What’s on your bucket list? #RexonaDoMore

We love the latest campaign of power beauty product Rexona simply titled Do:More. As the saying goes: “don’t regret the things you’ve done, regret the things you didn’t do when you had the chance!” Life should be all about taking chances, living out your passions and simply doing more.

I think that motherhood has tamed me in the sense that I think twice before stepping out of my comfort zone these days. Still, this hasn’t prevented me from writing a bucket list:

1.Swim with the dolphins in Donsol.
2.Savor exotic food in Kathmandu and Yangon.
3. Have croissants for breakfast in Paris.
4. Have flat abs while doing 2 & 3.
5. Be able to say “six sick hicks nick six slick bricks with picks and sticks” in 30 seconds and repeat consecutively ten times :)
6.Marvel at the sight of Niagara Falls and the Pyramids of Egypt
7. and easily the most achievable one: join Rexona Run 2013 happening on Oct. 20…yay!

In an event last June 26, Rexona unveiled its chosen Ambassadors who embody the Do More lifestyle.

Former Chelsea FC player Phil Younghusband is the star player of the Philippine Azkals and pursues his own social responsibility project by coaching promising Filipino kids under the aegis of the Younghusband Football Academy. In photo, Phil pins on the map his next travel destination Brazil, for the 2014 World Cup.

Phil's next destination

Bianca Gonzalez has always been known as the pretty face who juggles many different tasks at the same time. Yet, her close friends know her as one gutsy spirit who loves travelling to places far and near. Bianca fearlessly greeted 2013 by jumping off a plane in Skydive Monterey Bay. In photo: Bianca excitedly shows us her next destination: Egypt.

Bianca points to map

We also spotted these relentless Doers:

Model, host and entrepreneur behind Pinkerton Ice Cream – Xandra Rocha.

Xandra Rocha

Paolo Cabalfin (middle) and colleagues from the Makati gym Team Focus Athletics.

Paolo Cabalfin & team

Businessman and host RJ Ledesma looks like he hasn’t aged a day. He does more by having less, thanks to a strict vegetarian diet.

RJ ledesma

Rexona Brand Manager Mar Corazo encourages everyone to ” be open to possibilities, keep busy, seek adventure, go the extra mile and push limits.” This is the rationale behind the #DoMore philosophy. “With Rexona, you can always feel confident knowing you’re protected throughout the day, no matter what it is you’re doing,” he added.

#rexonadomore

(Thanks to Bridges PR for the photos)

Kathryn Bernardo + Daniel Padilla for #GandangDiMoInakala

Kathniel!

It was refreshing to see today’s hottest love team Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla (also known as Kathniel) in a culminating activity for #GandangDiMoInakala recently. This is a campaign by Procter & Gamble’s Ganda Trio brands Olay, Rejoice & Whisper to showcase the remarkable transformations of ordinary Filipinas. Hundreds of participants submitted before-and-after photos of themselves to highlight their change. Then the winners enjoyed a makeover session and an exclusive opportunity to meet Kathryn and Daniel in person.

Daniel Padilla

First impressions: the young Daniel really rocks it when it comes to good looks and sex appeal. As a “teenspiration” for many right now, he is all for the youth’s expressing their individuality and uniqueness as a way of finding their mark in the world. We just hope Daniel doesn’t let success get into his head and he will surely go places like his famous uncle Robin.

Kathryn Bernardo

About Kathryn: seeing her makes one proud about the beauty of the new generation of Filipinas. She oozes simplicity but you just know it is all about great looks, good genes and amazing talent. Kathryn said that with #GandangDiMoInakala, she’s both proud and elated to learn that countless young girls take inspiration from her to discover their own beauty and confidence.

Experts believe that social media has changed the landscape for growing up and development of today’s youth. Campaigns like #GandangDiMoInakala empower young girls to become more confident by overcoming the inhibitions they otherwise exhibit in face-to-face interactions, says P&G.

Star-spotting at SM Aura Taguig opening

There is an ongoing controversy about the opening of SM Aura in Taguig but allow me to launch this rather belated photo chronology of its opening last week which was the most star-studded I’ve seen in recent years (with no less than Hollywood A-lister Sarah Jessica Parker attending)

SM Aura

The Philippines’ richest man Henry Sy (in wheelchair) was there with son Hans and other members of the family to inaugurate their latest mall together with senator-elect Alan Peter Cayetano and Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano (in pink). Amid the fanfare about SM Aura, it makes me wonder how they are all going to solve their problem with the Bases Conversion Development Authority.

