Beauty within the rubble.

Dress: Princessa

Heels: ASOS

Watch: Nixon

Most of the time when I travel, I try to travel in style and not look like I'm living out of a suitcase. As opposed to what many people believe, style and comfort while travelling are not mutually exclusive. The Betsy ethnic dress from Princessa that I brought along with me on my trip to Philippines definitely kills two birds with one stone. The intricate embroidery and loud neon coral colour spices up the entire outfit while the really soft and light material makes it feel almost like I wasn't wearing anything. I've searched high and low for a drop waist dress but always hated how those I found were  too cute for my liking. This particular piece though, exudes a little sexiness with its tube top.

Country: Philippines, Bohol (Baclayon)

Location: Baclayon Church

With more than 86% of its population being Roman Catholic, Philippines proudly boasts as the third largest Catholic country in the world. It's no wonder why the country is peppered with churches. One of, if not the most, beautiful churches I've ever seen and my favourite thus far, is the Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, commonly known as Baclayon Church. It is the second oldest church in Philippines with more than 400 years of existence and one of the best preserved Jesuit-built churches in the region.

The church was constructed by the first Spanish Jesuit missionaries, Fr. Juan de Torres and Fr. Gabriel Sanchez, shortly after their arrival in Baclayon in 1595. However, the fear of being mobbed by Moro marauders soon forced the Jesuits to move their headquarters to Loboc. It was not until the year 1717 when Baclayon was raised to the status of a parish and the construction of the church as it stands today commenced. The whole construction process took 200 native labourers a decade to complete. And here's the interesting part! Coral stones hauled from the sea were skilfully cut into square blocks and used to build the church. The coral blocks were then piled on top of each other using bamboo and cemented together with a million egg whites! EGG WHITES?! Who'd have thought that egg whites were actually one of the main ingredients used to build such a majestic architecture?!

In the following years, a 21 metre bell tower was added in 1835 and a dungeon was built within the compound to punish those who violated the Roman Catholic laws.

Next to the church is an old convent which houses a small museum filled with religious relics and other antique items dating back to the 16th century. Photography is strictly prohibited in the museum which explains the lack in photos.

Due to its rich historical and cultural value to the Filipinos, Baclayon Church was declared a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines in December 2010.

Unfortunately, Bohol was dealt a powerful blow by Mother Nature on 15 October 2013 in the form of a 7.2 magnitude earthquake which resulted in death tolls, and most definitely didn't spare many of its famous heritage sites. As iconic as the Chocolate Hills, the ancient stone churches were shook to their foundations. Baclayon Church was no different.

Almost one and a half years after the terrible earthquake, Bohol is still picking up the pieces of its heritage, quite literally. I'm sure Mother Nature has struck more than once, but the faith and devotion of the Boholanos is the reason why these churches rise from the ashes time and time again. They're more than buildings; they're the house of God where prayers are answered, where the weary gets rest, and where the weak finds strength.

I might've never seen Baclayon Church in its original state before the earthquake even though I've visited the church twice, yet there's so much beauty within the rubble, and its beauty doesn't seem to fade with each succeeding visit. On the contrary, this centuries-old architectural masterpiece and the stories behind it continues to captivate and fascinate me. So I highly recommend visiting Baclayon Church! It's about 6km east of Tagbilaran City. There're buses and jeepneys in Tagbilaran heading to Baclayon.

Photos by Ing

Editing by yours truly

"The church is the only institution supernaturally endowed by God. It is the one institution of which Jesus promised that the gates of hell will not prevail against it." -Chuck Colson

With love,

Clarabelle Faith

To the broken hearts on Valentine's.

Some of us find it a little harder being single on Valentine's Day. Truth is, I feel the same way too 'cause for a very very long time, I truly believed that I've found the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with; my forever Valentine. Then again, life has a way of sneaking up when we least expect and hitting us way below the belt. I mean who'd have thought that the same love which started off perfectly and felt so right could possibly become the scariest experience ever. Perhaps that's why we call it the crazy little thing.

