Last week, on one of my mornings after dropping my boys at school. Kurara called me on my iPhone from the Philippines, and my husband took photos while I was speaking to her. I like these photos because they reflect the start of my days, a happy time alone with my husband before 9 am. Each morning we have coffee at Starbucks on Koto Dori. It is our private time together before our busy schedules and it is a treasured moment for me. Also a while ago I was asked a few times to tell what I normally wear on a daily basis, well here is an example of a look I really like… Black turtleneck by Patrizia Peppe, slack-jeans by G-Star; Novespazio belt; chic leather coat by Loewe (invisible but essentials…lingerie by Sonia Rickyel for H&M)  ankle boots by Gucci and………… the accessory I cannot live without… my iPhone by apple! Seriously, how could I function for years without it? I have everything in the palm of my hand: my agenda, my mobile phone, my photos library, my email, my music library… my life in one stylish accessory, brilliant!

What do you do if school is off for a week and you have 2 little monters who want to have fun and to jump around all day long???? Well, I booked ouselves in a resort in Saipan for the week, I packed a suicase full of summer clothes, mostly swimwear, t-shirts and short-pants, and got on the plane direction … the sun! We are in Saipan, a remote island between the Philippines and Hawaii with white sand beaches and wall of wild coral. Tomorrow we are boarding a boat quite early and we are going to dive and explore the beautiful scenery under the sea.  we basically are at least 7 hours non-stop in the water. I believe I was a fish in a past life! The resort is nice, very simple and basic but with good food, and everyone is Filipino here also i feel home (miss you Juls and Rems!) I remember Lauren Hutton here, when I had arranged for her to come and scuba-dive for a week when she came to HKG for the pass over back in 1999.  She was a fan of deep diving, same as me,　and she came back after a week with incredible photos to show me, among them one with a shark! She is a scorpion like me, nothing stops her…. It is good to relax as well because the past week has been really busy. I will post some pictures very soon. A demain!

Commentscandy | IP: 123.20.230.213

Hi Ines, I have a question, you are a famous expert and I believe in your opinion: “after presentation show, what do you think, who made a impresion on you???”

 

Dear Candy, thank you for the fashion expert!! I am for sure someone which is loved or hated! But c’est la vie… when you decide to do your way you will always be critized and this is a price that I am ready to pay.

The girls that made an impression on me are:

Belgium, Russia, Japan, Angola, Germany, Hungary, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Ukraine, Philippines, Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Albania, Australia, Brazil, Holland, Bulgaria, Slovenia and France.

I would love Miss France to win if Emiri doesn’t. And it would be good for France, Holland, mexico, Europe, to win as Japan, Asia won 2 years ago.  i predicted Dominican Republic before but not anymore because she does ot look as fresh as other delegates.

Let’s see!

 

 

Aug 18, 8:16 AM —

 

 

 Bonus pictures!

 

Gorgeous!!

 

 

 

EMIRI AT THE SWIMSUIT FASHION SHOW YESTERDAY.  Stunning! 

And at the reception gala dinner wearing my favorite Versace gown of this season, with a Loewe clutch bag. people at the dinner commented that she was one of the biggest standouts of the evening. Emiri told me today, when I woke her up at 7:30 am before her breakfast time, that she is spending time right now mostly with Miss France, also Miss Switzerland, Bahamas and Miss Hungary. She says that she is the funniest girl and a good person. BUT she says that the security is very tight and that they don’t get to meet many of the delegates. Emiri is on the 10th floor and half of the girls are on the 9th and half on  the 10th also Emiri hasn’t had a chance to spend time with some delegates and get to meet them. I asked her if she met all the Asian delegates but she said she has not yet met Miss Philippines and Miss Guam. 

 

 She said that many of the girls are on a very tight schedule and have no time for talking pictures because they are asked to run from place to place.  Emiri says that she handles her extremely full schedule with excitement that she is having a great time, her room is huge and with ocean view and she said that she is very lucky to have the best roomate as she is always in a good mood and so genuine and with a big heart.

She said that during the fashion show yesterday, none of the girls could see the others on stage as it was very fast moving and the 84 girls were on stage without cameras backstage for the others to see it. That everyone comments among the crew that this year has the most beautiful delegates ever.and now to open my mind to you with honesty… Emiri said: “Ines, I want you to know that it will be very difficult for me to win this year, there are so many amazing women here but  I am doing my best and enjoying every moment as I am deeply proud to be wearing the Japan sash.”.

 

I told Emiri,  it does not matter if she wins, what matters is that she is doing her best and that I know well that this is exactly what she is doing right now. What is important is that Japanese women can be represented at a prestigious and world famous competition like Miss Universe being in the spotlight. In the past Japanese women moved away from the spotlight and lost confidence in their power, they tended to think that western beauty was superior to theirs. When I arrived in Japan, advertising campaigns were always featuring a caucasian woman and Japanese talent were paid half the fee compared to white women. I felt that this was wrong. Japanese women after the previous success have gained confidence and now they know that they are considered uniquely beautiful in the eyes of the world and that is what matters to me from now on, because it is the reason  I have being doing this job for the past 12 years.  I told Emiri to keep her beautiful energy and the sweetness that make her who she is, this is the best way for her to reflect who Japanese women are. 

