Celine Lopez returns

Celine Lopez is on a roll. Call it pent-up energy from travelling all over the world, keeping to herself after immersing in proper “me” time, standing up after a few Runway Bride moments — Celine is back, and you better believe it!

After a critically-acclaimed film which she produced, a book that she is about to launch in London, and a glossy and happy cover for Rogue’s sixth anniversary issue, I catch up with Celine one random night as friends make time for each other in the most spontaneous situations. We had the best night just chatting, laughing endlessly at the past, and looking forward to the exciting futures we have thought up for ourselves. There’s no stopping this girl — she’s on fire, inside — and I feel it.

Supreme sat down with the forever It-chick, and talked to her about maturity, finding herself, and what makes her really happy. Read on.

You have a different aura now. You look very happy. Where is that coming from?

Self tanner and SKII? Kidding aside, I was on a funk for five years then I just decided to stop dating. I’ve been horribly happy ever since. It’s not really the men; it’s more of like I was missing myself. I guess I’m not in that part of my life where I’m ready to share it with someone yet. I haven’t been single in 18 years. 18! You can call this my debut of being a single girl, with a cotillion of exciting projects to look forward to. Being able to do all these creative protects, my Sunday column in The Philippine STAR, book and movie (I’m currently on stage one for a new project) and designing for my jewelery line Fah/LUX have had a lenitive effect on me. I’m glad to be back on the horse and not feel guilty that I’m putting all my time on my new projects.

The mental release of the pressures in being in a relationship or even just dating is exhilarating. I’m a passionate person, thus the perfervid lover in me. It takes over everything. I just want to be some neo-monk. Remember that Seinfeld episode where George decides to stop dating and then he becomes super intelligent? I know that proverbial inselberg. Not that I’m saying I can answer every question in Jeopardy, but it’s more about clarity.

How were you able to deal with the demons of the past and be able to move forward into your current state?

We’re both growing up and dying at the same time. There are still some demons; we are all still peccant creatures for the sole fact that we are human. Right now, I’m just trying to make as many good decisions as I can.

What takes much of your time now?

 Right now, my book is getting preferential treatment, along with the Philippine launch of Metro Manila, which is for me the most important premiere of the movie despite it being snapped up in numerous countries.

The novel, The Recorded History of a Girl, is my little enterprise. It’s about a life told in letters and an excerpt can be found in the July issue of Rogue. It’s all about the emotional gymkhana that happens in a girl’s life from childhood all the way to her deathbed. As I describe it in the back cover, there’s a letter for everyone in the book. It’s an easy and hopefully uplifting read. It’s not “sassy” or cool. It actually aims to be warm and genial, with some humor on a gravy train.

My mother inspired me when it came to writing the adult portion of the book. My mother’s very strong and compassionate, I tried to incorporate her spirit in this book, I enjoyed writing those parts whilst thinking of her the whole time. Most of the details in the book are inspired by my girl friends and the people I’ve met along the way, they were the ones who breathed life into the book. Heaven bless the assholes in the book that added spice to the book. There is a chapter that presented an amalgam of every shitty guy I’ve ever dated. That was fun to write. Total chick lit.

Krip Yuson did the introduction for the book, which is a grand honor. The cover was made by Everywhere We Shoot and it was edited by Krip Yuson and Tanya Lara. The book industry is now very different. You don’t need to rely on publisher to get it out there. You invest in creating a book according to your own terms and voila! I’m really nervous about how it will be received. I hope people enjoy it. However, like everything else in life, if success were the sole purpose of creating something, then we’d all be in trouble. Sometimes you just have to do things and let it go on its own way.

I’m also setting up a small production company named 118. Just so I won’t look like a hack as I’m finding more and more movie projects to work in both big and small. 118 is the average running time in minutes of the most successful movies ever released.

Your recent venture in film Metro Manila won an award at the Sundance Film Festival. You were quite hands on with the project. How did that feel like?

Amazing. The journey we all took to create a beautiful film from scratch and to see it prosper in such a phenomenal way is just out of this world. Sean Ellis I swear is a genius. He is so heartbreakingly talented. Not everyone has that. No amount of money can match Sean’s magic. The actor’s performances were also something to behold.

Let me tell you. There’s no feeling akin to that of winning and being recognized for it without the intense ribbing of PR.  It’s like a big hug from the world. It was accepted in its purest form.

Plus, you are also launching your book in London within the year.

I’m introducing the book in different countries. I’m excited for that book tour! I think book parties are a waste of time and money. I’d rather spend the time promoting it to ethical reviewers and news outlets. That, and finding the right publishers for different countries. This is literally my baby. I obsessed over every aspect about this book from the font, the cover down to the trailer. Yes, the book has a trailer that will be made by me and Bea Ledesma and a fun website that will be designed by Isa Cruz.

People scoff at self-publishing, but it’s really an amazing way to get your work out there! It’s a whole new world for books. You completely own your work and most of the time, the publishers come in after. They take your book as it is and not what their in-house editors think it should be. It really is a great and edifying process. I’m glad I gathered up the guts to do it.

Your cover with Rogue presents you “unposed, unplugged,” with a big smile on your face. What were you thinking when this particular photo was being snapped?

I just told them that we should try a happy photo. The Philippines is on an upward boom. People should start smiling, as things are getting better. Also there was a frisson between all of us during the shoot. It was the most fun I’ve had in a long time. Especially in a shoot because I’m usually awkward.

Rogue is such a handsome and dashing magazine. Paolo, Miguel, Nicola and the rest of Team Rogue really have their shit together. Their standards are so impressive. I’m blown away. They just do that voodoo that they do so well, it was hard not to have fun and feel privileged to be part of that moment and subsequently this July issue. Also I’m excited for people to read the excerpt!

Film, book, magazine cover — what is next for you this year?

Another movie with an amazing Swiss director is in the pipeline. My other main project is the new collection for my jewelry line Fah/LUX, which I share with Macky Fah. I’m really excited with our holiday collection.

Give us one important lesson you’ve learned in the most recent past.

Funks are self-inflicted. Stop complaining.

What is the secret to happiness?

I don’t think there’s a secret to happiness. It’s just something that’s very innate in us, but we get distracted by all the noise that thrives in modern life. We forget to nurture and cultivate it.

For me, I find happiness in having a healthy relationship with my family, friends, and myself. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to have two beautiful dogs to wake up to every morning. It’s also about doing the things you love. Following your dreams even if they scare you. Basically living your life and waking up curious and excited every morning.

When I eased out of the fashion industry, I went back to my nerdy roots. My books, movies, and home became my world once again. It’s not like I don’t admire design and have lost any ardor for it. It’s still there, it’s the trendy spirit of things that has left the building, Instead of going to events, I spend most of my time now being with my loved ones.

I also started taking care of myself. I’m obsessed with juicing and eating right. I also exercise regularly. My body is at its intended size now. I never knew I even had hips. For the longest time, I was a torturous size zero. I developed an eating disorder trying to stay this way. Looking back, I had the wardrobe of a 10-year-old girl. I was marshmallow thin (thin but not toned) and because of the lack of nutrients my skin was pale gray and my hair wouldn’t grow, thus that pixie cut. I had a hard time seeing my body balloon after I sought help for the problem I had. I used to worry about a tiny fold in my belly. It was like prison. Little by little, I started to just be more accepting and food I must say makes you happy. I’m glad that I have a woman’s body now and not that of a child’s. This also meant 70% of my wardrobe has been rendered useless.

There are those who are naturally thin and sylph-like, but mine was intended to be this way. That waif look did not belong to me.

I’m happy now and eating is a blessing bitches.

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