You Aksed, I Answere: Christmas Edition

You Asked, Partyphile Answered: Christmas Edition

You have been sending quite a few questions about the yuletide season and I feel like I owe it to you, my dear readers to answer some of them. I know this season can get quite hectic for partyphiles, and I hope my tips can help you cope.

Christmas is just around the corner and my friends and I are planning to throw a White Christmas party and we might be pulling some wet & wild action by making it a foam party after dinner. Any tips or suggestions on what to do or what to avoid?- Rolly Marcial, Student

Hey Rolly! Thanks fort sending in your query. I have never thrown a foam party yet but I hope that you remember to check the dance floor. You have to ensure that your dance floor is not slippery even when it’s filled with foam and water. Usually foam parties are held at grassy areas or areas that are cemented because these surfaces aren’t too slippery when they are wet. Another thing I would ask you to do is to ensure that all your guests are aware that they are attending a foam party. Otherwise, they may wear clothes or jewelry that may get destroyed or lost in all that foamy mess.

I would also suggest that you go all out with the ‘white’ theme. Rent a smoke machine for the foam-less part of your venue. It is also a good idea to rent bright white lights and lasers which should add to the festive mood of your party. If you are looking for a cool center piece for your yuletide bash, gather different types and sizes of White Christmas balls and put them in one big fish bowl. This looks festive and chic. If you have a lot of time on your hands, you may also hang some balls in corners of your venue, in cascading heights.

Also, remember to serve White food and drinks. Carbonara is a good idea, and so is a pizza with white sauce. You may also try serving steamed chicken with ginger sauce, or some angel cake with white frosting for dessert. If you plan on serving cocktails, Google some recipes for the White Russian, Anti Freeze, Lemon Drop, or Rainy Night. All these cocktails are white and are very festive! I hope you enjoy your White party! Send me an invite!

Hey Zhaun! I’m hosting a Christmas party really soon. Any suggestion on what cocktail drinks and food I can serve for my soiree? I want it to be Christmassy and festive without looking like a Noche Buena spread. – Kia Aquino, Partyphile

Hi Kia! I commend you for wanting to veer away from the traditional holiday spread, and having the guts to actually try something new. I know it is quite difficult to create a Holiday inspired menu, without making it look like a Noche Buena dinner, but a couple of clicks on the web, and a few ingenious ideas will do the trick.

Instead of serving some Keso de Bola with bread, create a Keso de Bola and Mushroom Bruschetta. This recipe is cheap and easy. Chop up some canned button mushrooms and sauté them in butter. You may add your favorite herbs like Basil or Oregano. Mix in some cubed pieces of Keso de Bola and spoon some over toasted baguettes or ‘french bread’.

Instead of serving pancit make some Shrimp Sotanghon Spring Rolls. Saute some sotanghon with onions, garlic, and minced shrimps. Season to your liking and wrap the mixture in lumpia wrappers. Fry them up and serve with your favorite lumpia dip.

Instead of serving some Hamon de Bola with Pineapple sauce, make some Ham-Pineapple skewers. Cube some Christmas ham and skewer them alternately with pineapple chunks. Grill the skewers until they get grill marks and the pineapples are caramelized.

You may also try serving some Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce (instead of barbeque), Cherry-Chocolate balls, and Grilled Chicken Fingers with Coconut-Curry Sauce (instead of chicken curry).

Serve some Appletinis (they are green), red Margaritas, and Red and Green Jelly Shots. I have recipes on my blog (http://party.i.ph) but there are a lot of other recipes on the web.

I hope these simple tips work well for you. I’m sure these dishes would look festive on your buffet table, taste like things your guests would normally associate with Christmas, and are perfect for any Yuletide cocktail party. Do not worry about your budget, because all the recipes I recommended are pretty affordable.

So it's Christmas and I’m running out of party ideas! I want to throw a "Christmas party" but I want it to be unique, you know, not the typical (Santa Claus, exchanging gifts and ho-ho-hos kinda thing). You have any ideas? And oh! A venue too please --Julienne Avancena, student

There are a lot of party themes you can throw. You can have a DVD marathon and watch Christmas movies while munching on gourmet popcorn or make-it-yourself hotdog sandwiches. You may also try throwing a traditional Filipino Christmas party complete with puto bung bong, bibingka, other kakanin, and native hot chocolate. Another theme you would want to consider is a Summery Luau barbeque. It is quick, easy, and definitely not common around this season. You could also gather all your friends and throw a party in an orphanage or a home for the aged.

