[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!