12 signs that point to the New Year as the ‘now normal’

Call it the Roarin' '22, the year of extraordinary transformations: another Marcos in the Palace; the surge of luxury retail; the recovery of the entertainment industry; and economic growth largely driven by "revenge" consumer spending on food and travel.

Who knows, just as the doors of opportunity are reopening, the road to 2023 may well be the year for decadence, as people bounce back from the grief and hardships of the pandemic. Lifestyle leaps forward to the New Year with the continuing theme of recovery, wellness, self-care, pleasure, and escape.

Here, in no particular order, are 12 signs — as envisioned by the Daily Tribune Lifestyle team — that point to 2023 as the year of living fabulously, far more than the cliched "normal."

1 Visions of style

When global trend forecaster WGSN described fashion in 2022 as "a time for joyful expression," it was merely reflecting what the world was going through almost two years into the Covid-19 pandemic.

The "stay at home" uniform of loungewear and "above the keyboard" fashion had style purveyors raring for a chance to express the pent-up creativity limited by uncertainties and health restrictions.

This year, then, saw hot pink flaring on runways, with Barbiecore revived by such fashion houses as Valentino during Fashion Week.

Global fashion came alive this year — with our own Heart Evangelista once again conquering Milan and Paris with her "effortless chic." But the world also mourned the loss of fashion greats Thierry Mugler and Issey Miyake, as well as Off White's Virgil Abloh, whose demise in late 2021 was remembered in an off-white outfit that Kylie Jenner wore at the 2022 Met Gala. On 30 December, the world also mourned the death of Queen of British Fashion Vivienne Westwood.

Hereabouts, we bid farewell to master fashion designer Auggie Cordero, who had helped define Filipino style sensibilities throughout his long career, as well as celebrity makeup artist Fanny Serrano earlier in 2022.

Local fashion shows once more rolled out their visions of style — the much-buzzed Bench Fashion Week among them.

Proving that style knows no limits, Michael Leyva celebrated his 10th year in fashion with artistic flair at the National Museum last November, also expressing his desire to go international by next year.
Luxe fashion designer Albert Andrada, meanwhile, is set to join Paris Fashion Week in 2023 — the first Filipino to do so!

Indeed, fashion's "comeback" was peppered with exciting "comebacks" — globally, supermodel Linda Evangelista worked the runway once more; locally, the return of luxury shopping with the opening of new stores at the revitalized, redesigned Greenbelt 3 Mall.

Adding to the international brands drawing lines outside their doors since 2021, this year's stores that opened included Jimmy Choo, which carries the well-loved brand's core collections, as well as pieces popularized by Korean drama stars.

A quick browse of some of the stores to visit (if you haven't already) are Loewe, Celine, Ermenegildo Zegna, and Roger Vivier. Also found in the Greenbelt complex are Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Burberry, Cartier, Givenchy, Prada, Salvatore Ferragamo, and Tod's.

The expanded Hermes store, unveiled in July, was also a big boost to luxury shopping in Manila.

With practically all restrictions lifted this year, it's safe to say 2023 will be a bigger year in fashion here and around the world, with those creative juices given free rein at last!

But perhaps the biggest thing that was seen in 2022 was the wider practice of sustainable fashion. Defined as "a design philosophy and social movement that promotes environment and social responsibility," it became a favorite term for companies when the pandemic forced everyone to rethink their purpose and contribution to the world.

In its own way, the industry made the call for sustainability no longer just a fad, but always in fashion.

By Dinah S. Ventura

2 Life of the party

The year 2022 saw new, as well as reopened, bars and restaurants ready to serve customers who welcomed the easing of pandemic restrictions after two years.

Poblacion in Makati is again teeming with life, with new food spots and mainstays such as Z Hostel, The Green Door, The Apartment, Alamat, Agimat, Buccaneers, The Attic, among others, back in full swing.

Also open for business again are Kampai, the Siargao-born Coconut Club, HQ, the adjacent Lynx club, the new Sanctuary, Run Rabbit Run, Spirits Library, Japonesa.

Pura Vida, Polilya, and Nokal are the comebacks of the year after closing shop due to the pandemic.

Meanwhile, the action in Bonifacio Global City is also back at XYLO at the Palace, Revel, Yes Please, Versus, Studio 28, and newcomer CLUBHOUSE MNL.

