Rag & Bone Fall 2009 @ Cedar Lake, NYC

Baby Phat Fall 2009 - Gotham Hall, NYC

Rising Soon: Manila Bay Strip

Business Mirror Editorial

Some 60 kilometers southwest of Hong Kong is Macao, former colony of Portugal . With a total land area of 28.6 sq km, it is smaller than Mayor Alfredo Lim's City of Manila, which covers 38.55 sq km. Macao has a population of a little over half a million, less than a third of the Philippine capital city's official count of 1.5 million people.

So how could such a tiny spit of land have generated over $17 billion as gross domestic product (GDP) in 2006? That kind of GDP makes for a per-capita income of $28,853—again in 2006 American dollars.. Macau's economy has been growing at over 13 percent annually—tracking and sometimes leading the consistently robust growth rates of the entire Chinese economy.
If he were still alive, paramount leader Deng Xiaoping—who almost single-handedly modernized his country by adopting 'socialism with Chinese characteristics'—would probably be overjoyed that Macau has been living up to his dictum, 'To be rich is glorious.'
What made such impressive economic figures possible is gambling—or, its more polite variant, 'gaming.' Casinos are what have made this special administration region a Chinese cash cow since Lisbon formally returned it to Beijing in 1999.
To be sure, Macao has other sources of income, such as some light industries that include garment and textile factories. Its history as the oldest—and last—European colony on Chinese soil has produced a culture that appeals to millions of sightseers, both Chinese and foreign. There is little doubt, however, that the bulk of 25 million tourists who went to Macau last year alone made a beeline to its casinos. And projections are tourist traffic—both from the mainland, where illegal gambling can earn an offender three years in prison, and overseas—is bound to keep growing. Of course, it has not always been that way.
The history of the gaming industry in Macau can be traced to 1962, when the Portuguese colonial authorities issued a monopoly license to the Sociedade de Turismo e Diversões de Macao (STDM), headed by the legendary Stanley Ho. His classic Hotel Lisboa and its opulent extension across the street, the lotus-shaped Grand Lisboa, still dominate the skyline of Macao 's old section. However, Macao —and China as a whole—hit the jackpot when the Chinese authorities decided to give Ho some competition.
The Macau government ended the monopoly system in 2002. Six casino concessions and sub-concessions were granted to STDM, Wynn Resorts, Las Vegas Sands, Galaxy Entertainment Group, the partnership of MGM Mirage and Pansy Ho Chiu-king and the partnership of Melco and PBL.
Stanley Ho's STDM continues to operate 16 casinos, which are still considered crucial to Macau 's casino industry. In 2004, however, the opening of the Sands Macao ushered in a new, more profitable era.
At its opening the Sands Macao was hailed as the largest casino in the world, as measured by total number of table games. After the Wynn Macao threw its doors open in 2006, gambling revenue from Macao 's casinos surpassed for the first time that of the Las Vegas Strip's $6 billion or so. Since then, Macao has become the highest-volume gambling center in the world.
Success breeds success, and keeps on doing so. In 2007 the Venetian Macau—the second-largest building in the world—opened its doors to the public, followed by MGM Grand Macao . Many other hotel casinos, including Galaxy Cotai Megaresort and Ponte 16, are similarly set to open in the very near future—going by the relentless pace of construction at Macau 's reclamation areas.
Officially, Filipinos make up 2 percent of Macao 's population. They are employed not just in the casinos, but also in hotels, restaurants, transport companies, retail outlets and wherever there is a need for amiable, hard-working and English-speaking staff. However, there are probably even more Filipinos in Macao working 'informally.'
That Filipinos make up a significant portion of Macao's casino work force—and, for that matter, in the US gaming centers of Atlantic City, Reno and Las Vegas—has its parallels in, say, our merchant marine. The Philippines deploys the largest number of seamen across the globe—mainly because it does not have a big enough maritime industry to employ them.
Some of our expatriate manpower and talent in the gaming establishments of Macau—and even Nevada and New Jersey —may finally be able to come home and still earn a decent living in the not-too-distant future.
After making investors—along with thousands of job-hungry Filipinos—wait for what must have felt like an eternity, the state-owned Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) finally gave the go-signal to four investors ready, willing and able to put up a world-class gaming center in Manila .
As this paper reported yesterday, what has been envisioned as a Las Vegas-like Bagong Nayong Pilipino-Manila Bay Integrated City took another step closer to reality. Japan 's Aruze Corp., Genting Berhad of Malaysia, SM Investments Corp. and Australia 's Bloombery Investments Ltd. were given the go-ahead to put up their respective multibillion-dollar projects at the 90-hectare resort complex.
Pagcor has approved the project proposals of the four groups, with total investments of about $10 billion spread over three to five years.
When fully operational—the earliest by 2010—the integrated resort facility is projected to raise the country's gaming revenue by at least 30 percent. It is also expected to boost foreign tourist arrivals by up to three million travelers annually, and generate over 250,000 new jobs.
Pagcor aims to use the Bagong Nayong Pilipino as a catalyst to sustain the growth of the country's tourism industry. It hopes to attract at least $4 billion in investments.
Fears that the envisioned gambling center would further erode Filipinos' public morals seem to be unfounded. Similar—but not as grand—gaming operations have actually been operating for several years now in Ilocos Norte, Cagayan, La Union, Rizal and the old US military bases at Clark and Subic Bay. The bulk of their clientele is foreign—including spillovers from Macao.
Besides, the potential of the Manila Bay Strip for boosting tourist traffic is enormous. There are certainly more attractions for sightseers in this country than the ex-Portuguese colony's church ruins.