However, if you want to take advantage of the cool weather during the yuletide season, why not throw a snuggle party? A snuggle party is a soiree that aims to warm the tummy, heart, and spirit.

The ideal location for a snuggle party is your house. Ask your guests to come in their pajamas, or any attire they’re really comfortable in. Fill you room (or living area) with a lot of mattresses for your friends to sit or lay on. Make sure that your mattresses are filled with plush pillows and soft covers. Serve some hot soup, like Arroz Caldo, or some take on the traditional chicken soup. You might also want to try serving up hearty, but healthy, minestrone.

You could also serve some Hot Chocolate, Coffee, and Milk. If you want to give your guests a little buzz, spike their Hot Chocolate with some Bailey’s cream, and add some Kahlua to their coffee. You may also dress up your milk with some chocolate or strawberry syrup and serve them with wafer sticks. Remember to keep the lights down low, and play music that is relaxing. The yuletide season can be quite stressful; give your guests some time to relax and chill out.

If you have any party-related query, check out my blog http://party.i.ph or follow me on twitter http://twitter.com/zhaun

Catch Confessions of a Partyphile, the radio show, every Wednesdays at 6 to 9 in the PM on 105.9 Mix FM.

Baker's Night: A Celebration Pictures

These are pictures from the recently concluded DCBA Banker's Night held at garden oases. iw as one of the judges for the dance competition. :D

these pictures were taken with a sony cybershot w290. Thank you to sony philippines!

Party Profiles 2

Party Profiles

From the outside world, party animals are all the same; they all like to drink, dance and stay up late. However, for people who actually party, we realize that there are more types of partyphiles than most people think. Some are good to be with, some, one should just stay away from. Unfortunately, when you are drunk and are too familiar with the faces in a bar, you forget that some of them may not be good for you. Here’s a simple reminder on whom you could meet at a bar.

Observer: Observers usually come, and act, in groups. When inside a bar, they just sit back, take a couple of sips, and then observe and gossip about other partyphiles. This is all they do for the night. They just talk, talk, talk, and sometimes scream over the music, just to share the latest gossip and to diss the fashion disaster that just walk past them

Camel: These are partyphiles who go to bars for the sole purpose of drinking. They do not care to dress up, they do not even dance. They just stand by their table, or lean against the bar the whole night, gulping down incredible amounts of booze. They have been drinking so long that they know when to stop, so they are pretty safe to party with…IF you are comfortable playing second fiddle to alcohol.

Queen Bee: the girl every guy has a crush on. She is nice, pretty, and witty, and she loves to drink and party. When she steps inside a club, all eyes are on her, and she knows it. Don’t hate her, it’s not her fault she’s beautiful.

The Posse: The Queen Bee’s followers. The group of girls who are always with the Queen bee but never get the same attention as she does. There is also a posse for the DJ, for the bar owner, and the top Shark.

Songbirds: People who dance with the music with real intent of singing along with it. They do not enjoy house music that do not have vocals or aren’t as popular. They prefer House mixes of pop songs that they could sing to. While dancing, they even close their eyes and sing along. This doesn’t make them bad people; it just makes them really irritating.

Wallflower: You know who they are: people who just sit in one corner; drink very little; never stand up to dance, and always take trips to the bathroom. They are too shy to enjoy the party. Sad.

Networker: A person who goes to parties to make people feel comfortable with them, and then they proceed to sell them stuff. They go to parties to gain connections for their business. These people usually seem fun and fabulous, but they are very deceitful.

Solo-Pilot: The loner. He or she goes to a bar to look for new friends. They are extra-friendly and even offer to buy you drinks. Unfortunately, your new found friendship ends quickly. The reason why he or she is always on the prowl for his or her new best friend is because s/he can’t keep a stable friendship.

