots of the subdivision.

Its black granite façade is modern and impressive, to be sure, but it’s something that doesn’t even begin to prepare you for the stunning view of the living area once you step into the sliding wooden doors. Elevated above the floor, the entrance landing allows guests who enter the chance to take in the full sight of the living area, the deck and pool, and Cebu City beyond. But your eyes need not wander too far off to catch another interesting detail—the landing actually stretches into a ramp that leads to the second floor, sloping upward and turning at an angle while always putting the outdoor scenery on show. “With stairs, you’re looking down and watching your step,” Carlo explains. “But with the ramp, you can take your time and enjoy the view.” It even becomes a venue for entertainment when he has guests over. “Some of them like to slide down the ramp to make it fun.”

It’s those little details that keep the house interesting, all of which are Carlo’s ideas. “I don’t know how my own head works,” he jokes when asked how he comes up with them. “Kidding aside, I just know what I want. This is all how I pictured it in my head, except for the ramp.” Initially, the plan had been to put the entrance higher up on the wall and have two ramps extending upward and another two down. The idea turned out to take up too much space, making the lower living area a narrow hallway. In the end, the singular ramp becomes the architectural standout of the room, framing various corners of the space for an interesting visual.

“The lot was quite narrow,” Carlo explains of the layout, which he had worked on with an architect for the technical drawings. “So I had the idea of having two buildings and connecting them with a bridge.” Downstairs, the bridge is a lounging area, where a state-of-the-art sound system sits on a console table under the ramp. Its wooden floors stretch out onto the deck, where a stone-floored pool in an imperfect triangular shape sits amidst the lush landscape. “I don’t like tiles,” Carlo says. “The materials I used are kept close to its natural look, so it’s more organic.”

He points out the black granite he used on accent posts throughout the house, kept unpolished for a textured look. It’s the same material used in the bathrooms as well, its rough edges and imperfect surfaces giving it a luxurious look. The separate rooms on the different sides of the ground level have stone flooring that are cool and comfy enough for walking around barefoot—the study and a TV area on one end, and a separate sitting area, dining area and the kitchen on the other. Pieces from Atelier A are found throughout the house. There’s one piece, though, that Carlo made an exception for. “This sofa is from a very good Italian brand,” he says of the three-piece Busnelli set arranged around the Atelier A grand cube coffee table and the TV. “This is what Italian furniture feels like.” True enough, a few minutes lounging on the low-backed oversized seats made us wonder what we’d been sitting on our whole lives.

Comfort is clearly a priority in this house, in a way that’s nonchalant and effortlessly chic. High-backed wicker chairs in different pastel shades stand around a wooden table in a light wash on the deck, where Carlo spends most of his time to enjoy the mountain breeze. The floor-to-ceiling windows are draped in lightweight cloth that billows in the wind or tied in a casual knot that seems stylishly accidental. Upstairs, the bedrooms are simple, the beds of which are arranged to enjoy full views of the valley below. The master’s bedroom, of course, enjoys something a little more special—a master’s bathroom with the large tub sitting directly next to the sliding glass doors that lead to the balcony.

Although it’s a carefully curated collection of remarkable items in a well thought-out space, Carlo’s house is far from being a formal space. “It’s not a museum,” he insists, and it’s a feeling that’s immediately evident throughout the residence. Nothing is too perfect—CDs are stacked carelessly on its table, cushions are rumpled enough to show life goes on in these rooms, and the 13-year-old dog Luna stretches on the woven rugs as she walks through the abode. For its charms, the house is more than the sum of its parts. In the end, it’s a beautifully designed space that fittingly depicts a beautifully designed life.

Featured

Bringing businesses together: Lalamove paves way for SMEs across the globe to “Make a Winning Move”

The local episode #LalamoveItToWinIt to support MSMEs across PH

To inspire businesses around Asia and Latin America, Lalamove has launched a regional branding campaign “Make a Winning Move” to showcase its various B2B services, strong driver-partner network, and wide-ranging fleet for fast and reliable delivery solutions. Locally, the on-demand delivery platform has kicked off the campaign by inviting its patrons, old and new, to #LalamoveItToWinIt.

Now more than ever, businesses are focusing their efforts on an experience-led customer journey. With deliveries as undeniably crucial for businesses to fulfill their services and win over customers, the central creative idea behind the regional campaign revolves around such scenarios where Lalamove’s services and B2B features help entrepreneurs stay ahead of the intense competition.

Lalamove, as the trusted delivery partner, has been servicing businesses of all sizes in the Philippines. Lalamove’s corporate clients can enjoy the on-demand delivery platform’s variety of business solutions, such as multi-stop delivery, API integration, real-time GPS tracking, a wide variety of fleet for on-demand, same-day, long distance, and last-mile delivery, and a dedicated account manager.

“The Philippines has more than 900,000 businesses, over 99% of which are MSMEs. What Lalamove offers businesses of all sizes is faster, easier, and a more seamless delivery experience to help them save time and costs. Our dedicated partner drivers, the economic frontliners of today, are here to deliver to an even wider reach across Luzon and in Cebu. This campaign is the visualization of what we can do to help businesses jump over hurdles – simply put, just ‘Lalamove It to Win It!’” remarked Dannah Majarocon, Lalamove Philippines Managing Director.

First-time users of the Lalamove mobile delivery app can get up to Php 150 off when they sign up and use the code LALAWINIT. New corporate clients, on the other hand, can also receive a welcome bonus of up to Php 1,200 when they sign up and top-up their Lalamove corporate wallet. Moreover, with Lalamove Rewards recently launched, each delivery for every user is now made even more rewarding.

