Letter from a Reader: Abusive Police Officer

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Dear Fashion PULIS,

I have been a follower of your blogsite, FashionPulis.com ever since your first article came out in February. I find your blogsite both entertaining and informative. My family would truly appreciate it if you can publish this story to expose the abusive use of power by some policce officers.

Let me share with you a very unfortunate incident that happened recently to my cousin, Bert James Millendez, who was a victim of the abusive behavior of Police Officer Michael Dubria. 

The tragic incident took place in a commercial area near the entrance of Central Park Village in Bangkal, Davao City last June 10, 2011. That evening, a group of young professionals, students from UP Mindanao and Ateneo de Davao University together with some of their parents parents were having a send off party  for my cousin Bert James who was departing for the United States the following day.

When Dubria came out of a massage parlor that was located near the bar where the party was happening, he spotted  my cousin, Bert James, standing beside his Toyata Fortuner conversing on the cellphone. For some reason, Dubria got irritated with what he saw and instantaneously in public view assaulted and kicked Bert James who was then prompted to defend himself. Right there and then, Dubria brought out his gun and pointed it on my cousin's face which scared the hell out of everyone present at the scene.

Luckily, Bert James' dad, Atty. Millendez, was present at the party and his friends rushed to him to inform him of the commotion that was happening outisde. Atty. Millendez came to the rescue, spoke calmly to Dubria and was able to avert the tragic incident. Everyone at the party admired James’ Dad who prudently came into the scene with a cool head to prevent any shed of blood and merely accepted Dubria’s apologies.

For the Beta Sigma group and comrades of Bert James from UP Mindnao and Ateneo de Davao, the behavior of Dubria was unforgiveable. His unruly behavior is offensive to human intelligence and civil society. As a police officer, it is expected of him to respect basic human rights. What will happen to ordinary citizens who would not speak out and simply condone Dubria’s impulsive character? If the higher authority will not be informed of his wrong doings, then the entire community will be forever at his mercy.

Thank you so much for your attention to my letter. I look forward to your favorable response.

Estrella Melliza
twitter.com/starfishnet

P.S. Fashion PULIS is open to hear the side of Mr. Dubria. Please get in touch with me through michaelsylim@gmail.com.

Don't Grab His Private Parts!

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This multi-awarded actor had a show in Iloilo with other celebrities from different networks last March. The show was held in a gymnasium and the crowd was very rowdy. The managers could not stop the persistent fans from sneaking in the dressing room to have their photos taken with the stars. According to some of the actor's fellow celebrities who were sharing the same dressing room with him, they noticed that he was rather irritated with the uncontrollable situation.

The celebrities who were in the holding area waiting for their turn to go on stage were terrified when they saw this actor forcefully dragging a gay fan while walking towards them. He was cursing the fan and shouting “sumosobra ka na ha!” The girls who witnessed the incident were in panic while the boys tried to stop him. He just walked passed all of them and continued dragging the poor fan to the nearby toilet. He locked the toilet door and beat him up black and blue.

When the police officer finally arrived, they used a device to force open the door. The observers saw the gay fan running out of the toilet crying and bleeding. While the police officers were having a private discussion with the actor and his manager, they did not notice that the gay fan already disappeared. No one knew what they talked about but the police officers just left after their long conversation. Later that night, the actor narrated to his fellow male celebrities as to how the gay fan grabbed his private parts after his performance on stage.

Amazingly, this violent incident involving this actor with an angelic face never made it to the media. I guess his family network was just trying to protect his image. Do you think it was justifiable for the actor to beat up the fan because he made a pass at him? Please share your thoughts.

If you still can not identify who this actor is, I suggest that you follow micsylim on twitter to get more clues. Please continue to email your stories to michaelsylim@gmail.com.

The Secret Romance

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This actor in his late 20’s met this wealthy beautiful middle aged businesswoman when he was looking at one of the houses that she was selling. In the process, he got attracted to this single mother of three and did everything possible to woo her. He called her regularly and sent her sweet SMS and BBM messages. On his way to his location shoots, he would even pass by her house just to personally hand her fresh flowers.

His persistence finally paid off when she eventually fell for him. She showered him occasionally with expensive gifts. Every month, she would even instruct one of her nephews to buy her actor boyfriend more than twenty thousand peso worth of new clothes.

The two of them have been secretly seeing each other for quite some time now. More than just to avoid media attention, this actor kept their romance secret because he has to make sure that his benefactor does not find out about this. If this happens, his flourishing TV career will definitely be jeopardized.

Do you know who this talented actor is? If you can not identity him, I suggest you follow micsylim on twitter to get more clues. Please continue to email your stories to michaelsylim@gmail.com.