At Burgos Circle, also in BGC, is a row of restaurants, wine shops, and bars. There's Reserve Gastro Tavern, Tipsy Pig, Zion, Café Alegria, Rue Forbestown, and The Loft, and a new bar, Salaryman, with Japanese interiors reminiscent of 2006's The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.

That's a lot of night-out options — and we're just talking of Makati and BGC. Quezon City surely has its own crowd-drawers, including live music venues like good old '70s Bistro on Anonas, not to mention rows upon rows of dining and drinking spot in the Scout area, especially the crossroads of Morato and Timog Avenues.

There seems to be no sign of a resurgence of the virus — fingers crossed — as party people have fun all night long with no masks on.

By Alvin Joseph Kasiban

3 All aboard: Travel truly back with a vengeance

Photos posted online of Manila's airports clogged with people means only one thing: Travel is truly back with a vengeance.

The Tourism Department on 14 November announced that the country had reached 2 million visitor arrivals for 2022. It accounted for more than P100 billion in estimated visitor receipts since the easing of border restrictions starting on 10 February.

Siargao — voted on Condé Nast Traveler as Best Island in 2021 and which landed on TIME Magazine's list of The World's 100 Greatest Places of 2021 — drew 14,404 tourists in 2022. The bulk came from domestic tourists at 12,870 and 1,534 foreign guests in the first semester of the year.

The resumption of the International Surfing Cup, as well as side activities of the World Surf League–sanctioned competition, has likewise put Siargao back on the travel destination map.

In November, the Philippines was named the World's Leading Dive Destination and the World's Leading Beach Destination for 2022 at the 29th World Travel Awards Grand Final Gala Ceremony in Muscat, Oman.

Furthermore, Boracay, Palawan, and Cebu were among the 25 Best Islands in the World by New York-based travel magazine Travel + Leisure.

Boracay was likewise one of TIME's 50 extraordinary destinations to explore in 2022.

A welcome development was Mactan International Airport going fully operational with international and domestic flights on 26 October.

Meanwhile, Taiwanese carrier EVA Airways is launching direct flights to and from the Clark International Airport starting 30 March 2023.

Sunlight Air marked the return of its Coron flights at Clark.

The DoT launched several tourist rest areas this year at Saud Beach in Pagudpud, Dauis in Panglao, Bohol, Carmen and Medellin in Cebu, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon and Samal Island in Davao del Norte.

To reach its bullish goal of a steady tourism industry, the government supported the return of travel marts and award-giving bodies such as the Philippine Tourism Awards, Philippine International Dive Expo, Trabaho, Turismo, Asenso! National Tourism Jobs Fair, Philippine Travel Exchange, and the North Luzon Travel Fair.

The Philippines is fully open to international travelers. Fully-vaccinated adults are exempted from the Covid-19 testing requirement. Children below age 15 traveling with fully-vaccinated parents are also exempted.

In response to the IATF directive, the One Health Pass has been replaced with the electronic Travel Pass that incorporates a health declaration checklist.

Noteworthy is the DoT's launch of the Philippine Experience: Culture Heritage, and Arts Caravans, a new project promoting the country's heritage, arts, and culture through a series of tours in the first quarter of 2023.

By Pauline L. Songco

4 Eating well is the best revenge

Restaurants in Metro Manila and in most other urban centers around the country were enjoying record growth up till Covid-19 hit — forcing most eateries around the first quarter of 2020 to a grinding halt.

Following the initial hard lockdown, temporary community quarantine was imposed in the national capital region. But as it extended for months, what used to be thriving dining establishments started closing, restaurant staff and kitchen crew were laid off, and business totally stopped.

But in their place came home kitchen-cooked foods sold online and brought to one's doorstep by Grabfood, FoodPanda and other motorcycle delivery services.

Many of these food businesses have, since the virus waned, transformed into full-service restaurants.

"Home-based food entrepreneurs, who were successful amid the pandemic, are now opening restaurants, like Lechoneria (in Marikina) and Salmon HQ (New Manila, Quezon City)," said Anton Diaz, whose food and travel blog, Our Awesome Planet, has millions of followers wanting to know what new food to eat and where.