Find out more about what Lalamove offers by visiting www.lalamove.com/lalamoveittowinit, or follow the official Lalamove Facebook page, Instagram account, and TikTok account for more information.

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ABOUT LALAMOVE

Launched in the Philippines in late 2016, Lalamove is an on-demand logistics company that matches drivers with customers and SME businesses to fulfill same-day deliveries. Lalamove’s mission of making local deliveries faster and simpler across North, Central, and South Luzon, and in Cebu is achieved through innovations such as instant order matching, real-time GPS vehicle tracking, 24/7 services, and a driver rating system. Lalamove also allows businesses to scale their deliveries and operations at an accelerated rate. Lalamove now operates in over 30 markets across Asia and Latin America. Visit Lalamove’s website: http://lalamove.com

Featured

King-size Treats Await Dad this Father’s Day at Seda Central Bloc

Misto Restaurant at Seda Central Bloc

King-size Treats for the King!

by Ryan Daniel R. Dablo

Seda Central Bloc celebrates the hardworking hero and steadfast lynchpin of the home with its offerings for Father’s Day weekend.

At the Misto, Seda’s restaurant, Dad gets to sample the delicious international cuisine for free when dining with five full-paying adults. If an evening dine-out is more the family’s speed, the Straight Up bar offers a dinner buffet with a continental menu and mocktails, all enjoyed amid a backdrop of excellent cityscape views from the rooftop. Staycation at the hotel comes packed with perks for the weekend as well, such as complimentary lunch at the Misto, drinks at the Straight Up bar, and breakfast for two.

Honor your number one hero and highlight the love you have for him this Father’s Day weekend. Celebrate at Seda Central Bloc!

For more information, please call (032) 411 5800. Follow their Facebook page or visit their website at www.sedahotels.com.

Fashion

37 Years of High Fashion; Arcy Gayatin leaves a Legacy of Edginess and Elegance

Arcy Gayatin: A Legacy of Luxury in Fabrication

By: Allain Dumon Fonte

The brand Arcy Gayatin gave the Queen City of the South a distinct reputation in the fashion industry. The fashion line of Arcy Gayatin sets the bar higher each year for clothing luxury and fabrication techniques.

April Duenas, Nikki Gayatin and Arielle Gayatin for Arcy Gayatin—Photos by John Paul Autor from Lifestyle Inquirer.net

Araceli “Arcy” Ancajas Gayatin is the daughter Galileo Ancajas and Remedios Zanoria Ancajas who founded Cebu’s home brand, Gal’s Bakery. Arcy went to the University of San Carlos and studied Political Science. And just like Dr. Muccia Prada, who completed her Ph.D. in Political Science and established the luxury line of Prada, Arcy also got in touch with her artistic side and started her own fashion line. However, it was not Prada that influenced Arcy. Arcy was introduced to fashion and tailoring at a very young age by her mother, Madame Remedios Anacajas whom they dearly call Mama Eme. Mama Eme was running a tailoring business back then. It was called Arabel; named after Arcy and her sister Belma. Ara from Araceli and Bel from Belma. In those years, Arcy was fascinated by fabrics and was intrigued by how to manipulate the fabrics to come up with fashion-forward designs without compromising comfort and taste.

Arcy Gayatin (photo grabbed from Space Philippines Blog Spot)

After 37 years of creating haute couture pieces for the most fashionable personalities in the Philippines, Arcy Gayatin is now laying down her sketchpads and pens to rest. As she enjoys her retirement, may be on a cruise to the Bahamas or a holiday to the Swiss Alps, Arcy Gayatin has left the fashion industry a legacy of elegant and edgy clothing ensembles that understand and define the shape of women; without compromising comfort and good taste.

Arcy Gayatin’s Pink Flamingo collection Arcy Gayatin’s Sketch on a Terno

To salute the lady who brought Cebu fashion to the world, a retrospective exhibition of Arcy’s incomparable masterpieces can be seen today at Ayala Center Cebu’s The Gallery; curated by fashion editor and writer, Clint Holton Potestas, and interior and fashion designer, Jul Oliva.

BALANCE. Arcy Gayatin is known for her perfect symmetrical lines when fabricating. She knows how to balance edginess and class; understanding well the strength and the finesse of a woman.

RHYTHM. Arcy’s expertise in draping and fabric manipulation can be seen in how she achieves rhythm between architectural lines and soft fabrics like silk and cashmere.

TEXTURE. With her thorough knowledge on fabrics, Arcy Gayatin has achieved the perfection of fabrication by working on different types of fabrics and creating a single piece of art out of them.

HARMONY. The simplicity of the silhouette plus the intricacy of the details create a wonderful harmony, making Arcy Gayatin’s design a one-of-a-kind masterpiece.

The photos below show an up-close look at the intricacy and the exquisite craftsmanship of Arcy Gayatin’s fabrication techniques:

THE SPIDER WEB: one of Arcy’s genius fabrication techniques.

MATCH and PATCH: Arcy’s unique fabrication craft by patching layers of different types of lace and lace patterns

PLEATS: The perfection of symmetry in pleats on silk.

LA ROSE BLEUE: U.P. student, Danielle Alessandra Deutsch, inspired by the artistry of Arcy Gayatin, designed this midnight blue dress. The cabbage rose made from layers of silk organdy gave this evening ensemble a romantic appeal.