The Shoe that Did Not Quite Fit

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This story happened in the shoe section of a major department store. When this veteran singer was about to try on some shoes, her mother noticed that there were several people seated on the couch. So she decided to approach a pleasant looking lady who was waiting for her orders to be brought to her and told her "Excuse me, my daughter ______ (name of the veteran singer) needs to sit down to try on some shoes." The lady, offended with what she heard, vehemently replied, "I pay the right amount of income tax to our government. Does your daughter do that?" Shocked with what she heard, she hurriedly left the shoe section with her celebrity daughter.

Do you know who this veteran singer actress is? If you can not guess her identity, I suggest you follow micsylim on twitter to get more clues. Please continue to email your stories to michaelsylim@gmail.com.

The List

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If you were following micsylim on Twitter, I mentioned that I was going to publish a list. If you do not have an idea as to what this list is for, let me tell you that it is related to a previous story. Allow me now enumerate the six beautiful women in alphabetical order (based on last names):

The first is an actress host who moved from one network to another. She was one of the hosts of a controversial noontime show before it got cancelled. This girl enjoys watching basketball very much.

The second is a TV personality who is good at sports. She has the gift of gab and she enjoys being with men of color.

The third and the easiest to guess is the talented actress who was linked to him. According to him, she is the only who can match up to his strength and stamina.

The fourth is someone that I have never heard of. I did my own research and found out that this sexy actress started as a model. She also made headlines a few years ago when her ex-boyfriend turned her into a punching bag.

The fifth is an actress known for her ginormous assets that were gifts from a popular cosmetic surgeon. I personally admire her taste when it comes to luxury hand bags.

The sixth and the least expected is an actress model who is no longer active in the industry. More than her acting, she was known for her dancing prowess on TV.

I am sure that this is not the complete list but this is what I have so far. Do you have anyone to add to the list? Can you enumerate all six of them?

Due to the sensitivity of the topic, I will only post comments containing the first letter of their last names. Please remember that initials and the first letter of their first names will not be entertained. I suggest you follow micsylim on twitter to get additional information. Kindly email your stories to michaelsylim@gmail.com, I will be waiting.

xoxo
Fashion PULIS

Havaianas Filipinas Collection Perfect for Independence Day

Fashion has become an avenue to express love for one’s country. As nationalism meets style, the Philippine archipelago, faces of former presidents, heroes, and other national icons are now widely used as designs to convey patriotic statements. And with more Filipinos around the world giving us reason to banner national pride, Havaianas is giving Havaianaticos another trendy option to showcase Philippine pride.

Since 2006, Havaianas has honored the Philippines’ rich and colorful culture with designs that embody the spirit of Filipino pride. This June, Havaianas joins the country as it celebrates its 113th year of independence with the release of this year’s Limited Edition Havaianas Filipinas Collection.

“This year’s Limited Edition Havaianas Filipinas Collection hopes to reflect happiness, carefree fashion, and good memories with the playful use of color and inventive patterns. These attitudes truly match the Filipino culture and even the brand’s cheery personality,” says Anne Gonzalez, Managing Director of Havaianas Philippines.

The Limited Edition 2011 Havaianas Filipinas Collection chose to play with the colors of the national flag. With the dazzling shades of blue, red, yellow, and white, fused with contemporary, street-graffiti prints, the result is a modern yet decidedly nationalistic fashion statement, letting all fashionable Havaianaticos walk as one.

Filipinos from Luzon can literally wear their heritage at their feet with Havaianas Filipinas Yellow, with the name “Luz” imprinted on its soles amid artistic splashes of red and blue. Meanwhile, Visayans can flaunt their nationalism loud and proud with Havaianas Filipinas Red. With intense red straps adorned with the same engraved flag and Havaianas logo, the name “Vis” is printed across its red soles, complemented with vibrant shades of blue and yellow. Those hailing from Mindanao can walk patriotically in Havaianas Filipinas Blue, with lively cobalt soles that feature the name “Min” accented with bright colors of red and yellow.

Each pair’s well-crafted strap carries a unique rendition of the Philippine flag engraved with “Pinas” next to the distinctive Havaianas logo.

Refreshing, stylish, and artistically crafted for all proud and fashionable Filipino Havaianaticos, this year’s Limited Edition 2011 Havaianas Filipinas Collection will arrive in stores on June 12, 2011.

