And The Winner Is...

You've met the lovely contestants. Now the judges have to make this difficult decision: choosing the best extra seksi woman to win an overnight stay in Coco Beach Island Resort for two! 

We're looking for two things: confidence + style and creativity in reason for joining. Needless to say, the contestants gave us an extra hard time in selecting the luckiest woman on earth today. 

Before we announce the winner...

Drum rolls, please!

Garnering an average score of 95%, our winner is...

Cristina Gundran

Age: 25 

City: Quezon City 

 Size: 16

Reason for Joining: This contest is for plus size women to be more empowered! THAT BEING PLUS SIZE is an ASSET and flaunting your curves is SEXY by wearing the clothes you want and especially the swimsuit that accentuate your curves and loving your body. 

Judge Ina: This is very sassy! I love that she's in the water in a bright swimwear, looking sassy and stylish. 

Judge Leslie: Love the color and style. So sexy! Perfect reason, too!

Judge Lorna: What can I say? Low neckline, high bun, confident pose and positive message! You got it, girl!

                    CONGRATULATIONS, CRISTINA!

Meet The Looking Extra Seksi for Coco Beach Contestants!

The long wait is finally over! You've met the judges here; now it's time to introduce the fab hopefuls! 

Aries Guzman 

Age: 27 

 City: Pasig City 

Size: 16 

Reason for Joining: I want to win this vacation because I am actually a travel-phobe (a little now before it was a little crazier). I know that if I travel more, I'd be more comfortable with it. Furthermore, I get inspiration for my designs for Erzullie through my experience in life. I am actually responsible for Resort wear; and an Erzulliesta in vacation in an awesome place is always my inspiration. Therefore, if I do win this Coco Beach photo contest, I'd be able to help diminish my phobia of travel and get inspiration for the next Resort collection.

Ann Gelene Butawan

Age: 23  

City: Imus City 

Size 16

Reason for Joining: My birthday is coming this March 3rd and it will awesome if I will be celebrating it at the beach. Who wouldn't want to have a relaxing massage near the beach with your partner away from the city and pollution?

Berna Cuevas

Age: 26 

 City: Rizal 

 Size 18

Reason for Joining: I'm EXTRA in SIZE and EXTRA SEKSI in this rockin' swimsuit!  Even if this were long-sleeved rash-guard, I feel so confident! To the point that it was my first time to wear this boy-cut bottoms!

Silca Argoso

Age: 25 

 City: Mandaluyong 

 Size 18-20

Reason for Joining: Yep, I'm PLUS SIZE and PROUD! I love the beach and I love showcasing my curves. All my life I've been blessed with this amazing body and people who appreciate me. So I joined this photo contest 'coz I'm pretty hot and thick! Plus size and proud!

P.S. February is my birth month. This would be an awesome gift! 

Dimples Gonzales

Age: 42 

City: Pasay 

 Size: 14-16

Reason for Joining: For the Coco Beach Island Resort getaway, I would like to wear this Emerald two-piece swimsuit, (which by the way, I bought for an auction price of Php150.00 – isn’t that a great deal?).  I picked this emerald bikini, because according to pantone.com (which is the authority of color) emerald is the color for year 2013.

I hope that you would choose me for this giveaway, so I can surprise my hubby for a sweet time together wherein we could relive the experience of a wonderful moment at Puerto Galera (our first trip together to Galera was in 1996). I am sure he will be more than delighted to also catch the beauty of Coco Beach Island Resort.

It would be our 18^th Year Wedding Anniversary this July, and this getaway would be an awesome gift.

Lyn Guiyab

Age: 34 

 City: Kawit, Cavite 

Size: 20

Reason for Joining: I'm joining the contest to prove that we don't have to be skinny to be sexy! Wear whatever you want. Do whatever makes you happy. Enjoy life to the fullest! 

Cristina Gundran

Age: 25 

City: Quezon City 

 Size: 16

Reason for Joining: This contest is for plus size women to be more empowered! THAT BEING PLUS SIZE is an ASSET and flaunting your curves is SEXY by wearing the clothes you want and especially the swimsuit that accentuate your curves and loving your body. 