Dirties: Also known as “Dirty Old Men”, these old guys are exactly like Sharks. The only difference is that they are older, usually heavier, richer, and have more power. Trust me, they do not look cute. If you do not want to look like you are partying with you Papa, leave your friendly neighborhood Dirty at home.

Miners: Also known as Gold Diggers, these girls love Dirties because they are the easiest target. They go to a bar to look for the next old man to get money from. They may act innocent, but these girls know how to play the money game.

Have you found yourself fitting into one of these stereotypes? Be honest, don’t deny who you really are. None of these stereotypes are bad, they just happen to be the reality. Remember: there are stereotypes because too many people do the same thing.

For comments, suggestions, and more confessions from this partyphile log on to http://party.i.ph

Catch Confessions of a partyphile (the radio show) every Wednesdays, 6 to 9 PM on 105.9 Mix FM or www.mixfm1059.com.

Follow me on twiiter: http://twitter.com/zhaun and on facebook (just search for my name).

Party Profiles

From the outside world, party animals are all the same; they all like to drink, dance and stay up late. However, for people who actually party, we realize that there are more types of partyphiles than most people think. Some are good to be with, some, one should just stay away from. Unfortunately, when you are drunk and are too familiar with the faces in a bar, you forget that some of them may not be good for you. Here’s a simple reminder on whom you could meet at a bar.

Newbie: First-timers in the party scene. They move scour the club with wide-eyed excitement, and you can feel it when they enter the bar. They aren’t quite sure what to do, and everything they choose to do seem awkward. If you spot one, beware. There is a huge possibility that this party-newbie will puke all over the bar (being too excited to party, s/he over-drinks).

Mannequins: The group of girls who go to bars just to dress up and show off their new outfits, shoes, hand bags, and trophy boyfriends. They do not actually intend to drink, or dance, party at all. Mannequins just go to clubs to display themselves and wait for praises.

Leech: The guy with the DJ. He has no actual function. He just stands by the DJ and avails of the free drinks the DJ gets; and sometimes, the chicks too.

Hello Kitty: People who know everybody. They can almost work as the door man/door lady because they greet everybody that comes to the bar. These are a friendly lot.

Confused Kitty: People who THINK they know everybody. It makes them feel important. They assume that they have been in the party scene for too long, that everybody must know them. It doesn’t mean they’re popular; it just means they’re old.

Emo: Emos. I don’t need to explain this. It is unfortunate that they have to grace us with their presence.

Shakers: People who go to clubs to dance. Sometimes they do it freestyle, sometimes they have choreographed dance moves. They don’t drink much, and they don’t socialize with other people much either. They just dance with the group of friends they arrived with, and sometimes, some willing dance partners.

Ninja: People who disappear when it is time to pay, or when they are too drunk. These people come to a party late, but leave early. When they are too tired, too drunk, or too poor they decide to leave the bar without even waving ‘goodbye’ to their friends.

Hamper: Also known as the fashion disaster. She throws all the fashion trends together in one outfit; thus making her look like last season’s fashion collection vomited on her. Trust me, they think they look great so do not say anything about their ensemble.

Models: These people go to parties just to take cool pictures of themselves. They waste their time inside a bar just to get great pictures that they could upload in social networking sites so people would believe that they have fabulous lives.

Shark: Also known as “players”. These are guys who scout the premises to find their next girl friend, fling, or lay. If you are a female, beware of sharks, your relationship might end the next time he has an opportunity to party.

Have you found yourself fitting into one of these stereotypes? Be honest, don’t deny who you really are. None of these stereotypes are bad, they just happen to be the reality. Remember: there are stereotypes because too many people do the same thing.

Watch out for the second part of Party Profiles next week.

For comments, suggestions, and more confessions from this partyphile log on to http://party.i.ph

Catch Confessions of a partyphile (the radio show) every Wednesdays, 6 to 9 PM on 105.9 Mix FM or www.mixfm1059.com.

Follow me on twiiter: http://twitter.com/zhaun and on facebook (just search for my name).

Fashion Foreplay

Fashion Foreplay

Fashion has always been a definition of a people’s culture, and a reflection of one’s self. It has been the topic of controversy, and it has, to some extent, brought people together. Fashion is one of the biggest industries in the world, but it is also one of the most popular passions. However, in one key city down south, fashion is relatively young. Fashion choices are somewhat limited and students and yuppies still stick to the fashion super-brands that offer a million and one pieces of the same design.

