Here’s Charo Ronquillo’s photo as requested!

Isn’t she lovely?

I was actually writing an entry on men’s fashion but I just had to stop and write about what has been on my mind since I read Steffi’s entry about English and writing.

I was a bit surprised that someone who is 10 times better than me at writing would write about not being very good at English. I mean, call me self-centered but I immediately thought “Okay… so I guess this makes me the world’s crappiest writer?” LOL. Then WHJ, wrote a lengthy reply about the basics of good writing, writing style and such, and then I realized, though I’m starting to love writing, I really don’t put much thought into making a good article/blog entry. I just write whatever pops into my head. I rarely even proof-read! I’ve got all the basics of bad writing down pat!

It’s kind of embarrassing because my two sisters are very good writers. My older sister was the Editor-in-Chief of our high school newspaper (and even got an award for excellence in leadership and journalism), while my younger sister is a contributing writer for a gaming magazine. My cousins are super writers too. One would assume that I have the writer gene in my body, but I really don’t.

In elementary, I remember getting whacked on the hand with a ruler by my Reading teacher because I didn’t do my homework. In high-school, I joined the school newspaper but never got around to making any articles. In college, I HATED writing papers even though I had to write at least one every month. That gene eluded me. It knew that it wouldn’t develop to its fullest potential in me. :p

I think the reason why I love writing now is because I don’t have to follow any rules. I don’t have to read my entry three times before I publish it. I don’t have to worry about other people putting red marks on it. I don’t see other people reading it. I don’t feel the judgements being passed. Plus, I can write about whatever I want. Most importantly, as I write entries and read other peoples’, I think I’m learning (albeit slowly) how to write, uhm, decently.

I’d like to think I’ll get better at this someday. However until that day comes, I would like to apologize to the readers who have read or are reading my blog… Sorry for all the wishy-washy and incoherent paragraphs. heehee! A BIG THANK YOU AND A HUG to the same lot, who have continued reading and commenting despite the incoherence.

Shout-out to Steffi, who wrote the article from which a flood of realizations came (and again, your English is really very good!), and WHJ and iheartbadtz for those comments in Steffi’s blog that helped me out a lot as well!

I read from a gossip blog earlier about a memo from Kitty Go (former editor-in-chief of a major local fashion magazine) saying that “the Phils has not produced anyone [model] of international caliber” since the 80’s.

I was inclined to agree, after all I can’t think of any Filipino model who has recently made waves in the international fashion scene. However, as I was browsing through my regular internet jaunts, I chanced upon this entry in Fabsugar featuring a very familiar face: Charo Ronquillo.

I heard about her a few times before when I read an article about her win in the Ford Supermodel of the World Search contest and again in an ANC (Local news network) interview. Until I read the Fabsugar article, I had no idea she was dubbed “the Asian Kate Moss”.

After reading Kitty Go’s note, I almost felt sad about the perceived sorry state that my country is in. It seemed like we’re not the talented lot that we think we are. With regard to fashion, it seems like the really good, “international caliber” talents we produce in that realm are few and far in between. For a fashion-lover, it’s a little bit depressing.

Reading about Charo Ronquillo, of course, cheered me up. Though I’m not all nationalistic (like superBONG is! :p), it feels good to, sort of, be somewhat associated with someone who is so successful at what he/she does. It makes me feel really good to be Filipino and that’s a LOT coming from someone who is itching to migrate to another country.

P.S.: Charo Ronquillo does look a lot like Kate Moss doesn’t she? I just hope she doesn’t fall into the drug addiction route like Kate Moss.

P.P.S: Another Filipino designer making international fashion waves right now is Lesley Mobo, who recently had a fashion show right here in Manila! *clap clap*