 

As I write, Emiri is getting ready to go for the pre-taping of the National Costume segment for the live telecast. We spoke about her costume and the way that she will wear it at the end. I will give more detailks when the pictures appear on the Miss Universe website.

 

Much love and wishing the best of luck to any delegates reading my blog. Emiri told me that many of them commented  they are reading it in the lounge on their floor with computers at their disposal. I know I am the only Director having a blog and I feel the responsibility of what I write, also I am asked several times in the comments on my blog to give my opinion about certain delegates but I believe  the reason each girl is wearing a sash at Miss Universe right now is because she is unique. Also do not try to copy or  compare yourself to any other person, because each human being has a unique soul and  beauty comes from the inside (oops, and how much you worked at the gym… LOL!).

  

  

 

      

 THE A GIRLS: ALBANIA, ANGOLA, ARGENTINA, ARUBA, AUSTRALIA

      

 

THE B GIRLS: BAHAMAS, BELGIUM, BOLIVIA, BRAZIL, BULGARIA 

 

THE C GIRLS:

CANADA, CAYMAN ISLAND, CHINA, COLOMBIA, COSTA RICA, CROATIA, CURACAO, CYPRUS, CZECH REPUBLIC

THE D GIRL: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

THE E GIRLS:  ECUADOR, EGYPT, EL SALVADOR, ESTONIA, ETHIOPIA 

 

THE F GIRLS: FINLAND, FRANCE

 

THE G GIRLS:

GEORGIA, GERMANY, GHANA, GREAT BRITAIN, GREECE, GUAM, GUATEMALA, GUYANA

 

THE H GIRLS:  HONDURAS,  HUNGARY

 

THE I GIRLS:  ICELAND, INDIA, INDONESIA, IRELAND, ISRAEL, ITALY  

 

THE J GIRLS:  JAMAICA, JAPAN

 

KOREA, KOSOVO

 

THE L GIRL: LEBANON 

THE M GIRLS:  MAURITIUS, MEXICO, MONTENEGRO

 

 THE N GIRLS:

NAMIBIA, NETHERLANDS, NEW ZELAND, NICARAGUA, NIGERIA, NORWAY

 

THE P GIRLS:  PANAMA, PARAGUAY, PERU, PHILIPPINES, POLAND, PUERTO RICO

 

THE R GIRLS:  ROMANIA, RUSSIA

THE S GIRLS:

SERBIA, SINGAPORE, SLOVAK REPUBLIC, SLOVENIA, SOUTH AFRICA, SPAIN, SWEDEN, SWITZERLAND 

THE T GIRLS:  TANZANIA, THAILAND, TURKEY, TURKS & CAICOS

 

 THE U GIRLS:  UKRAINE, URUGUAY, USA

 

THE V GIRLS:  VENEZUELA, VIETNAM

 

THE Z GIRL: ZAMBIA   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

arrival pictures. She is a pure beauty with grace… go Asia! 

PHILIPPINES

SPAIN KAZAKHSTAN AUSTRALIA BELGIUM COLOMBIA DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ENGLAND ISRAEL JAPAN LEBANON MEXICO PUERTO RICO RUSSIA VENEZUELA VIETNAM Pease send me some pictures of Miss PHILIPPINES, because I do not have any clear head-shot of hers. Thank you!