Loren Mae Monares

Age: 29 

 City: Makati 

 Size: 14

Reason for Joining: First, I am a nature lover and one of my favorite getaway is beach. These moments prove to be very relaxing, no stress, no make up (except at night! Haha!) and you get to really enjoy life! Second,I just realized I never had a beach outing last year and I think I deserve a break from all the hectic work for the past months to recharge! 

           

Feeling Extra Ready and Looking Extra Seksi for Coco Beach Photo Contest

How time flies! In less than a month from now, Extra Seksi will turn 2-year-old and we shall celebrate it as  if this blog won't turn 3-year-old at all. And if you've been visiting here for the past months, you can probably tell what's my idea of birthday par-teys. All together now - BEACH DAY!

Yes, I'm giving away an overnight stay for two in one of my favorite sanctuaries - Coco Beach Island Resort! All you have to do is shoot me an email, state why we should choose you and show us what you'll be wearing during your stay. It's that simple!

Make sure to send in your lovely messages on or before January 10th midnight. After deliberating the entries with the panel of judges, I'll be announcing the winners here and in my fanpage on January 20th. For more details, check out the flyer below.

I'm looking forward to receiving your email! Good luck!

Design by Mark Gerad Oliva

WORLD PREMIERE: That Floral Tube Dress

As part of their 25th anniversary celebration, Coco Beach tapped Sesa and Kali for a fashion show. It was my first time to attend in one, so you could just imagine my excitement. If there were any dress code for guests, I have no idea. I've decided to go for something flowy and casual. After all, I'm staying in the resort. In fact, it struck me as the perfect opportunity to wear my latest ukay ukay purchase.

An hour before the fashion show, I was already garbed in my colorful tube dress. I was down to my towering footwear - the only tiis ganda accessory for the night. To my horror, the strap of my wedges slowly turn into white ashes while I tried to put it on. What's going on? I realized this pair had been hidden in my shoe rack for so long (the first and last time I wore it was during my goddaughter's baptism in 2008) and it probably lost the vigor to live. Ha! 

Of course, I panicked. There's no way I can borrow my girlfriends' sandals (my feet are too big at size 10) and there's no way the world would see me wearing my beautiful dress with my slippers. Or so I thought. I know they hardly match but I really have no choice. I can't miss this fashion show! Off I went, wearing my dress and indoor Waraji slippers. 

If you were in my shoes...?

White wedge image obtained here.

Waraji slippers photo by Duane Pascua

After the show, my friends egged one another to unleash our inner ramp models. I had too much red wine and margarita that evening so it was rather easy to say yes, yes, yes! My little drunken catwalk moment was actually documented, but I have no idea how to embed it here (it's not uploaded on YouTube) and I'm not sure if you'll take me seriously anymore after you've viewed it. Aaaaand I did my amateur moves in barefoot, so it was all fun until I felt a thumb tack pierce my sole. Another epic fail moment. Haha! 

Outfit of the Day:

Mullet floral dress from ukay ukay

Recycled leather band from Clinton Aniversario
Seashell anklet

Waraji slippers from Mike Hosoya

***

Needless to say, this post won't be complete without photos of the collection and the models. 

WORLD PREMIERE: That Floral Kaftan

Somebody went shopping for resort wear in preparation for the -ber months. If you just tuned in, please be aware that this birthday girl tends to welcome her natal return all month long and, if her time and budget permit, spends it in close proximity to the soothing shores. This year, I got invited to attend Coco Beach Island Resort's 25th anniversary. Sweet November, it is!

As always, the much-deserved me-time begins at the beach. I decided to don my recent ukay ukay purchase as a cover-up for my swimwear. Floral designs don't usually get my attention, but I appreciate this green number for its light fabric and overall appeal. Very perfect for summer! My friend MJ was quick to remind me that I may also use in urban setting; just wear square pants with it and I'm ready to waltz away. I don't see it that way, but I'll probably give it a try in the future.

Little Ms. Sunshine!


Birthday wish: this hammock!