Get your hands on all 3 designs of the Limited Edition 2011 Havaianas Filipinas Collection, available in All Flip-Flops, Celio, Complex, Duty Free Philippines Fiesta Mall, Gas, KidSports, Manila Polo Club, Moana, ROX, Rustan's, Stoked, Tick Tock Flip Flop NAIA Terminal 3, and Urban Athletics. For provincial outlets, visit www.havaianas.com

Empty Promises

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Before you read this story, I must warn you that I only used the pronouns “he” and “she” to refer to the two main characters in this highly controversial story. It might be confusing for some of you but I could not think of a better way to refer to them. Please bear with me.

When she started hanging out with him, he told her that he has been physically separated from his wife for nearly four months. According to him, his wife left him to be with someone else in another city. The only reason why she agreed to continue seeing him was because he repeatedly assured her that his marriage was over. He even told her that while his wife was far away from him, he would only receive SMS messages from her asking about the details for the legal separation.

One day while he was spending some time in the North, the wife arrived to hand him the separation papers for him to sign. When the wife left, he showed the documents to her and told her to be patient because rather than focusing on the separation, he had to set his mind on a very important upcoming event. She did not want to get in his way so she told him that it was best that they stop seeing each other. He refused and told her that she did not care enough for him. He wanted her present wherever he went and when she mentioned that she was not comfortable being seen with him, he would question her love for him.

He was a very possessive lover and that's why he instructed her to quit show business. He would send text messages to guys who are interested with her telling them to back off. He wanted their relationship to be out in the open but she protested.

He promised her everything. He told her that as soon as the separation has been finalized, he would eventually marry her. He would even tell her not to feel guilty because that it was his wife who initiated the separation to begin with.

The day when event was over, he went to her very upset telling her that his wife was crying because the cameras were all over. He also told her that his wife’s confidants have been advising his wife to stay in marriage to get more money out of him. In so doing the wife will be able to prevent him from legally being with her. The whole thing took a different turn when the media noticed her presence in his life. After the news exploded, she asked him again about the separation and he told her that he will just attend to the matter after the election.

After the election was over, she finally accepted that no separation was going to happen between him and his wife. He was shocked when she decided to stop seeing him. He tried asking her back but there was nothing that he could have done. She could no longer take all his empty promises. To add insult to injury, she later found out that he was also dating a Mexican girl from the USA while they were still together.

Since she is completely out of the picture, he and his wife continued to paint a picture perfect family to the public. What the public does not know is that he recently got another young mestiza girl pregnant. She is expected to have his baby in the next few months. He also has another son that is currently residing in the USA with his mother who used to be a hotel receptionist.

Do you know who are the characters involved in this story? Follow micsylim on twitter to get additional clues. Please continue to email your stories to michaelsylim@gmail.com.

The Twitter Revelation

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They fell in love with each other on the set of a reality singing competition of a major network that was hosted by a veteran singer. Since the network was grooming her to become the next big singing star, she was advised by the network not to enter into any serious relationship. She keept her relationship with this male singer as a secret. They were not allowed to be seen in public so the guy would just visit her in their house.

One day, the male singer was devastated when he read a tweet from a Filipino-Canadian guy who informed him that the female singer was two-timing them. According to his tweets, she has the same term of endearment for the two of them and even sends them identical BBM messages and photos. When the male singer found out about this, he immediately broke up with her and twitted her “I hope you are happy with what you did!” Since then, they stopped seeing each other and “unfollowed” each other on twitter.

Do you know who these two new singers are? The male singer already moved to a competing network and appeared in the Pinoy version of a Korean telenovela. Follow micsylim on twitter to get additional clues. Please continue to email your stories to michaelsylim@gmail.com.

Letter from a Reader: The Swatch Complaint

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Dear Fashion PULIS,

I thought of sending you this story while I was reading your blog. The post where you showed the SM price tag scam inspired me to write my frustration regarding the customer service of Swatch.

It has been a week of feeling frustrated over the after-sales service of Swatch for me. I am from Iloilo, a province from the Visayas. I bought a Swatch March of last year when I went to Cebu. After a few months of use, I observed that gave me the wrong time from time to time.

When I went back to Cebu October last year, I had the watch check by the store. The lady checked the battery and it was fine. She advised me to leave it for 3 weeks for observation. I did not agree because I had to go back to Iloilo and they refused send the watch via LBC after the 3 week observation period.

The watch got permanently busted last February 2011. By busted I mean no movement for the second’s hand. I called the Manila Swatch service center about it. They said they will check the watch provided that the three conditions will be met:

1. Hand in the watch personally or through someone I know.
2. Leave the watch for 2-3 weeks for "proper" observation.
3. Pick up the watch from them after the 2-3 week "proper" observation period.

Since I had no way of going to Manila and I do not know of someone I could ask to help me fulfill the 3 condition, I felt no reason to despair because I had another full year left of warranty.

