Ashley Gosiengfiao

[ashliliii]

Universal Studios Singapore

I’d been to Singapore a few times, but it was always for work and events so I’d never gotten the chance to check Universal Studios out. This latest visit was for the Youtube Fanfest, too - an event that my sister Alodia was participating in which ran for a few days. She let me tag along as one of her guests, which still supposedly entailed no time for leisure. It’s a good thing, though, that she asked the organizers to fly us in 2 nights early, giving us a day to freely go around by ourselves!

We stayed at her boyfriend Eric’s uncle Jom’s place the first two nights, and this is the view from their balcony! That short white building is Scape, and that's where the Youtube Fanfest was held.

Their housekeeper is, I must say, an excellent cook! Tito Jom’s family jokingly calls her a masterchef, which I could immediately agree with. Hurray for yummy breakfast food, which I seldom get the opportunity to enjoy because I never get up in time for breakfast!

Just a couple of outfit shots while we still looked and felt fresh. Haha!

Candyyyyyy!!!

My sister is and has always been in love with candy, so here’s Eric lifting her up to reach her dreams. Literally.

We went around and looked through the shops first before going inside USS.

Finally got our tickets!

Sis and Eric getting photobombed by a minion.

Transformers: The Ride was awesome! All that 3D got me a bit dizzy though. But still awesome, nonetheless!

To my dismay, the Battlestar Galactica roller-coaster was closed due to safety reasons. I dunno. It looked hell of a lot safer than Enchanted Kingdom’s Space Shuttle to me. And that one’s still up and running as far as I know. Haha.

Revenge of the Mummy was next!

Wikipedia says that it “launch(es) riders from a complete standstill to a top speed of between 40 and 45 miles per hour (64 and 72 km/h) in a matter of seconds.” That should explain our faces, then.

Dunno about that other guy in our row, though. Hahaha. As for me, I definitely had my game face on.

After that, we had a late lunch around the Jurassic Park area.

And then we went off to see one of Eric’s friends dance with his crew!

They asked for volunteers to come dance with them.

And Eric was one of the brave few to volunteer haha!

We felt tired after that, and not to mention the heat was killing us, so our last stops were the Lights! Camera! Action! Hosted by Steven Spielberg show which was impressive albeit rather boring, and then finally the Despicable Me store.

My very spontaneous Agnes cosplay. ;)

Funny story. Eric and my sister were kind of in a rush to leave because they wanted to catch the Xmen movie. I hurried behind them and failed to notice that I still had the Agnes stuffed toy tucked beneath my arm all the while as we made our way to the theme park’s exit!!! Hahaha!!! As soon as I noticed, I let out a huge “OMG AGNES IS STILL WITH ME!!!”, rushed all the way back to the store, put the toy back on the rack, and left without even the slightest apprehension. Heck, nobody was even there to watch over any of the items! I guess shoplifting is THAT rare in Singapore that nobody suspects anyone of anything. The discipline in that country is amazing! Haha.

Well, that silly story wraps up this post. Youtube Fanfest entry coming soon!

[ashliliii]

Mother's Day in Subic

Even though I honestly wasn’t sure I’d be able to get up on time for an out-of-town trip, I got pretty excited when my mom called me up while I was at a Midnight Meetings gig the night before Mother’s Day to tell me that we were spending the holiday in Subic! It’s been ages since my last visit, probably more or less around… 10,000 years? Haha! It’s been a while, too, since my family last went on a roadtrip. And most importantly, it was my mom’s special day! Totally worth not getting any sleep for. My mom found this beach resort through the internet called Camayan, and this pretty view was what greeted us upon entering the place!

We got there just in time for lunch, so we proceeded to the seaside restaurant which Camayan housed called The Reef.

I really loved the look and feel of the place. Very beach-y, garden-y, and homey all at the same time.

Here’s my mom looking fabulous as usual!

That lady on the far right is Ate Ria, our waitress. We later found out that she’s a kababayan of my mom’s. Thanks for the discount, Ate Ria!

The food was great! I especially loved their sisig, butterfly prawns and banana leche. Yuuuummmyyyy.

My sister Alodia and I tend to get a bit too hyper after eating.

We went around and took photos for a while after lunch.

BTS shot of the previous photo!

That’s Kai, Camayan’s biggest sea lion. Apparently, it’s 400php for 2-4 people to take a photo with him, so I just stole shots from afar. Ehehehe.

We went straight to the Nike Factory Store after Camayan. Nothing better than cheaper Nike stuff! As I was looking around, I overheard one of the store clerks telling another customer that it’s always 25% cheaper there than in Manila. I went crazy in there! Too bad they didn’t have any Jordans that I liked in my size left. Boo. Still went crazy with the other stuff, though. My mom hoarded a bunch of workout clothes, too! FACT: My mom loves to Zumba.

