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I HAVE a
bruise on my head for hitting it too many times. I hit
myself because I should have watched Iron Man
sooner. I didn’t watch it on opening day or even opening
week because I foolishly dismissed it to be another hero
movie. And it is—but it’s one that works. And it works
very well because of Robert Downey Jr. Without him, the
movie would have been just another superhero movie,
something unbelievable. But Downey’s sterling
performance as Tony Stark, who starts off as a prick—a
likeable one, actually, but still a prick—then
experiences a change of heart, is very authentic.
Of
course, not to be outdone is Jeff Bridges as Obadiah
Stane, Iron Man’s nemesis. He and Downey are on my list
of underrated actors who haven’t won an Oscar yet. And
then there’s Gwyneth Paltrow playing Pepper Potts. Had
it been played by someone less, it would have been a
thankless role. But Gwyneth is back in form, with sense
and sensibility that remind me of the days when she was
touted as the muse of Miramax Pictures.
As
expected, the special effects are awesome and the movie
has a lot of comic moments, especially between Stark and
Potts, thanks to director Jon Favreau, who directed Elf
and a lot of other comic movies.
I’m
wishing that this movie will spawn a sequel. Well, I
don’t have to pray that hard based on the closing
credits (oh, c’mon, you already know about that by this
time!), but still, I’m wishing that they take the time
to make the sequel so as not to screw it.
****
They say
that Filipinos are a colorful race...so why not get
stylish hair and fabulous color to match, courtesy of
Pin Antonio?
Pin
Antonio, the creative genius behind Salon de Manila,
proudly announces its Creative Cut and Color series.
This stemmed from Pin’s recent trip to the US where she
attended the Hair World Tour Convention in
Chicago,
and the Vidal Sassoon Academy in Los Angeles.
Pin
learned the different, latest and, most important, most
stylish techniques to achieve her creative vision in
hair. “It’s all about invasion of color,” says Pin. “I
personally will color or supervise any coloring
requirement by a customer so that I may apply what I
have learned. A lot of people can color hair, but the
most important factor is the execution.” She explains
that it’s easy to use the color, but blending is another
story.
That’s
why Pin dares even the most bashful of people to try her
cut and color. “I adjust to a person’s lifestyle. Some
can get away with wild colors and an outlandish
hairstyle, but if you won’t be able to carry it, I come
up with a variation of that style,” says Pin.
Pin’s
philosophy in beautifying people can be summed up in one
sentence: “Until I am not satisfied, I know my clients
won’t be happy.” And Pin’s clients range from executives
to ordinary housewives to socialites and celebrities.
Among those who trust only her are Carmina Villaroel
(whose latest Pin creation is showcased in her fabulous
ads for clothing line Ensembles), Gellie de Belen, Kyla,
Mariel Rodriguez, Erik Santos and many more. Pin’s
latest styles include the Gigi Cut, now sported by Kyla,
and alphabet coloring, where your hair color is
patterned after certain letters such as “L,” “C,” “U”
and “V.”
Besides
the Vidal Sassoon Academy and the Hair World Tour
Convention, Pin also attended Hairlocs in
North Hollywood, where she enhanced her craft in hair extensions.
(Notice how Mariel’s hair suddenly went long? That’s
courtesy of the magic of Pin!) She also learned the
latest makeup techniques at the Airbrush Institute of
America, where the breakthrough technique of airbrushing
was taught to her. Now Pin is equipped to give that chic
and ultra-clean makeup to match your ultra-stylish hair!
Pin
believes in wholistically treating the customer—from the
haircut to the coloring to the maintenance. She knows,
for a fact, that some people have their haircut in her
salon, then have their color in another, or vice-versa.
While it may save a buck or two, Pin says that in the
long run, the client suffers because he/she doesn’t get
the whole Salon de Manila experience. “It’s like you
ordered a pair of jeans and you had the zipper done
somewhere and then the buttons by another brand.”
Salon de
Manila is now celebrating its 25th year in the business,
and the salon has been accorded a lot of recognition in
and out of the country. To commemorate the anniversary,
a special coffee-table book on Salon de Manila’s 25
years will soon be launched. |