So it is not surprising that the fashion-forward Davaoeno has an un-fed appetite for true fashion; fashion that isn’t commercial nor mainstream; fashion that is organic, not copied; fashion that can truly make a statement and is a reflection of one’s self, or his/her current mood. To get their fashion fix Davaoeno fashionistas shop, and even study, in other cities. However, that does not have to be the case anymore.

Fashion 101

October 16, 2009 marked the opening of Davao’s first fashion school: the Fashion Institute of Design and Arts (FIDA). They hosted a cocktail party, attended by a mix of Davao glitterati and the who’s who of the local fashion industry, where they unveiled their line-up of workshops and guest instructors to give the Davao crowd a taste of things to come.

They unveiled several workshops to cater to all fashionistas, no matter which field of fashion they wanted to explore. From fashion illustration (instructed by Danilo Franco), Pattern Drafting (with Aries Lagat, Winner, Project runway Philippines season 1), and Modeling (with Marina Benipayo) to Fashion Business workshops and even Children’s Art Days; FIDA has got all your fashion cravings covered! And if you decide to pursue fashion education full-time, FIDA plans top offer short courses, and vocational fashion courses by next year.

Unlike most fashion schools in the country, FIDA encourages students to concentrate on their studies, instead of indulging in many social events and parties. And since it is located right in the middle of Juna Subdivision, FIDA (which used to be a hose and was made-over a month before the opening) is free from the hustle, bustle, and distraction of the city; making it an ideal spot for the fashionista who is truly dedicated to learning the ins and outs of fashion.

The brainchild of Christine Munda, a seasoned fashion instructor who has taught in some of the more important fashion schools in the country, and her husband, Gerry Munda, a retired banker, FIDA does not only cater to the creative side of fashion, but also teaches fashionistas the business side of it. Aimed at inspiring Davaoenos to truly immerse themselves in all facets of fashion, FIDA is slowly starting a fashion revolution in this little city down south.

Fashion Monstrosity

In a city where t-shirts and jeans reign supreme, and being too indulgent with fashion experimentation is not applauded, people find other ways to stand out and make a statement. And when Davaoenos look for bags that are easy on the budget, functional, and gloriously trendy, only one brand comes to mind: Fashion Monster.

Fashion Monster started as an online shop created by two friends in their early twenties. They sold bags that were big enough to carry school essentials while being stylish and attention-grabbing; and you do not even have to worry about seeing other people using the same bag as you, because they only release a limited number of bags per style.

They first released Voodoo Bags, which are huge messenger bags that come in several candy colors like Hot Pink, Lemon Yellow and Cherry Red; and come with free hand-made Voodoo key chains in contrasting colors that are too cute to resist! These bags are favorites among students because they retail at 650 pesos, inclusive of shipping, and are big enough to carry all their school essentials. Much to the surprise of the fashionable duo, their Voodoo bags sold like pancakes at their online shop: http://fashionmonster.multiply.com.

Soon after realizing the potential of their gorgeous bags, the duo behind Fashion Monster started joining bazaars and consigned several shops to sell their products. With a clientele that reaches Manila, Cebu, General Santos, Cotabato, Iligan, Loaog, Baguio, Cavite and even, Jolo; Fashion Monster has proven to have mass appeal, while remaining to be quirky and unique.

Now, Fashion Monster has added several different lines to their already impressive roster like their Laptop Bags that are named after fashion Icons like Iman, Tyra, Twiggy and Aerosmith; their Lollipops (design-it-yourself laptop bags) ; the VoodooBots (robot-looking messenger bags); and their I Hate Plastic Bags (messenger bags that look like plastic) among others.

Fashion Monster manages to merge street-fashion, a preppy sensibility, and bubblegum playfulness into high-quality, budget-friendly, products that are hard to come by anywhere else. This type of monster is definitely welcome in any closet… or a fashionista’s shoulder.