All in all, it was a really fun last minute trip! Even if we travelled all the way to Subic just to eat and shop haha, it’s being together as a family that made the trip a great one. Besides, my mom looked like she was having a nice time, and that was all that mattered that day. :) Happy Mother’s Day again, mom! We love you! <3

[ashliliii]

Ask Ashley

Ask away, guys! Just comment on this post. I'll be picking the best questions and answering them through a video, so make 'em good!

And while you're trying to come up with a question, why not watch this video first? It's my band Midnight Meetings' newest song called LQ. Lyrics are posted below. Enjoy!

LQ by Midnight Meetings

I. Di ko inakalang Ikaw pa yung magkakaganyan Kahit pilit iniwasang bigyan ka ng mapag-iisipan Di sinasadya Pasensya ka nalang

CHORUS: Tahan na (Kung pwede lang naman limutin na) Binitawang salita (Kung pwedeng wag na lang isipin pa) Wag ka naman sanang lumayo

II. Di naunawaang Sa sandaling iyon, ikaw ang bihag At hindi na naiwasan ang paglitaw ng mga sala Pasensya na, mahal Patawad na sana

Di sinasadya, Patawad na sana...

[ashliliii]

Anigaiden in Legazpi, Albay

I remember always waking up whenever we passed by the Mayon Volcano during our 12-18 hour drives to my mom’s province, Catarman in Northern Samar. We never got off the car to explore Legazpi, though. We were always just passing through. April 29th 2014 was my first time to actually BE there.

Mayon was too shy for me. He kept himself hidden behind the clouds both days I was there.

Because I am a sucker for spicy food and everyone who’s close to me knows that I can’t enjoy any meal without my chili/cayenne pepper, it was a dream come true for me to come to the Chili City!! Umm. Okay yeah I made that name up, but the folks of Legazpi kept telling us about the chili eating contests and all their chili delicacies. They even have chili cupcakes and chili ice cream! Crazy! I’m pretty sure I was born to live in Legazpi.

Anyway! Enough about chili!

I was there to judge the Anigaiden IV: Otaku Revolution cosplay competition. It was awesome how they incorporated a storyline throughout the program! Something new, indeed. Cosplay events in Manila should do something like that. The normal ramps are getting kinda repetitive.

Congrats to these guys for winning the competition!

I prepared a little something, too, for the lovely Albayanos…

Thanks to the Hokage of Albay, Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda for making this happen and for the hospitality! He's the coolest governor I've ever met. Check out his Facebook profile! He's super duper active on Facebook it's insane!

I insisted on grabbing some Sili Ice Cream before the flight back to Manila. I think they gave me a level 1, the lowest level of hotness. Definitely trying level 7 next time!

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TOKIDOKI In The City

Ever since LeSportsac came out with their Tokidoki designed bags, I was always a huge fan. I confess to having one of those fake Tokidoki backpacks you could purchase at tiangges back in high school (sorry baduy), before one of my aunts from the US sent me an authentic one. My cousin's wife also got me a Tokidoki makeup palette years ago which I still use to this day. It's still my favorite palette! Sobrang tinitipid ko nga eh.

So, imagine my excitement when I got an invite to meet Italian artist and creator of Tokidoki, Mr. Simone Legno, last week at The Block at SM City North EDSA!!!

Tada! Meet The Cactus Friends!

Tokidoki merchandise! I kind of went crazy with the merchandise. Yes, I did. All proceeds went to the victims of Typhoon Yolanda, too. Simone Legno has a huge heart. <3

I so wanted to take Mozzarella home with me. I wish she were for sale too! Haha.

I got there an hour early so I headed over to the henna booth and got myself a Tokidoki logo henna tat before the program started.

Also a perk of being early. I got the best seat! Front row center. All the cool kids would've disagreed.

Host for the day, Sanya Smith, conducted a quick interview and Q&A portion with Simone Legno before everybody got to get autographs and have photos taken with him. It was really inspiring to hear how the whole Tokidoki craze started from just a simple portfolio website, and Simone sending over his designs to LeSportsac not even expecting any response from them. Now he's had collaborations with Hello Kitty, Karl Lagerfeld, LeSportsac, Barbie, Onitsuka Tiger, Marvel and other huge brands. It just goes to show that hard work and perseverance, and not necessarily money and connections, will actually get you where you want and deserve to be.

TRIVIA: Simone used to be in a punk rock band! That pretty much explains how he came up with his Punkstar characters, then.

Iconic Toki Doki character, Adios, was also there to grace the event! He did a cute little dance onstage before coming down to have pictures taken with everyone.