Another group that's opening restaurants since the return, somewhat, of normal times, are comprised of pandemic "survivors who continue to market, thrive, and expand their business, such as Mary Grace (popular for its ensaymada, cheese rolls and tsokolate), and Antonio's by chef Tonyboy Escalante, recipient of not a few local and international culinary awards. Antonio's has branched out from its original interior Tagaytay locale to a new luxe urban location at Robert Coyuito Jr.'s PGA Cars in Greenhills.

A third group is comprised of those which have unlocked their doors to private dining, like Mrs. Saldo's and Tuny's RestoFarm, an intimate farm-to-table restaurant in Antipolo; Tahanan Bistro in Antipolo; and Chefanie with its wine-paired contemporary Japanese, French fusion or plant-based degustacion dining in Pampanga.

There, too, are establishments offering private tasting menus like Margarita Fores-mentored and Singapore's Andre Chiang-trained chef Jorge Mendez's Japanese private dining Modan (Japanese for modern) MNL — where guests can sit down and dine on a neo-Japanese multi-course degustacion.

There's also chef Tatung Sarthou's feasting degustacion of liberally-reinterpreted Filipino dishes in his private dining restaurants Lore at Bonifacio Global City, and Tatung in Antipolo.

In September, restaurants that had sprung back to life were already reporting sales exceeding pre-pandemic levels. "Yes, they're back on their feet!" said Spanky Hizon Enriquez, communications director of RestoPH, a group founded by Eric Teng, the man behind Mango Tree, Genki Sushi, Cocina Peruvia, and Kureji Ramen.

RestoPH, composed of some 200 members representing over 1,500 restaurants, was formed in May 2020 during the initial extended community quarantine in Metro Manila to give restaurants a unified voice in negotiating with malls and expedite — via coordination with such agencies as the Departments of Tourism and Health, and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases — their reopening.

After nearly three years of struggle, "we're seeing 'revenge spending' by the dining market," Enriquez said. "And since there's still a bit of hesitation for traveling overseas, our restaurants have become the beneficiaries of 'big spending.'"

Apparently now trending are novel restaurant dining concepts as earlier mentioned by Diaz. Enriquez also pointed to the proliferation of establishments offering private dining and high-end tasting menus averaging P4,000-P6,000 per head, which could go even higher if courses are paired with wine. "And they're selling out," he said.

Enriquez likewise noted the opening of new branches of existing restaurants. Take, for instance, the successful launch of a new branch of Mamou (popular for its steaks a la Peter Luger's) in Greenbelt, and the aforementioned Antonio's in Greenhills.

Escalante's other ultra-popular, Tagaytay-based Breakfast by Antonio's is also said to be opening a branch soon at Robinsons Magnolia along Aurora Boulevard, Quezon City.

Viva Foods International now has 52 branches of its Boteyju franchise from Japan and is expanding in the provinces.

Greyhound Café from Bangkok is also now under rapid expansion, with its new fourth branch recently opened in Rockwell, Makati.

What are Enriquez's projections in the new year? Steeped as he is in the local restaurant industry, he said: "I really don't see any significant instances of restaurant closures in the year ahead. The outlook is very optimistic and the big players are all driving growth as well as inspiring new players to get into the F&B business."

A few "irritants" aside, such as the "ridiculous white onion shortage" and consequential ballooning of prices for the bulb, "the supply chain issues of imported ingredients have largely been resolved."
For his part, Diaz bravely predicts that, despite the much-feared recession that is being said to prevail in 2023, "food will still be THE business that would survive. And both high-end dining well as the value/buffet concept would flourish."

Enriquez agreed: "We're extremely optimistic for a record setting 2023!"

By Ted Y. Montelibano

5 Curtains up

On 27 December, Full House Theater Company, the theater arm of Newport World Resorts, announced that its hit original Filipino musical Ang Huling El Bimbo is returning in April 2023. The new run will feature a mix of new and returning members, with a total cast of 47.

Ang Huling El Bimbo, a jukebox musical based on the songs of the Eraserheads, had been one of the most successful local productions in the previous years, with three sold-out runs at the Newport Performing Arts Theater beginning in 2018 and a concert version held in December 2021. Its return is as good an indication as any that local theater is back and going full blast this new year, to regain the hard-won ground devastatingly lost during the last two pandemic years of punishing lockdowns and social restrictions.

Before Covid-19 hit the country, the metro was chock-a-block with theater productions big and small. On the eve of the first day of the quarantine in March 2020, two shows were set to open — Repertory Philippines' Anna in the Tropics and Atlantis Theatrical's The Band's Visit. Both had to close before they could play for even a first-night audience, as the nationwide lockdown brought all live performances to an end.