Party With Authority (Oktoberfest '09 at Pearl Farm) Pictures

fire dancers

photo qube

general manager, karl sims, with the sales team

dj torch

the authority band

all these pictures were taken with a sony cybershot w290! thank you sony!

8 Partyphile Scares

Partyphiles are known to be fearless. We do not believe in crazy urban legends and superstition, and the urge to party is often greater than all these. People say one should never party on November 1 and 2, but in recent years, Filipinos have dressed up, and gone clubbing on Halloween. Technically, there is no problem with this, since Halloween parties are celebrated on October 31, a day before All Saints Day. However, partyphiles cannot stop at the stroke of midnight, so partying is extended until November 1.

You may not think much of this, but you better watch out, because it has been known to give naughty partyphiles some really bad luck. To give you an idea of what could happen to you if you break the “no-partying-on-November-one-rule”, here are the top eight partyphile scares.

8. Cashless- It would be a great partyphile scare to order loads and loads of booze and finger food only to realize that s/he is cashless. It almost never matters what your reason for being penniless is; it is a huge embarrassment, and it may even stain your partyphile status. Trust me, these things get around Partylandia. Counter the curse by treating your friends to some drinks once in a while, or you could even send ME some money. I swear, the curse will leave you in a jiffy!

7. Booze-less- One of the scariest things for a partyphile is to get some illness that does not allow him/her to ingest alcohol anymore. It is a very, very sad thing, when a partyphile cannot enjoy his/her poison of choice, and cannot party like s/he used to because of some medical condition. To ensure that this does not happen to you, do not over do it now.

6. Friend-less- So your friends have invited you for the customary Saturnight out. You are all dressed up and excited to party. You have set the time and the place and you get there ten minutes late, because partyphiles never come too early. And then you discover that all your friends have started to apply that same rule, and you are left alone in a bar, and it takes them 30 minutes to arrive. You feel like a lost loser without any friends. Who wants to be seen going to a club alone?

5. Club-less. You have a favorite club. The one you go to every week, where all the wait staff, bartenders and DJs know you by name. They have stopped asking you to pay for the entrance fee, they know what drinks you are going to order even before you come up to the bar, they reserve a special table for you and your friends, and they even allow you to put your bill on tab, to be paid every month. And then one Saturnight, you go there and they have closed. It is sad, scary, and it changes your partyphile life forever.

4. Annoying Witness- You are inside a hot bar, dancing sexily with some stranger while making out with a random friend. You are all boozed out as you had one too many margaritas to drink and you decide to get on top of a table and dance a la Coyote Ugly. Everybody starts cheering for you, and it only get you more caught up in the moment, and you decide to take off a piece of clothing. As you look at the crowd of drunken partyphiles, one person stands out. With arms crossed, and a furious face, you watch in horror as your brother/sister/uncle/aunt/dad/mom/boyfriend/girlfriend walks out of the bar. The next thing you know, you are on your knees apologizing.

3. Ex-citing- You arrive at some random bar to meet your college friends, and then your ex comes up to you, gives you a peck on the cheek… and you’re with your current. ‘Nuff said.

2. Unfashionable Friend- You invite your best friend, who isn’t known to be a fashionista, and then on the day of your party, she suddenly decides to get out of her fashion comfort zone and then arrives in a mini dress, a jean mini skirt, black leggings, yellow stilettos, and a pink boa around her neck. You want to leave her and find new friends, or hide her inside your purse, but you can’t do that; she’s your best friend. Instead, you decide to tell everybody that she’s your keychain.

1.Twins- Imagine stepping inside a bar, dressed to the nines, with your new Vuitton handbag, Louboutin pumps, and little black dress. Naturally people start staring at you, your every movement, highlighted by the diamonds on your neck; your mere presence is enough to create a stir. Or so you think. You walk to the opposite side of the club and there is: a younger, sexier, prettier partyphile in the same exact dress you are rockin’ (or think you’re rockin’)

Thank you to Wacky Masbad for the pictures in my last article. Thank you also, to Sony Cybershot for my W290. Catch Cofnessions of a Partyphile, the radio show, on 105.9 Mix FM every Wednesdays, 6 to 9 PM.

For comments, suggestions, party invitations, and more confessions, log on to http://partyt.i.ph