I am a big mama-bear and a kissing monster….. tender-time in bed and with Noa Bleu (my #2 son ) and on the beach, last sunset of 2008 behind us… (私はビックママでキス魔よ。2番目の息子Noaとの写真と、ビーチにて、2008年最後の夕日の前にて） (Taglish…) Bonding kami sa aming kuarto, si Noa Bleu sa beach at huling sunset ng 2008… The Strand, the hotel where we stayed on the island, remote and quiet and very family friendly. （私達が泊まったThe Strandは人里離れたところにあって、とても静かな家族向けのホテルなの） The Strand Resort kung saan kami tumira sa isla ay malayo sa gulo, tahimik at bagay na bagay para sa mga familia. While swimming and playing around with my little one Luca Kei (my #3 son). I am wearing my sweet friend Maria H. fabulous swimsuits. （３番目の息子Lucaと一緒に泳いだり、遊んでいるところ。私の水着は、友人のMaria.Hがデザインしたものよ。） Langoy-langoy, laro-laro kasama ng aking Luca Kei. Suot ko ang napakagandang swimsuits ni Maria H. Sa isla ng Boracay, sa Pilipinas kami ng aking familia nag-Bagong Taon, kung saan matatagpuan and kilo-kilometrong mapakaputing, napakapinong parang harina na buhangin at asul na asul na tubig. Dito kami madalas magpunta nung nasa Hong Kong pa kami nakatira. Nag-hook up kami ng aming mga kaibigan, sila Marjorie and Chris Renner at ang kanilang 3 anak. Sobra-sobrang enjoy kami maski inulan kami most of the time. Gusting-gusto ko pagumuulan sa beach – very dramatic at napakafresko. We spent New Year in family, on the island of Boracay which is located in the southern part of the Philippines, with kilometers of immaculate-white flour-sand and turquoise water  where we used to visit while living in Hong Kong. Also we decided to go back there. We spent the holidays with our friends Marjorie and Chris Renner with their 3 children and we had the best fun even even if it was raining most of the time. I love rain on the beach, very dramatic and refreshing. （お正月は家族と一緒にフィリピンの南に位置するボラカイ島で過ごしたの。そこは真っ白な砂浜と、ターコイズブルーの海が一面に広がっているのよ。そこは真っ白な砂浜と、ターコイズブルーの海が一面に広がっているのよ。香港に住んでいる頃にもよく来ていて、今回も行こうってなったの。友人達とその子ども達とも一緒に過ごすことができて、ほとんどの日が雨だったにも関わらず、とても楽しめたわ。でも私ビーチの雨は大好きよ。とてもドラマチックで、心が洗い流される気分がするのだもの。） Marjorie is Filipina also she could navigate us everywhere tourist would not know. She is so much fun, we partied hard on the night of New Year’s at a restaurant called La Kasba, fireworks were everywhere on the beach, it was amazing. As you can see on the last pictures we ended up laughing our head off, the 2 Long Islands I drank helped a lot,,,,,never trust that drink, it is dangerous!　e really felt home.  www.boracaystrand.com （友人の一人Marjorieはフィリピン人で、観光客が知らないような場所にも案内してくれたわ。彼女はとても面白い人なの。新年の夜はLa Kasbaというレストランにてパーティが行われて、花火がビーチのあちらこちらであげられているの。素晴らしかったわ。一番下の写真にあるように、最後まで笑っていたわ。私が飲んだ２　Long Islandsという飲み物のせいね。） I also loved my shopping in Makati on our way back with my Filipina friend Serla, I found long nice dresses for the summer or for my winter trips  to tropical destinations. I also found big stone rings, gorgeous and not expensive. （別の友人のMakatiとのショッピングも楽しかったわ。夏や冬の旅行にも着られる、トロピカルのロングドレスを見つけたの。他にも大きな石のついた指輪も買ったわ、とてもゴージャスなのにお手ごろな値段なの） Thank you to Luis for my nice gifts that you drop at my hotel in Manila. I will see you next time when I come back. Big kiss! （Luis,ホテルに素敵なギフトを届けてくれてありがとう。またここに戻ってきたら、会いましょうね！） We love the Philippines spirit and the warm personality of its people. This is why my sons are so well behaved and such loving boys because of Ate Juliet & Ate Remy, my 2 stars at home teaching them this values while I work. （フィリピンの人の精神や、温かさは大好きよ。私が仕事をしている間は、家でフィリピン出身のAte Juliet & Ate Remyが息子達の教育に携わってくれているのだけど、彼女達のおかげで息子達はとても行儀が良くて、愛しい子に育ったのだと思うわ。） Mabuhay! Pinay si Marjorie kaya kayang-kayan nya kami dalhin sa mga lugar na hindi alam ng mga turista. Kwelang-kwela si Marjorie, we partied hard on New Year’s eve as you can see sa mga litrato! Ang fireworks magkaliwaan sa beach, ang ganda-ganda.   Maraming maraming salamat sa magandang pagtangkilik ni Pinky at ng kanyang asawa sa amin sa kanilang resort na The Strand. At home na at home kami duon.  www.boracaystrand.com Ang sarap magshopping sa Makati kasama ng aking Pinay friend na si Serla, on our way back. Nakahanap ako ng magagandang long dresses na bagay pangsummer o para sa aking winter trips to tropical destinations. Nakabili din ako ng mga napakagandang singsing na may malalaking bato pero hindi mahal.   Mahal naming ang Pilipinas at ang warm personality ng kanyang mga tao. Mahal naming ang Pilipinas at ang warm personality ng kanyang mga tao… (We love the Philippines spirit and the warm personality of its people.)… Kaya naman ang aking mga anak ay napakababait at mapagmahal dahil kay Ate Juliet at Ate Remi, ang aking mga bituin sa bahay na nagtuturo sa kanila ng mga tamang asal and ugali habang ako ay nagtatrabajo. Mabuhay!

I LOVE THE PHILIPPINES, MY FAVORITES PLACES ARE BOROCAY AND PALAWAN. SAYO AND HIROKO ARE RELAXING AND ENJOYING SEBU, AND THIS YEAR, I WILL BE SPENDING NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS IN BOROCAY WITH MY FAMILY AND SOME FRIENDS. フィリピンは大好きな国よ。その中でも特にボラカイ島とパラワンがお気に入り。小夜と寛子がリラックスしてセブ島を楽しんでいるわね。今年の年末年始は私も家族と友人と一緒にボラカイ島に休暇を過ごしに行くの。