That arid environment lasted until this year, when, with restrictions easing up, the Cultural Center of the Philippines brought back live performances with the staging of the annual play festival Virgin Labfest in June. A succession of shows quickly followed suit, all tellingly attracting full houses: Barefoot Theatre Collaborative's Mula sa Buwan, Trumpets' Joseph the Dreamer, Tanghalang Pilipino's Anak Datu, and Rep's Carousel. It was, of course, a sparse lineup compared to the bounty of the previous years, and some shows still suffered last-minute shakeups and cancellations as a cast member or two came down with the virus.

But the momentum was clearly there: Local theater was now shaking off the pandemic doldrums, and raring to bellow again.

This year will probably see a dramatic increase in the number of companies reopening and mounting shows as the economy revs up to pre-pandemic levels. In the first months of 2023 alone, audiences can expect, other than Newport World's Ang Huling El Bimbo, PETA's new musical Walang Aray, Tanghalang Pilipino's acclaimed Ang Pag-uusig (a Filipino production of Arthur Miller's The Crucible), Ateneo Blue Repertory's revival of the cult musical Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah, and Company of Actors in Streamlined Theatre's reimagining of Chekhov's Uncle Vanya, called Uncle Jane and starring some of the country's most accomplished thespians. An international touring production of the enduring Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The Sound of Music is also on its way to Manila.

To paraphrase the rousing Carousel anthem, 2023 will see shows bustin' out all over. Barring another cataclysm, this is the year the curtains truly go up on a reborn Philippine theater.

By Gibbs Cadiz

6 Style, breeding, relevance

The year 2023 will have a surge of events with social relevance, and yet, there will be a segment of high society that will just want to enjoy and make up for lost time during the pandemic.

The dichotomy between old money and the nouveau riche will be more pronounced, as the arrivistes try to outdo each other, while the old and entrenched shy away from the limelight and not update their social media accounts, which they used to busy themselves with at the height of Covid-19.

What is obvious are many new faces bereft of manners and propriety, which means finishing schools will resurrect in the social scene in whatever form it may serve the needs of the uncouth and the unpleasant.

There will be, among the younger generations of de buena familia, reincarnations of Conchitina Sevilla and Chona Kasten, among other purveyors of propriety.

Rustan's will be a veritable school for those who may have the moolah but will want to do things the right way. This original mother of all luxury stores will not limit its marketing strategy to the confines of its posh spaces. Instead, it will look beyond its walls to bring in shoppers who are raring to glam it up with lifestyle choices.

Art will flourish but it will be an even conquest for the old masters and the young and adventurous creatives in the mixed-media department. Auctions will remain a major form of divertissement among the cognoscenti, although the upstarts will insist on invading that scene because, after all, they've been the most willing and able spenders in 2022.

As in the past, the old guard will set the trend in travel, this time favoring the cultural, religious and, of course, natural attractions. But if before they merely lined up in the museums and basilicas, in 2023 they will be more active in preservation efforts as hands-on volunteers. In that sense, it won't just be about who has the wherewithal but, most importantly, the talent and the interest, which confirms the old adage — that being loaded is not enough to make it to the top.

Style, breeding, and relevance will define the "in crowd" of 2023.

By Jojo G. Silvestre

7 Unforgettable matrimonial unions

For the past two years, people in the wedding industry have learned to pause, pivot, reconfigure, discover, reconnect, and innovate ways to survive.

While grand weddings are back across the world, in the Philippines — a country with no divorce laws — such celebrations are a once-in-a-lifetime event. Families across economic classes save up to make weddings as special as possible.

We asked specialists to look back at the biggest weddings they were part of in 2022 and what they wish for in 2023:

Oly Ruiz of Metrophoto, photographer
It's impossible for me to pick the best wedding I covered in 2022, but the most symbolic would be the wedding of Camila and Andrea in Ladispoli, Italy.
This wedding clearly marked the reopening of travel and events, something that eluded us the past two years. For the first in a long time, we again witnessed people celebrating and traveling in a grand fashion. It was very special.

The wedding industry was still peaking in 2019 when it was forced to slow down. If there is such a term as revenge travel, there is revenge celebration as well, as we have seen in 2022, and my team and I look forward to see more grand-scale weddings this 2023. I'm excited about the wedding industry making up for lost time and opportunity.

