Fresh by-products

MANILA, Philippines - It isn’t about fame or setting fireworks off. People plus their passions, and buzz minus bull is the trajectory we’ve always tried to remain faithful to — young ones who radiate without burning out so quickly. Hannah Reyes and Your Evil Twin are participating in our 16x16 exhibit. Before we usher in a new crop (page H-1), here’s a few noted alums.MANILA, Philippines - By way of reverse logic, we learned what “Fresh Produce” is about by knowing what it isn’t about.

Saab Magalona

Saab’s been dealing with fame probably since she was born, but now she’s proverbially taken celebrity by the horns and made it on her own. She’s doing everything she said she wanted to back then. “I want to get paid to blog. I enjoy blogging. I do want to take it seriously,” she said. And that she did. Apart from being a high-profile blogger and endorser, Saab’s dabbling on acting again, as a half-Korean kontrabida in Koreana, and now as Ginella (again, a kontrabida) in My Beloved. She also said that she wanted to be a musician, and that she did too. Saab now moonlights as a vocalist for the all-female band Duster, coming full circle and rightfully taking her place as indie-It girl and all-around slasher.

Nicole Coson

Just imagine the things Nicole Coson can do if she actually lived in Manila full-time. For now we’ll have to settle for some style profiles in fashion magazines here, some album cover art (for Number Line Records) there, until the artist finishes her stint at Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design in London or comes out with another exhibit. We hope it’s the latter — soon.

Bea Misa

Bea Misa, having set up shop at The Collective with Rob Crisostomo, continues to challenge the concept of sustainability. One, succeeding as a business owner of organic wonderland Ritual, and two, as a purveyor of all that is environmentally-sound, and rad dark chocolate ice cream. We’re not the only ones who heeded the call of the Ritual — Time magazine, too, wanted in on the sustainable trade.

Abdul Dimaporo

Lately, Abdul Dimaporo has been lending his tailoring aesthetic to more homegrown materials: piña fibers to make barongs. Don’t fret, you bespoke-loving boys, he’s still at it with the crisp oxford shirts sewn to perfection. His dedication to craftsmanship and menswear deserves a second nod from us — and a couple of new ones from Esquire Philippines and other magazines. Still, he doesn’t say much. Not on his Twitter or on his blog. Then again, if the work is that good, Abdul can definitely get away with just a few words.