Tuesday, September 18, 2007
RECTO'S BLING-BLING DIVA
She's fondly referred to as Mommy Rose. The go to person for anything silver -- necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings, belt buckles and etc. Her stall is located right on the sidewalk of Claro M. Recto Avenue near Florentino Torres Street -- comprised simply of a single cabinet, a showcase of her glittering collections.
Most image-conscious high schoolers lust after these silver jewelries and accessories despite the risk of getting mugged by the bigger boys in school or by some petty thieves and snatchers that lurk the streets of Manila. And almost always, these young customers would scrimp and save from their already minimal allowances for several months, while others would nag their parents to buy them a piece as birthday or holiday gifts. And once they have the money, off to Mommy Rose they go.
Although she hardly qualifies as Manila's answer to Jacob the Jeweler (since she only deals with silver) what fuels Mommy Rose's continued local popularity -- besides the deep discounts she gives to her young customers -- is the spellbinding air about her that most high school boys would want for themselves. She's definitely a vivacious spirit who frequents Malate's hip hop clubs decked out in pricey Fubu sportswear, Nike sneakers, and a bunch of glittering bling-blings.
Without a doubt, she projects a likewise shimmering image of excess and ostentatious cool that most teenage boys, enamored by Manila's hip hop culture, would want to emulate.
posted by Señor Enrique at 7:08 PM
37 Comments:
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said... Real silver ba talaga 'yan, Eric?
When she was still in high school, Gem was once hooked to silver accessories and would frequent Silverlinks stores in malls. Expensive nga, but she has this hypnotic way that makes me and her dad just say yes when she wanted a piece of these jewelry. Hay, naku!
Cool si Mommy Rose, ha. I guess her personality is her best selling asset. I can also see she enjoyed the pictorial. hehe.-
pusa said... yeah, sobrang sikat ni mommy rose sa recto! ask anyone at recto and they'll know her. besides she's difficult to miss with all her bling2!
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said...
i teach middle school in new york city and have dealt with kids from all races. i noticed that filipino kids have this affinity with hip hop culture unlike other asians (e.g. chinese, koreans...). the filipinos do not seem as focused inside the classroom as their asian counterparts and i blame this on hip hop. it seems they would rather be black or hispanic than asian. this explains why the chinese laundry worker's daughter is heading for Vassar and a former pupil of mine (son of a Filipina nurse) is applying for a job at the Gap instead of going to college.
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NOYPETES said...
Nakakatuwa ang mga ganyang tao, they live life to the fullest everyday! Wala silang paki sa mga bagay na di sila interesado, walang inhibitions sa buhay1 GLING-GLING NI GINANG BLING-BLING!
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Señor Enrique said...
I would suppose that they're real silver, Rhoda, otherwise word will get around soon enough. But since her popularity only keeps growing, I'd assume that she sells the genuine article. By the way, she also accepts orders for original deisgns.
Baguio City is quite famous for its more affordable silver, did Gem ever check out the row of jewelry stores there? Last I was there, went to a couple for "pasalubong."
Yes, Mommy Rose had a fun time posing and modeling :)-
Señor Enrique said...
Most high schoolers also take pride in acquiring their silver accoutrements from Mommy Rose, Pusa. So, it's added bragging rights that they got to meet her, too, I guess.
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Señor Enrique said...
I can understand where you're coming from, Anonymous. A nephew in NYC once appeared in DMX's music video so you can probably imagine the image that he sported back then.
The appeal of hip hop culture has got to do more with its music, followed by lifestyle and image; toss in the NBA bad boys in the mix. But then again, is it possible also that most of the Pinoy kids in the States who easily adopted the hip hop image happened to be latchkey kids, as well as somewhat jaded and hardened by absentee parents who were too busy making money to provide them the much sought after American dream?-
Señor Enrique said...
Talaga nga, Noypetes, nakakatuwang makakita ng mga tao na tinutunton ang kanilang mga ikaliligaya sa buhay. Actually not an easy thing to do in Manila wherein most folks are clannish and conformists.
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Photo Cache said...
She looks like a "character" huh! Must be fun to chat with her.
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abet said...
elow Eric,
dumalaw uli ....ingats po!-
said...
Silver can be beautiful I say and cost-efficient too. Wearing gold could be harmful and dangerous these days... I wonder how much silver is worth now, vis-a-vis as to gold...
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Señor Enrique said...
She's really quite an animated character, Photo Cache. And all those bling-blings that she got :)
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Señor Enrique said...
Hi Basey! Kamusta ka na? Are you back in Manila?
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Señor Enrique said...
Oh, I think silver still costs much less than gold, Major Tom, but it's just as risky to wear such jewelries, especially if alone in the evenings.
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Sidney said...
Isn't she the perfect mate for you, Eric? I can really imagine both of you together haunting Malate's hip hop clubs! ;-)
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Señor Enrique said...
I think she'd make a perfect mate for anyone into hip hop music :) Unfortunately, Sidney, my days or nights of club hopping is long gone :(
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said...
Hip Hop; an American dream for kids today, definitely. But I don't oppose them of trying to follow the trend but they ought to know their limits to a certain extent. Anyway, it's fun to dress in Hip Hop style sometimes.
(:
And Mommy Rose is definitely a cool lady! Yo!-
Señor Enrique said...
Kids will always have their own style unique from the previous generation. I guess, that's how they try to establish an identity in their own way, though still dependent on their parents for free board and lodging ... hehehe.
