Following a rather short but serious phase of listlessness, it was a surprise to have found myself aboard a van crammed with people working in the media for a journey to Malita, Davao Occidental. It was the 2nd night of the week-long celebration of the 2nd Araw Ng Davao Occidental, October 27, 2017. We were invited to witness a parade of beauty, culture, heritage, and fashion.

It was just my luck I stumbled upon a worthy impetus because I was rotting in my apartment. It was a long drive—approximately 3 to 4 hours—but it was a ride I willed to sit through because a beauty pageant and a fashion show await me; a real treat for someone who holds a pride flag, if I were honest.

Davao Occidental has five municipalities: Sarangani, Jose Abad Santos, Sta Maria, Don Marcelino, and Malita. Each of them were represented by young, beautiful lasses vying to be this year's Reina De Davao Occidental.

Jinelyn II T. Cawa - Sarangani

Chrstine Joy N. Sering - Jose Abad Santos

Mary Elvi T. Dimzon - Sta. Maria

Princess Grace B. Calvo- Malita

El Shaphir Mareshah H. Manliguez - Don Marcelino

Alice Dixson was host to the event alongside Magandang Umaga South Central Mindanao host, Joey Concepcion and PBB Celebrity Edition 2 Big Winner, Ruben Gonzaga. Kyle Velino, a fresh Star Magic artist who appears on the prime-time soap, The Good Son, was also present as a judge to the competition alongside Daiana Menezes, and one of the country's most influential names in the fashion scene, Mr Avel Bacudio.

One of ABS CBN's hottest leading men, Vin Abrenica, also made an appearance to serenade the Reinas while they were clad in locally designed Filipinianas. You could just imagine how the crowd reacted to the whole show.

Personally, I loved every bit of the program. In Bohol, our municipality would hold an annual pageant, but they were not as grand as this one, so I was totally delighted—even more so when the Trajes De Reinas Avant Garde Competition started. (Click here for the separate story.)

But it was more than just the gorgeous faces walking on pairs of long legs; it was more than just the glitz. When all the glamour is stripped away, you'll see that it was mainly about how five sets of people from the municipalities that comprise the province coming together to celebrate their independence, and oneness, and appreciation of tribal aesthetic, its local bounty in both talent and scenic attractions. Gov. Claude Bautista even highlighted in his closing remarks that the success of the 2nd Araw Ng Davao Occidental can be greatly attributed to the whole province's unity and cooperation.

In the end, the 18-year old queen from Sta. Maria, Mary Elvi T. Dimzon was crowned Reina De Davao Del Sur 2017. The night was a true success.

I went home to Davao City completely mesmerized by the experience, and definitely yearning for more. Here's Katrin Su's vlog at the event so you can peek a little further:

Are you into modeling? On their 5th year in the city, The Off Price Show offers something new by calling on both experienced or aspiring Fashion Models to walk on the runway. If you're interested in joining the competition, here's how:

For short and petite people like me, the struggle is real in terms of buying clothes that would fit our body type. Of course, we can just purchase anything from a random brand, but that would mean compromising our comfort. This is the reason why I was excited when I heard the buzz that Uniqlo was opening in Davao City.

And F-I-N-A-L-L-Y, they opened not only one but its first two stores in Mindanao on two separate dates. The first one opened on May 26 in SM Lanang Premier, and the second one on June 2 in SM City Davao Annex. I'm certain the waiting was all worth it for all Davaoeños because at last, we are now able to experience what Uniqlo is known for—high-quality clothing that is universal in design and comfort—without having to go to another city.

It's cool that Davao now have the brand that matches the city's laid-back lifestyle as Uniqlo constantly develops clothing based on Japanese values of simplicity, quality, and longevity. LifeWear, they call it. Apparel innovations geared toward bringing clothing that's not disposable by evolving the ordinary to produce more warmth, more lightness, and comfort that's not time-bounded.

Here's some of the photos from the VIP and Media Launch that I luckily got to be a part of:

Also, here's some photos of myself during my Hong Kong wearing the Uniqlo pieces I got from the SM Lanang Premier branch:

Men's Dry Pique Polo Shirt (Designed with form and function, the Dry Pique Polo Shirt is equipped with quick-dry and moisture-wicking properties. Made with a classic silhouette and solid color, this polo shirt is a staplee fitting for every body type.)

If there is one state I'm constantly in, that's reverie. At work, I'm always caught staring blankly at just about anything random. There are times when I don't even know what I'm thinking about, but oftentimes, I know I'm just daydreaming about the comfort of a better life.

I went to Verdon Parc one evening, and right then I saw right before my eyes what BETTER LIFE truly means.

When I got the invitation to be at the Private Screening of Jerrold Tarog's freshest film, BLISS, I already started mulling its title over, and how it relates to its initial MTRCB Rating. [It was originally Rated X but got R18 after the second review.] I never got to watch the trailer so I didn't have a clue, but given that BLISS is an indie film, I thought perhaps it's one of those indie films that fail to make to the big screen due to their overly erotic content.

But I was WRONG. True, the film contains adult themes and language but BLISS is not at all PORNOGRAPHY. While there honestly were some nudity and sexually charged scenes, those were not the focus of the film. It focuses on uncomfortable realities such as the cost of fame, existence of artifice, rape, and other forms of psychological abuse.