It's always easy at the beginning. We were absolutely certain of what we felt and love took care of the rest. We even talked about the future like we had a clue. I never knew what went wrong later on or when it actually did. But all these time later, I've stopped searching for answers for I know better now. I loved him more than he ever loved me 'cause I did everything to switch the scales. I tore at my own seams thinking that if I recreated myself by dressing the way he likes me to dress or by behaving the way I think he'd like me to behave, he'll fall for me the same way I fell for him. It took me years to finally realize, understand and draw a fine line between determination and desperation.

Heartbreaks are an odd kind of pain. You're perfectly fine physically, yet it hurts like hell. It's a painful uphill journey and the pain lingers long after the cut heals. What makes it worse is when you reminisce, even if they were uplifting memories. Then there are moments when you think that it's going to be a different day, that things are finally getting back on track, only to realize that those moments fade away rapidly, in a measure of a heartbeat.

Moving on isn't about rolling out of bed one day and suddenly not having the same feelings for a particular someone anymore, that by some kind of sorcery, all the yearning disappears. It's really far far far less miraculous than that. You'll love and miss that person just the same but you'll also gradually learn to not let that loving and missing interfere with the rest of your life.

So here's to all you singles who faced a break up or unrequited love and is nursing a broken heart. Happy Valentine's Day! Take your time to heal and somewhere down the road, someone deserving will give that old heart of yours a brand new beat!

Photos by Ing

Editing by yours truly

"In order to move on, you must understand why you felt what you did and why you no longer need to feel it." -Mitch Albom

With love,

Clarabelle Faith

What to wear for Valentine's Day?

Spent most part my January travelling around the Philippines and I'm glad to be back blogging for LOLA during this month of love!

On Valentine's Day, whether you're having an extravagant three-course meal at a luxurious hotel, hiding out at your favourite cafe, or even cooking up a sumptuous meal in your cosy haven, dress up! There's no harm in putting on something decent and throwing on some makeup for the occasion that's filled with love, love, and more love. If you're absolutely clueless, this blog entry might help.

Being cliche isn't always a bad idea 'cause there's nothing hotter than wearing red with heart-shaped accessories thrown in on Valentine's. If you're not up for a colour as loud as red, that classic little black dress (which is every girl's essential) would do the job too.

Whatever you've picked out or is deciding to pick out, here's a thing or two to keep in mind to ensure that you and your beau have a splendid date.

ALWAYS check out the dress code (if there's any). If you're planning a surprise, inform your date about the dress code. If you know you're having a surprise planned for you, ask if there's a dress code. The last thing you want is to not be granted entry 'cause you're not dressed appropriately. And here's a golden rule by the ingenious Vivienne Westwood-- If in doubt, overdress. I swear by this rule 'cause you can never fault anyone for overdressing.

Comfort is of utmost importance! You want to be enjoying your night out instead of fidgeting uncomfortably in an apparel that doesn't fit you snugly. On top of that, if you're not comfortable wearing something, chances are you won't feel confident in it. Every man loves a woman who exudes confidence. And trust me, what you wear plays a substantial part in boosting your confidence, or conversely, totally demolishing it.

A few years ago, I was invited to a Commissioning Ball. I spent months looking for the perfect dress for the event and fell head over heels when I saw this backless dress. I knew immediately that that was the dress I was going to wear. It was my first backless dress and little did I know that while it had the potential to make me the best dressed lady, it could also potentially backfire and ruin my entire night. I spent hours pinning up the dress 'cause it was too big for me that my bra was showing, ended up being late for the ball, was a total wreck by the time I settled down, kept running to the ladies to fix my dress, and finally decided to put on my blazer to cover up my wardrobe malfunction. I never wore that dress ever again and sold it off at the first opportunity I got. Two important lessons I learnt from this fashion disaster are:

1. Never ever EVER wear something you haven't worn before to a special event. If you choose to do otherwise, at least try on the apparel before hand and make the necessary alterations if needed.

2. If there's one thing you need when heading to any event, it's your outerwear (something I carry with me all the time). Don't bother if it's in an air-conditioned function hall or outdoor under the scorching sun 'cause your outerwear is probably your best shot in getting away with any wardrobe malfunction. You'd rather be sweating in buckets!

I hope this blog post came in handy for those of you who're cracking your brains to pick out the perfect outfit for your special date. May you lovebirds have a lovely Valentine's!