SM Aura opening

I was in a click, click! mode as I saw Gretchen Barretto descend the escalator with daughter Dominique.

Gretchen & Dominique

Model Georgina Wilson gamely posed for a photo as she waited for her turn to see Sarah Jessica Parker in the SM Prestige Lounge holding room.

Georgina Wilson

Vibrant in green: beauty queens Venus Raj and Marie Ann Umali.

Venus & Marie Ann Umali

At the after-party where champagne and Johnnie Walker flowed freely, pretty actress Carla Abellana was hanging out with her female friends.

Carla Abellana

Joey Mead-King was the emcee for the Sarah Jessica Parker presscon. I guess this is what you’d call “fashionably thin” I remember the time when I was awkward kind of bony and wanted to drink 2 liters of Mosegor for instant effect (get a little meat). Now that am comfortably fat, I want to get it all back! (the bones, I mean) :)

Joey Mead King

Sarah Jessica Parker live at SM Aura !

Sex and the City was one TV show I never failed to watch in the ’90s, and I always awaited the narration of Carrie Bradshaw at the beginning of each show. One quotable quote:

“Later that day I got to thinking about relationships. There are those that open you up to something new and exotic, those that are old and familiar, those that bring up lots of questions, those that bring you somewhere unexpected, those that bring you far from where you started, and those that bring you back. But the most exciting, challenging and significant relationship is the one you have with yourself. And if you can find someone to love the you you love, well that’s fabulous.”

I would never have imagined meeting her in this lifetime – the girl I loved for her brains as much as her spunk and of course, her fashion sense. It wasn’t necessarily Carrie who was in Manila today, but Sarah Jessica Parker was even better in person. My fan mode was totally on upon seeing her up close :)

Sarah Jessica Parker in Manila

Most of us who were invited to the opening of SM’s spanking new mall, the SM Aura, really felt like the paparazzi, mostly because security for the ribbon cutting was EXAGG! At first, all I could take were photos of SJP’s back and her sides, like this one where she sort of blended with the mannequin :)

SJP in Manila

Finally, a semblance of order because there was an organized presscon after all. Sarah Jessica Parker gamely answered questions, ranging from her character in SATC to her fashion style to why she accepted the role of SM Aura endorser in faraway Philippines.

3SJP Collage

“I’ve never been here before and it’s an amazing city,” she began. ” I love the food, the people…I even love the traffic. Your streets are so active and so alive. I’ve been impressed with everything. I hope this is the first of many visits.”

She may not be the epitome of a classic beauty but you can tell that SJP has a beautiful soul. Consider, for instance, her donation of $100,000 to the people of Taguig via the SM Foundation.

SJP in SM Aura

One surprising thing SJP tells us is that the reel Carrie was much bolder than the real life Sarah Jessica. “Her single life is more colorful, mine isn’t clearly so. I have kids, she didn’t. She was more courageous and had confidence I never could muster. It was like I had two lives for 12 years”

Anyhow, our fan mode for the night concluded with a private photo op with SJP in the ground floor Prestige Lounge of SM Aura. Am shown with Earth, Rod and Az. We are quite thrilled because it almost didn’t happen, haha.

with SJP

Afterwards, we were allowed to exchange pleasantries with Sarah Jessica. I shook her dainty hands and told her “am your fan. Please come visit us again in Manila.” And her eyes glowed as she said: “Yes I will, of course.”

She is so nice. Period. :)

Sarah Jessica Parker in Manila! (updated)

Sarah Jessica Parker

Sarah Jessica Parker fans (like me) will be thrilled with this piece of news from our friends in SM Store:

“Sarah Jessica Parker arrived in Manila at exactly 6:45pm last night. She was a surprisingly simple and down-to-earth, she even lined up at immigration herself!

She was quickly whisked away and slipped into her limo but as soon as she got to her hotel, she took time to saying Hi to everyone and even stopped to admire the musicians playing at the hotel. As soon as the quartet was done with their rendition of “New York, New York”, she applauded the quartet and exclaimed “Wonderful!”

“She is one of the sweetest and most wonderful Hollywood celebrities in the world! She was really friendly and sincere.” , says the SM Store’s Senior Manager for Digital Marketing, Jason Alvarez.

Sarah Jessica Parker is in the country for the blessing of The SM Store Aura tomorrow, May 16.

Sarah Jessica Parker at the opening of The SM Store at SM Aura Premier – now that’s great fashion news!

For more updates, join The SM Store online community on Facebook, YouTube & Pinterest (/TheSMStore) and Twitter @thesmstore #SarahJParkerLoveToShopSMStore.