Gideon Hermosa, event designer
The extra, extra special event I did this year was a spectacular wedding in Vietnam — a first for a full-Filipino event team to head, from design, planning, to execution.

Having to do construction based on an architectural design for this wedding is a highlight in my years as an event designer. And of course, we're so happy and proud of the talents of our fellow Filipino event suppliers we got to bring to Vietnam!

We're entering a new era of grander wedding events. We're excited for over-the-top, more experiential wedding designs. Filipino suppliers are not holding back anymore and are itching to do more in 2023!

Charisse Tinio, NicePrint Photography
The most unforgettable wedding we covered in 2022 was that of Jess Wilson and Moritz Gastl in picturesque Salzburg in Austria.

The reception was held at the Leopoldskron Hotel where some of the scenes of the movie The Sound of Music were shot. The venue was breathtaking and perfect. I had the privilege of witnessing it as I flew to Austria with my son Sancho. The event lasted the whole weekend and we enjoyed every single party we covered for the Gastls.

Teddy Manuel, event stylist
My biggest wedding this 2022 was at Solaire. We transformed the foyer down to the cocktail area a la The Ritz Carlton in Paris, complete with velvet couches, sculptures and topiaries.

The main reception hall was fully draped from floor to ceiling with cream fabric. The entire area was covered with faux grass carpet, the biggest ever installation of faux grass carpet.

The highlight of the reception was the massive ceiling decor designed as a reversed suspended garden of Versailles. The weight of the chandeliers on the ceiling was over two tons, which was covered with faux grass (It was so heavy we needed six people to carry each piece).

It was the most challenging event I styled and designed, and together with the technical team, we made it happen.

Another challenge was that the lola of the groom, who passed away a couple of weeks before the wedding, had said she didn't want roses at the celebration. But we ordered roses months prior. We had to rush to import 3,000 stems of hydrangeas in pink and white to replace the roses. In the end, seeing how our couple saw their reception venue, all the work, stress and challenges were all worth it.
This is really our joy, seeing our couple happy.

I'm excited to work with bolder colors in 2023.

By Marbee Go

8 back in the high life

The world stopped when the pandemic struck. Malls closed, businesses lost money, everyone stayed at home.

Worse, many people who caught the virus died (more than six million worldwide, over 65,000 in the Philippines).

Buying food became a problem as supermarket hours were limited. Nightlife died, along with the need to dress up. And since social events were cancelled, there was no room for luxury and elegance.

One would think most brick-and-mortar luxury retail stores would be crippled after two years of the pandemic. But the market just waited until the virus—in the country, at least — subsided, and health and safety protocols eased.

Said a Nikkei Asia report: "Revenue in the Philippine luxury retail market is projected to reach $323.4 million in 2027 from $270.2 million in 2022, according to data provider Statista. SSI's results reflect a global trend during the pandemic as consumers opt to 'invest' their savings 'in pieces of high quality and craftsmanship,' Huang said."

The year 2022 turned out well for luxury brands.

In Greenbelt, Loewe opened a store to coincide with its pre-Fall 2022 campaign. Zegna and Max Mara's flagship stores were likewise launched. Roger Vivier, known for the classic buckled pump immortalized by Catherine Deneuve's Sévérine Serizy in Luis Buñuel's Belle de Jour found a home across Jimmy Choo.

Furla is also going strong after its Fall/Winter 2022 campaign held at Raffles Makati.

Japan-based Mitsukoshi held a soft opening in November. More international brands are coming in 2023.

It's back in the high life for those with deep pockets.

By Matthew Pirante-Perez

9 Survival of the fittest

First the global health crisis turned everyone paranoid over catching the virus. Second, Covid-19-induced weight gain posed a problem since gyms were closed and communities went into quarantine.

Almost three years into the pandemic, working out is still a struggle. Online workout sessions provided a temporary solution as health buffs watched coaches and yoga teachers giving instructions from a small screen.

Now that things have somehow stabilized, the 7-11 of the exercise world, Anytime Fitness, has returned to its 24/7 regular programming. RunRio races are back almost every weekend.

Meanwhile, lesmills.com has declared that the digital transformation amid the pandemic will see more use of virtual-reality technology to make workouts more fun. Smart phones will serve as lifelines as more apps are created to track our waking, sleeping, resting, eating and drinking hours, even our stress levels.