Pagcor published a half page press release today with a picture of the complex that will have a semi submersible observation wheel. heres the same picture. Look at the bottom of the observation wheel. Notice how it dips into a man made lake? What did i say earlier!!!
The Pagcor tower will be built by Pagcor and will serve as their headquarters. The architect is local firm called JT Cruz and Partners. If they truly want to make this world class, they should hire an international firm known for making iconic landmarks and design a symbol not just for the complex but for the 'new' Philippines. they should learn from landmarks like the PETRONAS twin towers (used Muslim motifs, symbolic gateway to Malaysia ), Burj Dubai (billowing sail, a symbol of new Dubai ) or the Beijing national stadium (birds nest, green Olympics)

THE WEEKEND

It was definitely a busy week as far as partying and getting together with friends. The weather was very mild, that's why I was in a perfect mood to be out there and let it loose.
Mudra's Skype was not working perfectly, but we managed to chat anyway. Then I also had the time to even hooked up (hot, hot....hot!)
The week culminated with a fun quieter business networking kind of part at 80 Varick. It's always different to party with friends (old and new) , in a more low-keyed environment, with warm lighting, yummy food, and good music that's just loud enough to let everybody carry a good sensible conversation without straining each one's vocal chords.
But a normal New York night life is not complete with out getting noisy, rowdy, and crazy and dancing the night away.....so ending up in a loud boozed-up club is part of the whole scene.
There's so much drinking, screaming and dancing to do, so I didn't even remember how late I got home....thanks goodness for friends who always make sure I get home safe.
I know Steve and Midori drove me home.
The next day is always the worst part.....alcohol is really evil and it's very bad for the skin!
The hang over is always nasty, and I just make it an excuse to just sleep the whole day.....then waking up late and hungry, makes it even worst, but in my own perverse way, I always like it that way. At my age now, it only means one thing....I am waking up hungry and thinner...what's not to enjoy! (This is not for everyone though.)
If you wanna try it, you'll need lots of practice and self discipline. And make sure you are healthy too.
Now I'm getting ready for the Fashion Week at Bryant Park (and all the after hour parties, if I still have the energy), and right after that, I am going away (again) to recover!

See you next and at the tents.

JOIN na rin nang JOIN

oh ayan Mader O, ka join na rin ako, diva? mga diva lol....

Congratulatory Message

Our congratulations to the premiere issue of "Mother Knows More!". We're looking forward to informative articles and exclusive photos that will surely "shock"....oh I mean....engage all readers.

Friends and SKYPE

It's snowing again.

And everytime I look out of my window, I actually feel more calm and nostalgic...I guess this is the effect from last night's chat on Skype with my fabulous friends from around the world (Manila, Sydney and Istanbul). And it was very spontaneous. I like it when things happen that way...no plans, no appointments...just all of a sudden everyone was logged on as if we all planned and agreed to be online all at the same time from different time zones...isn't that fabulous and freaky (Anthony thought it was groovy!)!
Well, my friend Rene, from Istanbul was here in Manhattan for New Year's parties, and this was the first time we chatted since his visit. Of course he's doing very well, busy as usual, with his social and sex lives and his work as a contributing writer for Time-Out Istanbul.

Then out of nowhere, I saw a red flag from Australia. Mudra, my best friend of all time, who doesn't even have yet an internet connection installed in his new apartment, was in a huge internet cafe in Sydney, saying hello to me . It was totally unexpected and a very happy coincidence. All of a sudden I was talking to 2 funny, smart, beautiful bitches from hell...what more could I have asked for (it was a party!) . The conversation was hysterical, reflective, critical and gratifying all at the same time. As we were finishing the chat, my Skype started ringing again, this time the call was coming from Manila. So I told my bitches to go and leave so I could concentrate on Duday in Manila.
And we did talk....non-stop, for the next 3 hours....and we did this while she was working and organizing her brand new office on the 24th floor of an Ayala office building with a great view (talk about corporate success and multi-tasking!).
The best part of being friends with the same group of people as one grows older, is the chance of really getting to know someone...if you've been with friends through the ups and downs of your life, the bond is stronger than a crazy glue.
I know that now, and i beleive that it's really one of my best accomplishments in life. To be able to share and appreciate the failures and successes in our lives all these years is such a blessing it sounds like a visa tv commercial : PRICELESS . There are no manuals on friendships and relationships.....but we were able to manage and sustain our own through sheer hard work, backstabbing, honesty and loyalty (in that order)....hey, once upon a time, we were all young, naive and ambitious.

Well, it's also easier and manageable that MOTHER always gets his way too ;-)

A Trully Different Saturday

It was indeed different......in a very long time.
I was up by 11am, becasue I had to meet up with my sister and brother in law.
On top of that, I had lunch before 2 pm by Salad Master (very healthy and yummy!).
Oh well, it was cool.
By the time i got to the gym around 5 pm, I was already exhausted, and by 8 pm, I was in my bed, fast asleep ( I didn't even dream).
This morning I woke up at 6 am.
And for the first time, watched the sun comes up....a really different feeling, but a good one.
By 10 am I had breakfast.....imagine that, a real breakfast. I think i need to get my body clock back to this time table. It will probably help solve my insommia too....i'll see how my day goes.
It's so weird that I am up and awake now, and my apartment sounds very quiet..there's a feeling of peace and calm....like a real nice day.
It's bright outside, and yes, it's fucking cold.
This winter is not so much fun for me. I always consider myself a winter person. But there's something wrong or or just not right this year.
Maybe I'm really old.
I just feel really cold this time.
This season has been unpredictable, just like the economy. The only thing the weather people have been right so far is that it's a very cold weather season.
But predicting the snow storm, or the snow accumulations have been a bust. I guess even weather forecasting is more about ratings now a days.
Just like the economy, this winter is just getting more and more cold, and the temperature is still going down.
IT SUCKS!