Yes, Mommy Rose is quite a fun character, Kyels :)-
said...
ow wow! mommy rose sure is bling blinging. she must love the items she sells. im fond of her attire hah! she's looks groovy =)
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Señor Enrique said...
I don't know why Mommy Rose hasn't opened a clothing store also, Nell. She appears so stylish with those pricey sportswear accessorized with those sparkling bling-blings!
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said...
She does cater to the hip hop younger set with all the trinkets and the metals :) I think she's making some serious bucks with her specialty trade :)
Other than the hip hop crowd, there's the alternative crowd that cater to mostly British music. YOu see them cutting through their flesh with earrings, nose rings, tongue rings, etc...-
Señor Enrique said...
That alternative crowd you speak of may be the ones referred to as "trashers" locally who are into punk, gothic and Marilyn Manson-type music, BW. They seem to adore those silver bling-blings as well, but a lot more extreme in terms of body piercings.
Yes, I think Mommy Rose does very well :)-
-= dave =- said...
Ah, bling-blings for the hip-hop crowd. Oh well, I'm more into rock because of its seriousness and passion. (Since I'm a goody-two-shoes, I subscribe to its "clean" version only, though.) Hip-hop today is more of a laidback lifestyle, usually the sleazy kind (although I know it has a "clean" version also). It's not as fun as in the 1990s anymore.
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Señor Enrique said...
I haven't had a chance to keep up with the latest hip hop releases, Dave, but I've a feeling that a bunch of new artists have sprung which I know not of. The other more established ones might have crossed over to R&B.
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said...
its my mom, my very cool & wonderful mom....with a unique & great mother! love you mom
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Señor Enrique said...
Are you serious? Whoa! I think that is so wonderful.
Could you please show this site to Mommy Rose so she could check out this article I wrote about her? Many thanks!
You're lucky to have a great and popular mom :)-
said...
im one of her fans!, any magazines u published ur blog??
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said...
what magazine u featured mommyrose, ill buy it.......
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said...
Yeah, I have met Mommy Rose and her family. She's funny, cool and hip hop as many people referred to her. But for me, with the bling blings and silver medal off. She is a wonderful mom with a great determination and perseverance out of stuggles in life for the sake of her family. More power Mommy Rose! You worth more than a silver for us, not a even a gold or platinum. I think that would be described as "priceless".
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Señor Enrique said...
Guys, lifestyle editors of our local broadsheets sometimes browse through my site so, don't be surprised if one of these days Philippine Star, Inquirer, or Manila Bulletin picks this up and does a more extensive feature of Mommy Rose! Who knows ABS-CBN might do the same, or The Filipino Channel!
But I'll follow-up because Mommy Rose is a true Manilenya!-
Señor Enrique said...
Hi Ryan! Mommy Rose is indeed a wonderful persona that local folks ought to know about! She is a joyful character that adds color to our city that is Manila!
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said...
im the avid fan of mommyrose, shes look like missy elliot "work it"... I admire her & my idol, im the biggest fan of her! im looking forward to see her in person! for me she is the "MISSY ELLIOT OF THE PHIL.".. Cool & Proud Mother.
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said...
Where can i see mommyrose in the house! I wanna see her in person.. im from orange country and I heard everything about her from phils. I like her unique style & fashion statement... where's the shop located? i want to see her wearin' those bling bling!....peace out
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Señor Enrique said...
Well, next time you come to Manila for a visit, Hunk_85, go visit Mommy Rose at Recto and F. Torres in Santa Cruz, Manila. I'm sure she'll be glad to meet you :)
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Señor Enrique said...
Thant's interesting, Anonymous, Mommy Rosa as Missy Elliot of the Philippines. Cool!
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said...
Tacky style, it's not even a "culture." I think that first, not every young person is into this, America or Philippines or anywhere else. It's just on some tv channels, that's all. TV doesn't mean it's what's being sought after, it's just thrown on there.
Also, about the Filipino youth in N.America who are wannabe hip hop, it is unfortunately true and that's why they are dragging the Filipino name down with them. I've seen them when I was traveling, and they're loitering like cockroaches in public places and causing some problems and being maarte (with bad speech). I just shake my head and think that they'd have been better off staying in the Philippines (or parents never going to N.America) rather than being the way they are.Some of them could have had promise in terms of their personality and direction.
Now is not the time to look up to American styles and pop culture. Because now, non-western cultures are more superior and cooler because they are more natural and themselves, their cultures with taste. North American "culture" is really going downhill fast and rapidly since the 90s or even before that, and it's as simple as this: those people, especially young people from North America, with their looks, tastes (or lack of), behaviors and attitudes, are simple reflecting the regression of culture and taste in North America. Through them, we see it all. Hint: check out those under 35s in the malls who come to the Philippines for pasko season. Baduy! You'll see the difference and how much more classy and stylish and natural people from the Philippines are compared to those abroad ones.
But not every young Filipino from abroad are like this. Some are just simple, some are those who are strong in their Filipino culture (born abroad or not), and some are young Filipinos who went to America/Canada when they were already quite grown up with a developed persona.
Alejandro-
vandalero3sce said...
kahit zan k man z mundo,,, maging zino k man,,, z mga tao n ayaw z hiphop,,,bahala kayo,,, at z mga tao n tumatangkilik z hiphop,,, bahala din kayo,,, bzta kmi kay mommy rose lng kmi bibili,,, mura n!! zulit p!! yer tha best,,