In 2022, people learned to be kinder to themselves and rediscovered the joys — and health benefits — of walking, yoga, and Pilates. Meanwhile, the term "exercise snacking" isn't about stuffing one's mouth with food while moving, but about working out in small doses, spaced in between daily activities. Experts believe this improves one's technique and, therefore, one's mobility.

There's little excuse not to get that "revenge body." Quarantine's over. Get your ass off that couch.

By Francine M. Marquez

10 Return of the festivals

In 2022, many festivals, recently created touristic events that suddenly riddled the Philippines, marked their returns, as lockdowns were lifted and social gatherings jumpstarted. Several of them though were toned town, deciding to be cautious as the pandemic had not yet abated and affected by economic downturn.

At the beginning of the year, people remained cautious. Two of the biggest festivals of the country — Dinagyang of Iloilo and Sinulog of Cebu — which is held in the third week of January, honoring the Santo Nino, deferred being held, but local government units promised to return in 2023 with a festive vengeance.

On the other hand, another popular festival, the Panagbenga Baguio Flower Festival, was held in a tamed down version in February. It did away with the street dancing and float parades. Eager for a full comeback, Pangabenga 2023 was launched last 12 December, unveiling their calendar of activities which includes the street dancing set for 25 February and the grand float parade on 26 February.

The Cordillera Festival of Festival Shows of the Department of Tourism held a street dancing parade on 15 October in Baguio City, signaling the readiness of the Cordillera region for tourism and festivals.

By April and May, months known for fiestas, more festivals were held. The most popular among them was the Pahiyas Festival of Lucban, Quezon, the most known of festivities in honor of San Isidro Labrador. The festival is well known for its homes bedecked with farm produce. The LGU admitted that decorations were not as grandiose as before but it was a good restart.

Two big festivals returned to onsite celebrations — Kadayawan sa Davao Festival in Davao City in August, and MassKara Festival in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, in October — reclaiming the past fervor. Rounding up the year is Cotabato City's Shariff Kabunsuan Festival in early December, poised to be the biggest festival in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

This coming year, we will be seeing festivals going full blast.

By Roel Hoang Manipon

11 Redeeming value

In 2022, the beauty industry attained redemption.

As Covid-19 ravaged the world, skincare and cosmetics companies were forced to find ways to survive the business.

Brands grabbed the opportunity to assess what has been going on internally, while the visionaries took a leap of faith and launched products with their proverbial unique selling propositions.

This year, old and new labels rode out the pandemic wave with merchandise that enjoyed robust sales from their respective markets.

In March, Deoproce, a 10-year-old beauty company, launched its updated Skin Rescue line endorsed by Korean actor Song Kang. Then, as a year-ender, it launched its Skin Reveal line with Filipino actor Liza Soberano as its face.

Hair care company Kerastase reintroduced its Genesis Fortifying Serum to fight the effects of the pandemic on the scalp such as alopecia areata and seborrheic dermatitis. Davines also renewed its commitment to sustainability through the We Sustain Beauty movement in September.

In 2021, BYS Philippines unveiled its Skin by BYS skincare line with Hwang In-youp as brand ambassador. The Korean actor flew to Manila for the BYS Fun Meet last 19 June.

Also, this year, Hallyu beauty Han So-hee endorsed the Lip Nectar Liquid Lipsticks collection. The brand treated makeup enthusiasts to a royal experience with its BYS Disney Princess Collection represented by Filipino beauty queens Bea Gomez, Rabiya Mateo, and Celeste Cortesi, all photographed by BJ Pascual.

Korean make up brand Nami Natural introduced nail polishes that are "18-free"—or devoid of 18 harmful chemicals usually found in such products. To establish itself beyond its branding, Nami partnered with Kasuso Foundation to advocate on Breast Cancer awareness and aid survivors.

Bright Healthy Radiance was reintroduced with Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray as ambassador. The brand also launched the Ultra Protect Antimicrobial Cleansing Bar as its answer to skincare problems encountered during the pandemic.

In October BYS (from Melbourne, Australia) celebrated its 10th anniversary with its own Fashion Week.

In 2020, Paris-based Bioten launched high-performing products with ingredients derived from nature. First was the Bioten Skin Moisture. The following year, it introduced the Vitamin C line.

