An endless stream of cars unloaded Metro Manila’s A-list women last Tuesday afternoon into evening at the Swatch building on Arnaiz Avenue, Makati, for the launch of the watch brand’s Think Fun collection.
It was paparazzi heaven. But then, the women guests, supposedly the subjects of the photographers, turned into paparazzi themselves. The reason: Scarlet Snow Belo Kho walked into the building to attend the launch, but really, just to play. And the women just wanted their selfies with the world’s most popular baby on Instagram (2.5 million followers).
Virgie Ramos, who built Swatch in the Philippines, isn’t a retail visionary for nothing—
she had a come-on that Scarlet Snow couldn’t resist: toys and ice cream.
and focused on play
So, in a private room at the launch, Scarlet Snow started playing with mini stuffed toys served up by Ramos, as her “ninong,” Jojie Dingcong, a leading talent agent in the country, coaxed her on and on.
How does the world’s most-watched 3-year-old play? Very focused.
The baby’s very sharp and has a good eye for—believe this—the visual arts around her. Her eye caught a sculpture here, an art object there, always asking what they were. Ramos was so intrigued, we had to remind her that Scarlet Snow has always been a highly stimulated baby.
Her parents, the country’s foremost beauty doctor, Vicki Belo, and Dr. Hayden Kho, have enrolled her in lessons that challenge any tyke, from music, gym, to Mandarin.
She’s now aware when she’s being photographed or video-ed, and sometimes covers her face instinctively.
But otherwise she’s not self-conscious. When she was served ice cream in various flavors, in mini glasses, she started tasting each flavor, and said that she was leaving one glass for the metallic bear in front of her on the table. Then she started spoon-feeding the bear.
She spent the afternoon romping around, playing house, until her dad came.
For the Swatch launch, the country’s top scenographer Gino Gonzales outdid himself, we must admit. To evoke fun and color—the theme of the Fall collection—he decked the hall with mesh tarps, painted in a rainbow of colors. They became undulating hues in a play of light.
Right after Typhoon “Ompong” struck the country, came this rainbow. And Scarlet Snow was right in it. —THELMA S. SAN JUAN
The new Think Fun collection embraces the DNA of Swatch, where colors, shapes and stripes explode in vibrant designs.
Totally trippy Psycadelic is a hypnotic array of colored bars that zigzag across the silicone strap and dial. Sixtease has funky details on the dial and strap that stand out from the black lines that crisscross this model.
Calm like a sea breeze, Azul’Heure features color blocks in pale blue, vibrant purple and orange. Simple, yet somehow so stylish.
Roug’Heure is inspired by that moment the sun dips below the surface of the sea. Sunset shades sizzle across this watch and whisk you away to your favorite beach.
Ment’Heure keeps things minty cool, with a color block style that plays with soft blues and greens, and a splash of yellow just for fun.
Graftic keeps things straight and to the point with a subdued navy blue strap. A multicolored star adds to this watch’s groovy design.
A rainbow prism shines across the strap of Fountain of Colors. Fantastical colors play on the dial as well, where every number is colored in a special shade.
Swatch takes a page from a sticker book and turns it into something more permanent with School Break. A rainbow on the dial goes perfectly with the popcorn on the strap.
Fun childhood memories show up in a big way with Tacoon. Funky and familiar patches that once decorated denim clothes have found their way onto the strap.
Two thumbs up for Streety, an eclectic watch inspired by urban art. Eye-catching drawings on the strap give this watch a bold personality.
With a glow-in-the-dark design, Telefon Maison features a black silicone strap, and the dial is home to a superluminova alien that comes in peace.
White with black or black with white? With Polkapop you can choose a side, and then switch it up whenever you want. This reversible oversized watch is an instant classic.
Popnumber makes self-expression easy with two sides. Flip from white to blue and back again.
Swatch is available at Swatch Shops in SM Megamall, Glorietta 1, Glorietta 4, Greenbelt 5, TriNoma, Alabang Town Center, SM Mall of Asia, SM City North EDSA, SM Southmall, Greenhills V-Mall, Shangri-La Plaza, Robinsons Place Ermita, Sta. Lucia East Grand Mall,
Ayala Center Cebu and
SM City Cebu.
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