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Seventeen is an amazing number. Did you know that VIXI, the anagram of 17 in Roman numerals (XVII), means “I have lived” in Latin?
Appropriately, Inquirer Lifestyle’s To be You and To be Ultimate teams have lived yet another eventful year, one that captured the cries of student activists, the stories of model youths, the action at campus tours and the adrenaline rush of heart-pounding sporting events.
Here are To be You and To be Ultimate’s 17 best moments of 2017:
1 MEETING MICHAEL MARTINEZ
In this scoop of a shoot and interview last May, the 21-year-old ice prince warmed our hearts with his down-to-earth personality and hard-to-miss abs.
2 FOUR-PEAT, BACK-TO-BACK WINS AT WNCAA CHEERLEADING COMPETITION
To be Ultimate was a major sponsor of the 47th Women’s National Collegiate Athletic Association (WNCAA) cheerleading competition, a February event that saw defending champions St. Pedro Poveda College, St. Paul College Pasig, and Centro Escolar University retain the crowns in their respective divisions.
3 GETTING DOWN AND DIRTY WITH ULTIMATE FRISBEE
At the fifth staging of the National Ultimate Collegiate Championship last June, the University of the Philippines Diliman beat De La Salle University, Miriam College conquered the women’s team of Philippine Science High School (PiSay), and in a bittersweet victory, PiSay-Team B trumped PiSay-Team A in the men’s division.
4 MAUREEN WROBLEWITZ WINS SEASON 5 OF ‘ASIA’S NEXT TOP MODEL’
After overcoming doubters and haters with pure poise, the petite contestant became the first Filipino to win the reality model search.
5 HOW TO LOOK KOREAN IN FOUR BEAUTY TRENDS
Last November, makeup artist Theresa Padin revealed the products and tricks of the trade to achieve the coveted Korean beauty aesthetic.
6 ATENEO-LA SALLE RIVALRY REVISITED
In an article leading up to the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 80 finals, fans reflected on the longtime rivalry between collegiate men’s basketball’s fiercest foes.
7 AL ESTRELLA’S CLAY ART
Gifted with deft hands and a wild imagination, Estrella made clay versions of the “Game of Thrones” and “Stranger Things” characters. He was also recognized at the 2016 National Children’s Book Awards for his illustrations in Xi Zuq’s book “Supremo.” Still, he told To be You last October that his greatest achievement is teaching for the past eight years.
8 AUTOTELIC’S EVOLUTION
Last July, Nadine Silvestre wrote about Autotelic progressing from a band playing in small gigs to one with a record deal and shows in large venues—all in a span of a year.
9 TAKING A STRAND
Last October, contributor Julia Ongchoco explained how junior high school students can decide on the right academic track for themselves.
10 THE DEBUT OF THE VIVO V7+
From its 5.99-inch all-screen display to its 24MP front camera, image-enhancing Face Beauty 7.0 and high-tech Face ID access, this phone is a selfie addict’s dream come true.
11 MODA MINDANAO USES TECHNOLOGY TO PRESERVE SOUTHERN CULTURE
That was the theme of the 12th season of the longest-running fashion competition in Southern Mindanao. Eleven designers participated in the contest that featured prêt-à-porter for women and evening wear for women categories.
12 IN PRAISE OF THE SINGLE PARENT
Kids proudly shared how their single mom or dad raised them on their own under less than ideal circumstances.
13 TO BE YOU ARTISTS CREATE WONDER WOMAN FAN ART
The DC heroine was immortalized in a variety of artistic styles and mediums.
14 WE LOVE YOU, PARK SHIN HYE
In town last July, the star of K-dramas “The Heirs” and “Doctor Crush” bowled us over with her beauty and natural grace.
15 #KWENTONGJOLLIBEE’S ‘CRUSH’ IS TO BE YOU STREET STYLE’S ASH ORTEGA
More than just a girl with an appetite for a savory sandwich, the student, actress and model is a mix of talent, beauty and brains.
16 THE BARONG TAGALOG GETS A MILLENNIAL MAKEOVER
Students from Slim’s Fashion & Art School presented David Bowie- and K-Pop-inspired versions of the national garb.
17 TO BE YOU PARTNERS WITH DLS-CSB IN ‘SINULID: EPILOGUE 2017’
This collaboration saw students from De La Salle-College of St. Benilde’s fashion program create a collection of six ensembles—one of them inspired by the National Artist for Fashion Design Ramon Valera.