So I took this kaftan off, went for a swim and went sunbathing by the shores. My friend Joey decided to go swimming in the pool instead and we agreed to reunite later. When I retraced my steps to the main pool area, the boys insisted I get wet in the pool, too. They attempted to throw me to the pool and failed twice. As they say, three is a charm.

Doc and TJ in their initial attempt!




Uhm, can you please give me a moment to take off my kaftan?


Yes, it took 5 fit men to lift me up!


Nooooo!


Me and my wet kaftan!

Photos by Joey Saunar.

[Bikini] Postcards from the Philippines

It doesn't really take a migratory bird to act on this all-important impulse to take advantage of the summer heat. With about 7,100 islands to explore and with our God-given bronze beauties, it is NOT right for us to remain exposed to the artificial light and stressors in the workplace. Follow where the summer breeze leads us and spread the ♫♪ summer lovin' ♪♫!

Ooops, I forgot. There's this unavoidable display of skinny celebrities in bikini along EDSA and continued circulation of magazines with cover girls in nothing but skimpy outfits and smirk by now. Recently, I unearthed this Blair Bitch postcard that reads NO FAT PEOPLE ALLOWED! What else could dampen the spirit and the urge to don a bikini, right?

That Blair Bitch postcard.

Cheer up, girl. As Danah put it, everybody is a bikini body, because no one should dictate which ones are allowed to wear one and which ones are not.

In response to the abovementioned postcard, here's a slideshow of my favorite beach moments in swimwear, kaftan...and whatever my self-esteem and/or budget allowed me to wear that time. I'm glad this journey to body acceptance is documented with our local shores in the background

Postcard from White Beach, Puerto Galera, 2005.
Tankini top and matching shorts from SM Department Store.


Postcard from Olango Island, Cebu, 2005. With Fristine.


Postcard from Splash Island, Laguna, 2005.
Haltered top from Landmark Department Store, purple sarong from Edzelove.


Postcard from Sagada, 2005.
Tankini top from SPF.


Postcard from Coco Beach, Puerto Galera, 2006.
Haltered tankini top from Speedo, off-shoulder top as cover-up from ukay ukay shop.


Postcard from Talipanan, Puerto Galera, 2006.
Striped tube top from Blued.


Postcard from White Beach, Puerto Galera, 2006.


Postcard from Mansud Wall, Davao, 2006.


Postcard from Pagsanjan, Laguna, 2007.


Postcard from Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, 2008.
Red tube top from Dorothy Perkins to conceal my two-piece bikini.


Postcard from Pamilacan Island, Bohol, 2008
Tankini top and bikini from Wet Shop.



Postcard from Anawangin, Zambales, 2009. With my traveling doll, Raya.
White kaftan from Coco Cabaña. Underneath: the same tankini and bikini worn in Bohol.


Postcard from White Island, Camiguin, 2009.
Haltered tankini from Speedo and light blue kaftan.


Postcard from Cagayan de Oro, 2009. [Getting ready to go whitewater rafting with friends]
Haltered tankini from Speedo, swimming skirt and floral kaftan from my friend's tiangge store in St. Francis Square.


Postcard from Zambales, 2010.
Tie-dyed tank top and printed bikini [not seen much in this photo].


Postcard from Vigan, 2010.
That overused polka dotted tankini top and bikini from Wet Shop.


Postcard from Boracay, 2010.
One-piece swimwear from Speedo.


Postcard from Sabtang Island, Batanes, 2011.
Recycling that swimwear worn in Boracay.


Postcard from Sabtang Island, Batanes, 2011.
Kaftan from H&M.

Yeah, yeah, I need a sponsor for my swimwear. =P

Body acceptance is one helluva journey. Up to now, I fall victim to those moments. I still sometimes feel too unpretty and too huge to get half-naked in the beach. Worse, I even feel unprepared for whatever other beach bums would say about my body and the excess balls that go with it.

But then again, why worry over what strangers would think? Sure, we have family and bosses and other people to please, but should we really bring such thinking in our escapes? The beach is our runway, too. This summer, let's shed those inhibitions and leave them behind before boarding the bus or the plane. Summer lovin' starts from within!