That's me having my newly purchased Tokidoki stuff signed! Thanks to Tippy and Pong of The Googly Gooeys for the photo! They were first in line, and I was second, nyaha!

So how do I look with my new Tokidoki snapback? Hehe.

If you weren't there at the event, you can still meet Adios every Saturday of May and June, 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm at The Block Atrium, SM City North EDSA. The Pop Up Shop and Tokidoki displays at the Collectors Hall will also still be there until June 15. Go grab your Tokidoki merch before they go!

[ashliliii]

My Skincare Routine

Before anything else, I would like to admit that my skin always looked hideous. I never showed myself to anyone or went out of the house without any concealer on. Having bumps on my face of all sizes was totally normal for me because I'd been experiencing constant breakouts since I was around 10 years old. No kidding. My skin is ridiculously oily and sensitive that just the slightest heat would make me breakout. Black heads, white heads, acne? Tchh. Yeah, daily life for me. I'd gotten so used to it that a 10-minute concealer session had become a morning habit. I would even need BB cream just to walk my dogs outside my house.

That's until I found the right combination of products for my skin! Which I thought I'd share with you all this fine morning. Take note that this is me being 100% honest. This is not in any way a sponsored post. I just want to get this out there in the hopes of helping other blemish-prone people like myself, simply because I know how it feels. I know how it feels to be conscious all the time. I know how it feels to want to look away from that person you're talking to because it feels like he/she is talking to that new zit on your forehead. I know how it is to completely forget how to keep eye contact, making you look like you're not confident about yourself, especially when all eyes are on you. I know because that's what I've been experiencing for the past 13 years.

/wrists

Now, I don't have any before photos to show you because I never really kept any of myself without makeup. But let's just say that my skin looked around 10 times worse than it does today.

Say no to acne! Wehehehe. Photo © Allan Mendoza

So, here is the best combination that I have ever put together in my entire life. Presenting, the Ashley G. Nightly Ritual, which I try my best to never ever skip.

1. Shu Uemura Skin Purifier (High Performance Balancing Cleansing Oil)

Shu Uemura has a lot of skin purifier variations, but I like to use the yellow one because I think it's for oily/sensitive skin. It does a really awesome job in removing waterproof makeup like mascara and gel eyeliner. Here's a video on how to use it properly:

2. Obagi Nu-derm Foaming Gel

This is a great facial wash because it contains Aloe Gel, which is an anti-inflammatory agent, helping to calm yo zits. It's a very light gel too that washes away easily, so it doesn't clog up my very large pores.

3. Burt's Bees Peach & Willowbark Deep Pore Scrub

After I am sure that all the gunk and grime has been removed from my face, I then move on to scrubbing. I gently massage a walnut-sized portion of this product all over my face in small circular motions for about 30 seconds, concentrating on the problem areas. This is the newest addition to my regimen, and I've noticed that my scars have gotten lighter after just a few uses. My skin also feels like it's been buffed by sandpaper. Very very smooth.

4. La Belle Collagen Soap

I'm sure that by now you might be thinking, "A fourth wash?? Won't that just dry my skin out and make it oilier??" I used to think it too, but I've found out that carrying a pack of oil control film is easier than checking yourself out every time you pass by a reflective surface to see if your concealer hasn't melted down yet.

Anyway, this soap is a black bar of collagen heaven. It tightens up your pores and leaves your skin squeaky clean. Collagen has also come to be a very hyped-up anti-aging ingredient nowadays, and honestly I can testify to its effectiveness. You can get this bar of soap together with a bottle of collagen cream both included in a collagen set from La Belle. I will talk more about that wonder cream later on.

5. Christian BRETON Paris Flower Power Lotion

I adore this toner so much because it leaves my skin feeling very healthy and hydrated. A harsh toner would definitely be overkill after all those washes, so a moisturizing toner is a must. I got a bottle from Sa Sa in Singapore just to replace my usual toner then because I'd forgotten to bring all of my facial cleansing stuff with me. I am SO glad I did.

6. Zo Medical Cebatrol Oil Control Pads

These pads are awesome because they prevent those little black and white heads from turning into acne. Existing pimples also calm down and dry out as well. I usually just dab the pad all over my face a few times. If I have a throbbing pimple, I'll leave the pad to sit on it for around a minute.

7. Shu Uemura TSUYA Skin Youthful Radiance Generator Essence

I usually apply this right before putting makeup on because it really improves the texture of my skin. I included this on my regimen a few months ago when I was still using a lot of peeling products for my pimples. Makeup won't stick right on a peeling face, so I used it for hydration. Right now, even without a peeling face, I've found that my makeup really does stick better with it. And since it's supposed to reactivate cell regeneration, I also use it at night.

