Amidst the brave and the beautiful: Project Vanity’s 14th Anniversary Event

Photography by Perkin Gotohio

“Oh, we have one gentleman here,” said Dr. Rica Cruz while looking at me, in the middle of her talk about women sexual empowerment. Taken by surprise, I responded, “Yes! Power to all the women!”

Project Vanity celebrated its 14th Anniversary last August 27 at the Rockwell Club in Makati, and it was an afternoon filled with beauty, stories and most importantly, conversations. Now, in true beauty roundup fashion, I’d like to go through them one by one.

Beauty in saying yes to the quest

Hosted the celebration was journalist Carol Malasig (you may also know her as @almostdiplomatic on Instagram), who kicked off the event by calling on Project Vanity Founder and EIC Liz Lanuzo. After talking about how the pandemic disrupted our lives in so many ways, Liz acknowledged how beauty became a much-needed escape.

Like any other escape, however, there lies the notion of avoiding reality. By using beauty as an escape or distraction, do we reduce the pandemic’s big picture that’s right in front of us? Should we feel guilty about worrying if our makeup is mask-proof? Are we insensitive for using beauty as a coping mechanism?

I hope you answered no to the three questions I just raised. After all, why should we punish ourselves for doing something that comes natural to us? Saying yes to beauty is saying yes to ourselves. Liz also talked about how a video game reminded her that the little quests make the journey more worthwhile and that we should say yes to them. Hmm, I couldn’t help but wonder where I might be today if I didn’t say yes to Liz when she asked me to write for Project Vanity back in 2020.

Stories of resetting reference points

When I saw the speakers for the event, I was even more excited. Executive Coach and Podcast Host Myrza Sison, Mano Amiga Founder and She Talks Asia Co-Founder and CEO Lynn Pinugu, Sex Therapist and Unprude CEO Dr. Rica Cruz? My, what a treat!

Now while I wish I could go through every insight that was shared (I took notes!) through the stories of the speakers, I think it would be best to focus on the common denominator – resetting reference points. With their stories about reinvention, determination, and self-discovery, respectively, the speakers reflected on how they became their own reference points and how doing so allows them to live such brave and beautiful lives.

Myrza Sison

Lynn Pinugu

Dr. Rica Cruz

I learned from Myrza that you can reinvent yourself without losing who you are in the process. You can be this AND that, not this or that. Then, I learned from Lynn that while it’s okay to see something a certain way, it helps to reframe your perspective and go beyond how you usually see things. Finally, I learned from Dr. Rica that to know what you want, you have to open yourself up to opportunities and articulate what you think and feel.

Conversations on being brave and beautiful

Thanks to the booths and snack table, I was able to meet new people and have small talk. Having luckily seated at the speakers’ table, I saw a lot of the guests come up to the speakers to engage in conversations. Being 6’2” allowed me to see guests from afar talk to each other and react to what was happening, such as the BYS Cosmetics makeup demonstration and the Parlon session and games.

The best conversation, however, was the conversation every single person had with their own self. While I don’t know what the personal conversations were, I just know that they were there – evidenced by the questions they asked during the talks, the notes they took down on their phones and planners, and the smiles on their faces.

What was my personal conversation? I asked myself why I was shocked when Dr. Rica pointed out that I was one gentleman in the room. I guess I just didn’t see myself being a gentleman in a room filled with women that afternoon. I saw myself amidst brave and beautiful people. And that’s just what Project Vanity is – a community of brave and beautiful people, a community that reminds you that you always have the power to become.

It was my first Project Vanity Anniversary event, and I’m already looking forward to the next. Happy 14th Anniversary, Project Vanity!

P.S. I still can’t get over how fabulous the loot bag is! So many goodies!