Transformer: Celine Lopez

Posted by Jayvee at July 1st, 2009

Amidst the marketing madness, depraved cattiness, and pseudo-sexual hipsters of the fashion world, Celine Lopez stands apart from everyone as a true original; a class act who knows exactly what to wear to all-tomorrow’s parties.

Words: Erwin Romulo
Styling: Shanani Gania
Hair: Vianney Guese
Photos: Juan Caguicla
Photography Assitants: Noi Agarin & Waway
Sittings Editor: Denise Mallabo
Editorial Assistant: France Pinzon

“Evil is organic. The fight against it is what makes us human.” Celine Lopez has just come back from Delhi. Meeting up with her, it isn’t long—five minutes probably—before the conversation turns to the usual things: sickness, art, politics, fascists, Bowie, pornography, and the devil—the dark stuff. The remark was her answer to the question if she thought evil existed. It seemed apt only because it was also posed to both Barack Obama and John McCain during the last US election. If it’s good enough for presidential candidates, then it was good enough to ask Celine. In fact, for the brevity and wit alone, she gets my vote.

We’ve known each other for several years now, actually. Both of us had columns in The Philippine Star: she was its new rising star, and I was its resident ogre. She wrote about fashion and going out while I styled myself a hoodlum critic. While she was (I imagined) hobnobbing, I was busy cultivating my being a snob.

I disliked her, of course.

In the office, we would stay at opposite ends. I don’t know if she ever noticed me then but I sure as hell noticed her. Effortlessly chic and pretty, she charmed everyone and everyone laughed at her jokes, including one editor who never said a word or gave a smile to me in the almost 10 years we worked alongside each other. God, I hated her then.

For the full text, and our author’s timely epiphany, you can stil grab the June ’09 issue out in stalls with Celine on the cover. it’s a fresh, new UNO.