My grandmother and I were up in Baguio but summer was ending and we were shopping at the market. I said I wanted to bring my Mommy back a plant. How much? She asked the salesgirl.
P10 po, the lady answered with a smile.
2.50, my lola said very firmly. I almost died of embarrassment.
The girl shook her head, did not reply. I pulled my grandmother away.
What? My lola asked.
Never mind, I said. I hate bargaining so please don’t bargain for me.
I don’t bargain when I shop and I don’t like it at all when people bargain with me when they buy my things. So please if you will come to the Phil-Italia bazaar to buy jewelry from me, don’t bargain. My prices are reasonable and they are final. Also everything I sell I make with my own two hands. If you bargain you insult me.
Note the photographs with this column. It introduces you to my line of earrings I’m calling Trickles because it trickles down one side from your ear to your neck. It softens the face and makes you look prettier. Yes, they are uneven, very much today’s fashion. One side, the left, hooks on to your ear from behind and trickles gently down. The other earring hooks on to your ear and is much simpler. One pair sells for P900. No bargains.
You can see the earrings in the photograph. They match but they are not exactly the same. I got this idea from my mother who once had a wonderful set of earrings that was more or less like this one. She wore it when she went partying in the 1950s. Then later I received a clipping from a friend on earring cuffs. My earrings are not earring cuffs. They are trickles of crystals designed to flatter your face.
The photograph shows me also wearing a necklace with a charm on one side. That is another one of my creations. The necklace sells for P1,200. See I don’t look over-accesorized. The earrings flow into the necklace and make me look softer.
When were the pictures taken? Only last Wednesday. They were taken by my son, Gino Cruz, the musician and talented photographer.
As you read this column I will be in Kuala Lumpur attending a conference. That means no StemEnhance sales either because I am out. When I get back on Monday I will be working furiously on jewelry again because the single bazaar I am joining is on Saturday and Sunday next week, Nov. 16 and 17, at the Filinvest tent in Alabang. You go down Commerce Avenue and turn into Spectrum Drive. You will see it. It’s the only white tent on that street. The bazaar opens at 9 a.m. I don’t know what time it closes. I suppose at 7 p.m.
I am writing about this because I want to become a success. Right now I don’t know what I’m going to do next. All I know is I have to do something different and something that will earn me money to live on. So this is my first all-mine-alone bazaar. I hope I am successful. Then I will continue to create jewelry. If I am not then I will pout a while then find something else to do.
I hope you come and buy my eccentric albeit “gorgeous†earrings. That’s what one of my daughters called them when I sent her a few to wear. You must believe in yourself and your ability to break even small rules. Who said earrings have to match exactly? I think exact matches are boring. I think houses that are decorated with a sofa in the center flanked by two matching chairs, a coffee table in front, two side tables that are exactly the same and two lamps that match exactly are boring and unimaginative. Being boring and unimaginative makes you look old. Be bold. Dare. It’s worthwhile to dare to be different.
Look at me. My hair is lop-sided. My earrings are too, long on the side where my hair is short. My Trickle is balanced by the single earring on the other ear and the single charm on the necklace. I did not lose my balance. I just let several other things join together. And you don’t have to cut your hair like mine to wear these earrings well. They look wonderful on people with long hair, peeping shyly, making your date wonder if you’re wearing earrings or what is that exactly? Or you can wear your hair up and then the earrings look smashing. Like I said, they soften your face and make you look young, carefree and beautiful.
So, shall I see you at the Phil-Italia Bazaar?
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