The lady who took my call also gave me hope when she told me that she understood that I could stay longer than 3-5 days if ever I go to Manila. I believe she said that she could bypass the rules and give me special consideration. After the phone call, I was still hopeful and decided that I would just wait for the time when I have a scheduled trip to Manila.

I was happy when I heard that my tita was scheduled to fly to Manila on May 28, but she will just stay there for just 3 days. Before she flew to Manila and go to Swatch, I made sure to call the service center. I informed them about my situation and the fact that I can't leave my watch for 2-3 weeks. I just did not want to leave the Swatch there in Manila and get it from them after a year or so.

After the phone call, I got the impression that Swatch will accommodate my request. So when May 28 came, my tita personally hand in my Swatch to the Glorietta store. They discovered that the battery was busted but since they ran out of battery that morning, my Tita had to leave the watch. They also told her that after they replace the battery, they need to observe it for 3 days, in time for my tita's flight to Iloilo.

Three days later at 5 PM, my Swatch was released. They told my tita that just by replacing the battery my Swatch will now work fine. The Swatch was set at 5:15 pm. It was placed inside a case before it was handed to my Tita.

Believe it or not, I got the watch at 5:15 PM the following day. I was thrilled because it gave me the correct time after months of frustration! However, I noticed that although the time was right, the seconds hand did not move one nanometer. What are the chances that the watch was ok the 3 days while it was under the custody of Swatch and it just got busted again when it was handed to me?

Once again I called the Glorietta branch and they did not know how it could happen. As far as they know, it was working perfectly when they gave it back to my tita. They spent the whole 30 minutes of NDD call explaining the policies of Swatch to me. The lady I was speaking to asked their head office if they could offer a solution. She told me minutes later that there was nothing they could do unless the 3 conditions they told me before were met.

I let the weekend pass, and decided to spend another NDD call to their head office. The Swatch guy (I know his name, but I doubt if it's important to refer to it) told me that they couldn't do anything unless I complied with their policy. As far as he is concerned, I am no longer entitled to feel frustrated or think of them as anti-consumer since necessity left me with no choice but to pull out the unit only after 3 days. Also, as per policy and SOP, they have fulfilled the correct after sales support. He did give me an email address though where I can send my letter of complaint. I have sent the letter for quite some time but I have received no reply from Swatch.

It's just so frustrating and this is why I decided to write to you, hoping to get my story published and circulated online. The Swatch that I bought might not be expensive, I may not have connections. I have no value to them, so I do not matter? I know that they have all the money to get celebrity endorsers, do some CSR and charity works to show an image of an upright, credible, community-oriented company, but they have forgotten to offer good after sales service to a loyal customer.

I had my first Swatch 18 years ago when I was in grade 1. When it got busted, I bought a different brand of watch since Swatch was not available in Iloilo. I wore the watch from Grade 6 till last year when I finally bought my first Swatch using my own money. When it was still working properly last year, I couldn't think of buying any other brand of watch but Swatch. I have a total of 4 Swatch (only one left working properly), and each has a sentimental value to me. I never buy anything if it does not have value to me. This is why I going through great lengths to voice my frustrations.

I know I am just one person. And my cause is hardly anything significant or controversial. But here I am, attempting to help improve the quality of customer service we have here in the Philippines.

Yours truly,
Maria Frances Anne Lorena

P.S. Calling on Swatch, please feel free to email your side of the story to michaelsylim@gmail.com. I will publish it as soon as I receive it.

Commercial Liaison

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A friend of mine tweeted a few days ago, "Believe what you would like to believe and you will never succeed. If you want to succeed then do not believe."

By now, many of you are aware of the highly controversial romance between this actress and this model who blossomed from a one-liner pick up line on Twitter. The whole nation has already been captivated by the romantic bravado of this model declaring his undying affection for this actress.

However, all is not what it seems. Showbiz insiders report that the two are set to launch an endorsement soon and their contract requires them to have a very public affair to generate buzz and word-of-mouth promotion for the brand. This is after all similar to a closet actor and his heiress actress girlfriend.

Apparently this actress is also just using the model for her own personal vendetta. This is no validation that the two are really together as she is not over the heartbreak caused by her equally popular former boyfriend who is the son of a veteran actress. Add to that, she has her eyes set on someone else who does not belong to the business.

The actress is also very much wary of the model as she has heard rumors about his past. After all, she is surrounded by dear friends who are looking after her welfare and giving her notes about this model's history. 

Do you need additional clues to identify the characters in this story? Follow micsylim on twitter to get the latest update on Fashion PULIS. Please remember the guidelines before posting your comments. Kindly email your stories to michaelsylim@gmail.com.