The film revolves around Iza Calzado's character named Jane. It tells the story of an actress who's under the strain of the expectations coming from all directions. Unlike the real Iza Calzado, Jane isn't taken as seriously in the business which was what led her to decide to produce her own film—determined to gain the industry's respect. Unfortunately, things took an awful turn for Jane, and it was worse that she could imagine. Her mishap brought her trapped in a house where various uncanny phenomena would take place; not to mention that she was under the care of probably the weirdest nurse. Jane basically just dreamed but she ended up in a nightmare that seemed to not have an end.

I expected a lot from Iza given that she's one of the most award-winning actresses in the local scene, and boy she was brilliant. This is only the second film I watched with her in it, and on the first film, she had minimal appearance so I don't have much to compare her performance with, but judging her prowess based on other big stars' career highlights, I can honestly say that hers is not fabricated. She was too perfect for the role as if Tarog had her in mind while writing. But the fact is that she wasn't, and even if to Calzado's account she's "never satisfied" with her performance, in this movie, she delivered quite an undeniably satisfying performance—proving that along with her current teleserye co-star, Bea Alonzo, she is here TO LAST.

After watching the film, it became clear to me that when it comes to dealing with uncomfortable truths, MTRCB isn't quite there yet. I feel like if there's anything that needs to be reviewed first, it's their rating system, because it's obvious that it's not in sync with the current reality.

Like Tarog, I also believe that the Filipino audience have always been ready for this type of film. All it takes is a chance and an outlet for them to see it. Also, with Bliss' artistic merits—with Iza Calzado bagging the Yakushi Pearl Award for Best Performer for her perfomance in this film—it would be unfair that the Filipino audience themselves could not judge it on their own.

During the Q&A, I asked Tarog if there's anything he'd like the audience to take away after watching his film. He said he did not make the movie to provide any answers, but to raise questions.

I got out of the movie house with one question that disturbed me even while I was still watching the film. Maybe you'll have your own question if you watch it as it comes out uncensored on May 10 in cinemas nationwide, but mine was...

WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?

I LOOOVVVEEE KIDS. In fact, I've always wanted to be a child psychologist. So, to be invited to McDonald's Kiddie Crew launch brings me a flurry of excitement and joy. (I was too stoked that I was the first one to arrive at the venue. Haha.)

Now, of course, you've heard about this program, or been at least served by a tiny crew for once. That's it! It's that time of the year again. The longest flagship family program is here once again as it celebrates its 25th-year run.

It couldn't be any more special because this time, alongside the kiddos from Padre Pio Home for Children, I also got to experience how to make my own Cheeseburger and Oreo Sundae! The kids, however, also got to try how it's like to work on-floor, at the drive-thru area, and over the counter. They even got to stand as tiny guards at the entrance to greet the customers. It was not only a fun scene to look at, but also a heart-warming one given these kids' background. And I'm happy and proud to see the eagerness in their eyes as they did what they did.

A post shared by Myth Reid (@mythreid) on Apr 9, 2017 at 6:09pm PDT

A post shared by Myth Reid (@mythreid) on Apr 6, 2017 at 6:47pm PDT

If you have a loved-one who's aged 6-12 years old, you have all the reasons to enroll the kids to the workshop. Experiences in this psycho-social stage—childhood—are the most critical foundations of a person's development. So, might as well give your kids, or your little sibs/nieces/nephews the early training that will one day make you feel at ease.

McDo Kiddie Crew Workshop is a time-tested setting where values such as teamwork, hard work, discipline, responsibility, and sharing are all established and honed. I'm sure kids in this generation are all glued in front of their gizmos. It's time we give them the right kind of exposure, and a summer-break to remember.

Whenever I would watch a movie, I would have to watch it two more times to actually remember anything about it. So, yup, I'm not the movie junkie. But I'm a social media freak, so anything that has something to do with the mobile and digital scheme of things, that excites me. That is why when the Davao Bloggers Society got an invitation to the Media Launch of iflix here in Davao City, I had to give it a go.

The best thing about it is that you get all of these abilities at only Php120 per month for unlimited access with NO ADS.

Sherwin Dela Cruz, Country Manager for iflix Philippines, commented: “We are committed to bringing the best in local, regional, and international entertainment to as many devices and homes as possible. With an outstanding selection of first-run exclusives, award-winning titles, and full-box sets of iconic series, iflix is radically changing the entertainment landscape. Our local consumer remains top priority, and key cities like Davao are important drivers to strengthen our presence locally and propel growth. I can’t wait for more Filipinos to discover our world-class service.”

And world class it is! Because with over 160 studio and distributor partnerships all over the world, iflix offers subscribers the largest selection of iconic, critically acclaimed TV series and fan-favorite films both internationally and locally available in the region

It's awesome! Here's a glimpse of what happened at the event:

With iflix, I don't have to worry about forgetting the details of a movie because iflix brings movies [and series] to our fingertips that we can get several reruns of. And oh, by the way, new subscribers get a complimentary 30-day trial. All there is to do is to go to www.iflix.com to register.