Luxury beauty brand Clé de Peau opened its flagship store at Greenbelt 5 last July, highlighting La Crème, a concentrated night cream that addresses the visible signs of aging and helps skin achieve remarkable resilience.

Drunk Elephant likewise opened a kiosk at SM Megamall.

Rustan's The Beauty Source brought back the live Beauty Addict event this year after going online for two years.

By Raye Sanchez

12 Take a bow, one more time

(Editor's Note: In 2022, we were wonderfully distracted by beauty pageants that fed our fascination for over-the-top national costumes, beautiful, smart women, and all that pomp and pageantry.
Kim Sancha has been on the beauty pageant beat since day one of the year and looks forward to the year ahead. So, without much ado, let's do another take, ladies…)

Miss International
Germany's Jasmin Selberg was crowned Miss International 2022 at the pageant's 60th edition held recently at the Tokyo Dome City Hall in Japan. Miss International 2019 Sireethorn Leearamwat of Thailand was on hand to welcome her successor.

The event was originally scheduled for 2020 but had to be canceled twice due to the pandemic. Selberg — the third German Miss International after Ingrid Finger (1965) and Iris Klein (1989) — bested 65 aspirants.

This year saw the debut of Miss Cape Verde and Miss Uzbekistan in the pageant. The Miss International crown was said to have been inspired by Japan's famous cherry blossoms—a symbol of vitality, humility, harmony, and youth. It is encrusted with 1,960 white gems, representing the pageant's debut year.

Miss Earth
For the first time since 2019, after Covid-19 restrictions eased, the pageant returned to the Philippines as a live, in-person event. South Korean model Mina Sue Choi bested 85 delegates to win Miss Earth 2022.

Miss Earth 2021 Destiny Wagner of Belize crowned the Sydney-born communication major from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the first Korean to win Miss Earth and one of the four major international beauty pageant titles.

Choi said she wants to promote the reduction of carbon footprint in cities via sustainable mobility and encouraging lifestyles that will help reduce carbon emissions. Her elemental court includes Australia's Sheridan Mortlock (Miss Earth Air), Palestine's Nadeen Ayoub (Miss Earth Water), and Colombia's Andrea Aguilera.

Miss Global
Before joining the Miss Global pageant, the Philippines' Shane Tormes suffered the pain of losing her mother to cancer. On 11 June, Tormes bested 24 candidates to win Miss Global 2022, and said her mom's life inspired her to shine in the competition.

The 29-year-old Tormes looked stunning in a national costume created by Patrick Isorena with the theme "Pearl of the Orient Seas." Tormes is no stranger to beauty pageants. She was Miss Camarines Sur 2015, Mutya ng Ibalong Tourism 2015, Miss Bicolandia 2016 3rd runner-up, Mutya ng Pulangui 2016 and Miss Rizal 2016.

She made it to the top 25 in Binibining Pilipinas 2018. Trying out again in Binibining Pilipinas 2019, she also landed in the top 25. She won Miss Philippines Earth-Fire 2020.

Manhunt International Male Supermodel
Manhunt International Male Supermodel 2022, Lochie Carey, is a 23-year-old model/actor from Melbourne Australia. Before Modeling, Lochie worked in the sales industry and was at one point selling cars after leaving his 7-year job through school at a bicycle store. He then moved into the creative industry to pursue videography and editing.

The Philippines hosted the 21st edition of Manhunt International, a search for male models with a franchise in over 70 countries worldwide. The competition provides men with a platform to launch their modeling careers internationally. In the 2020 Manhunt International World Finals held in the Philippines, Paul Luzineau became the first Dutchman to win the title, besting 35 others. This year marks the third time the Philippines hosted the competition — the first was in 1999 and the second in 2020.

Mister International
Enmanuel "Manu" Franco of the Dominican Republic won the 14th Mister International pageant, held on 30 October at the New Frontier Theater. From a baseball player to Mister International, Franco was featured in Listin Dario, a major newspaper in the Dominican Republic. He is the first-ever Dominican to win a Grand Slam International Male Pageant and the third from his country to win a major pageant along with Mariasela Alvarez, Miss World 1982, and Amelia Vega, Miss Universe 2003.

Noble Queen of the Universe
The Philippines' Cristina Gonzalez Romualdez won the Noble Queen of the Universe pageant, held in Tokyo on 29 December.