8. La Belle Collagen Cream

Now here comes the best part. This collagen cream is a MIRACLE, and I swear by it.

I got a free bottle as a sample from the owner of La Belle, and upon checking, the cream looked really thick. Knowing that my skin was ultra sensitive to stuff like this, I decided to postpone testing it out for a few weeks. I eventually gave it a try once my schedule loosened up and there weren't any important events coming up. Meaning it would be okay if my skin had a bad reaction to the product.

So, I dumped the stuff all over my face one fateful night. When morning came…BAM! My face was as smooth as a baby's!!! You know how young healthy skin looks so juicy and supple and elastic? That's already how it looked like after just one application. After the next couple of nights, some fine lines around my mouth and eyes disappeared! IT IS AWESOME. A GIFT FROM GOD.

It is so good that I purchased 3 more bottles. One for myself; one for my mom who seems so curious about this miracle cream and how it did wonders to my face; and one for my boyfriend, Eric, whose face I know like the back of my hand. I'd really like to see if it would transform his skin too like it did mine.

So there you have it. This is by far the best combination of facial products that I have ever tried, because this is the best my skin has ever looked and felt in years. I hope this entry helps some of you out on your journey to clearer skin. Good luck!

[ashliliii]

One Magazine

How very fortunate of me to happen to notice this December 2011 issue of One Magazine, the official magazine of Shangri-La, resting on one of my shelves and realize that it's almost July and I haven't even said anything about it yet!

Most of you don't know this, but I actually shot some photos for the Chefs' Secrets article. Here is a scanned image of the spread:

  I did shoot some product and mall photos too, and they're in the magazine somewhere, but I've decided to just show you all the chef and food pictures because of how yummy everything looks, and how lucky and privileged I was to have been shooting a couple of the top chefs in the country.

Oh and not to mention how delighted I was to find out we would be eating the dishes I took photos of. It was my first time to shoot something other than cosplay, glamour, conceptual and self-portraits professionally, so I really didn't know what to expect. It was a good thing though that I chose not to eat anything prior to the shoot. Heehee.

Anyways, here are the photos:

Chef Robby Goco of Cyma!

...and his Arnisto!

Chef Margarita Fores of Cibo!

Aaaand that's me at work. I was probably drooling all over my camera's screen. :)

[ashliliii]

Cases for your Gadgets

It's time to put my dirty, scratched, but favorite Speck iPhone 4S case to rest...

...because three spankin' new cases from Cases for your Gadgets just came in the mail today!

This one I plan on whipping out during events and parties wherein I'm required to be all glammed up. It just screams ROCK and everybody knows how much I love that word. This is just so going to match all my rockstar outfits. ;p

On casual days when I know I'm going to want to take a lot of pictures is where this iCam case comes in. Observe how I am able to easily hold the iPhone with one hand! This is going to work so well with Hipstamatic. I am so excited to use it! It also matches my Mr. Pink Diana F+!

And finally, this rubber case I can use whenever I'll be going to shady places where I feel like my iPhone is gonna get stolen. I just flip it over, and instantly it becomes a casette tape! I suppose nobody would think of stealing a casette tape nowadays, right? Although I remember a grade school classmate of mine (YES I STILL REMEMBER YOU) robbing me of my Fushigi Yuugi OST tape.

Look! I can just leave it anywhere, and nobody's going to think it's a phone!

Get your cases here: Facebook.com/CasesforyourGadgets

Thanks Chrisma!

[ashliliii]

No more Instagram

I am very happy to announce that it's been 3 days since I decided to stop sending my Instagram photos over to this blog as I'd like to maintain the substance of this site's content as much as I can. You can still view my Instagram photos however on Twitter. :)

♥ Ashley

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Another one of my Thomas Sabo pendants. 💗 #luho (Taken with instagram)

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My Thomas Sabo and Missense Mutations pendants. ✨ (Taken with instagram)

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Sambokojin dessert hihi (Taken with instagram)

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I just received some lovely gifts from Jessica of Missense Mutations! A Mockingkay pendant, lego ring, and Think Green baller. Thanks Jessica! ❤ (Taken with instagram)

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Here at Circles for my cousin Ate Cheska's graduation dinner! (Taken with Instagram at Circles Event Café)

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Watching The Avengers tonight at Resorts World!! Thanks @maicasy and @vianserranilla for the lovely invites! (Taken with instagram)

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Just got a blue 320GB PS3 for 13k. Yaaay! Another addition to my blue and pink gadget collection lol (Taken with instagram)

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Big smile!!! Hahaha (Taken with Instagram at Doctors Ocariza Dental Clinic With X-ray Services)