To the singles who have no plans/date, cheer up! I totally understand how Valentine's makes you feel exceptionally lonely especially when you see lovey dovey couples everywhere, emphasizing on that fact that you're single. The day may even open up old wounds, make you miss a particular someone or make you wish you had a other half, but remember that Valentine's is about celebrating love in every form. So seize the opportunity to spend time with the ones who love you unconditionally -- your family.

Dress: The Closet Lover

Heels: ASOS

Shades: Ray-Ban

Watch: Nixon

Photos by Ing

Editing  by yours truly

" We are all made up of the same skin and bones, what separates us is what we dress over it." -Stefania Yarhi

With love,

Clarabelle Faith

Day to night versatility.

Dress: Amitha Fantasy

Blazer: Korea

Heels: Taiwan

Bag: River Island

Shades: Ray-Ban

Watch: Solvil et Titus

Necklace: By Invite Only

Dress: Amitha Fantasy

Heels: ASOS

Shades: Ray-Ban

Watch: Lipsy London

Necklace: Lovisa

Bracelet: Bangkok

Dresses fill a major portion of my wardrobe 'cause they're so easy to wear; a one piece that doubles up as an outfit itself. There's probably a million and one designs out there, one for every occasion, so being spoilt for choice isn't much of an issue. Yet, what we're in search for is that versatile dress that takes us from the office to a date/party 'cause a full outfit change is too much of a hassle, and especially during this Valentine's/Chinese New Year season where there's places to be at after fulfilling our work commitments. Making the transition from day to night should be effortless, like switching your accessories or changing your outerwear.

The shoulder detail dress in a rich shade of maroon from Amitha Fantasy is my current go to dress 'cause it blurs the lines between corporate and casual, making it a great piece that'll take you from day to night. I threw on a blazer with classic pumps and a dainty necklace for an office lady look. Swap those with a pair of heeled sandals and some chunky accessories, and you're all set to rock the night away. Finding such a versatile dress gives you more bang for your buck (48 bucks to be exact).

What else I love about the dress is that it's a minimalist piece with just a little shoulder detail to give it some edge. I thought it somewhat gave it a military vibe too which I'm a total fanatic! And yes, it has functional pockets! Pockets are so useful but also so hard to find in dresses, harder than you'd imagine.

Visit Amitha Fantasy now 'cause all prices are at a 30% for their Chinese New Year sale!

Photos by Ing

Editing by yours truly

"Wearing the correct dress for any occasion is a matter of good manners." -Loretta Young

With love,

Clarabelle Faith

Thirty three.

It's been exactly a week since I got back from Philippines and boy, how I miss all the fun I had! I'm thrilled to start blogging and sharing about my vacation, but first here's one for someone special.

Not sure if you actually got down to counting the number of gifts and surprises you've gotten this birthday. Knowing you, I highly doubt that you did. Either way, this blog post is your 33rd present (and also the last for now). The previous 32 were my way of making up for the 32 birthdays that I've missed/didn't get to celebrate with you.

Although there are times you can really annoy the shit out of me, thank you for being annoying, like how you'd try to appear taller than I am when we all know who's the taller one.

As if being clumsy by nature isn't bad enough, I've always been someone who jumps before knowing where to land. Instead of stopping me from being who I am, thank you for giving me space to explore and grow while you stick around just in case the ground beneath my feet crumbles and I miss my landing.

Truth be told, I haven't found anyone who has been able to keep up with my level of energy till I met you. Most of the time I'm like an Energizer Bunny, so I don't know how you manage, but thank you for keeping up with my craziness, talkativeness and constant need to seek out adventures. You're one of the best, if not the best, travel companion.

At the end of day, thank you for being you 'cause you've been such a gem! 

This birthday, my wish for you isn't to have a perfect year ahead 'cause life will forever be filled with troughs as much as peaks. "Ask not for a lighter burden, but for broader shoulders." That's exactly what I wish for you; that you'll get past every obstacle and grow to become an even more amazing person. And I pray that God will put you to bed every night with no worries and that you'll wake up each morning knowing that He has plans to prosper you.

"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright. I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more. I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive. I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger. I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting. I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess. I wish you enough hellos to get through the final goodbye." -Bob Perks

With love,

Clarabelle Faith