Role MODELS


On JP: Maine New England yellow striped polo shirt, Red Herring blue V-neck knit & black Red Herring jeans. On Anna: frill detail cardigan over rose print cardigan, both by Julien Macdonald, & Ben De Lisi matte satin fit flare skirt. On Miggy: V-neck mock knitwear over roll sleeve shirt & boys chino, all by Jasper Jeans Boyswear. On Isabel: spot cardigan over Peter Pan collar tee, & basic legging, all by Bluezoo.

THEY lived an active and well-rounded lifestyle when they were single. They’re still living it today as a married couple. Maybe they are fated to meet, marry and mold children who will live in the same “tradition.” And it happened. It’s quite evident whom their kids take after in looks and character. The apples don’t fall far from the tree.

Jose Nicolas O. Pacheco was a college sportsman, and he was good at it. He led his peers to victory as team captain and bagged the MVP trophy during his stint as a cager in Colegio de San Juan de Letran. He shifted to coaching and pioneered sports programs and clinics around the country. He’s still doing it today.

Few may have known but this athlete also scored high in the field of fashion, he was once Inno Sotto’s image model and endorser.

JP met his match in Annalea Borlongan, the school cheerleader from the same university who was equally as active in the sports arena. She was a member of a competitive rowing team, a mountain climber and a surfer during her younger years.

The outstanding athlete was a crowd standout as well. The pretty face wasn’t hard to miss, a talent scout spotted her and soon enough her face was on the pages of magazines, billboards and television commercials.


Out on a date. On Anna: Star by Julien Macdonald snake print 70’s dress, Star by Julien Macdonald Clutch & Red Herring peep toe shoes. On JP: Mantaray distressed stripe polo, John Rocha cord jacket & Red Herring slim chino.


Fate intervened and then came their beautiful kids, Jose Miguel and Aaliyah Isabel. It wasn’t long until the two offspring joined the parents as young sportsmen and models. The stints became a family affair. The Pachecos was the featured “family” in one of the country’s respected real estate developers’ advertising campaign.

By 2006, the family moved to Davao and took their positions in the family-owned business, JP as the manager to the rubber plantation and Anna works in the finance department while managing a shoe store they recently opened. The kids, Jose Miguel, 9, is in Grade 3, and Aaliyah Isabel, 8, is in Grade 2 at the Ateneo de Davao.


On Isabel: Bluezoo heart print cardigan over Jasper Conran bow short sleeve top, & Jasper Conran spot tutu skirt. On Miggy: Jasper Jeans for boys V-neck mock knitwear, Bluezoo stripe collar polo & Jasper Conran boyswear long line short. 

On Isabel: Cat cardigan over short sleeve top & belted kilt skirt, all by Bluezoo.

On Miggy: boys blazer over stripe layer long sleeve top, both by Jasper Jeans for Boys, & Bluezoo basic jean. On JP: Mantaray Y-neck striped knit and orange polo shirt & Redherring carrot pants.

Family, career and fashion, get to know the role models and their kids a little more as Debenhams styles up the Pachecos, a family that best exemplifies the Debenhams life and style.

What transpires during the working day?

JP: I usually wake up at 5 a.m. and be out in the field by 6 a.m. to check on the farm. After lunch, it’s paperwork at the office or meetings with the workers.

Anna: I’m more of a hands-on mom. When the kids are off to school that’s when I work. I make sure I’m done with office work by the time the kids are back from school for their tutorial. And after the kids have settled down, I check the store in the mall.

What are the weekends and holidays like?

JP: The family works out at the gym in the morning. I do my cardio and machine workout, Anna does her yoga and cardio workout, Miggy in his karate class, and Isabel in her Jazz class.

In the afternoon, it’s either biking, rollerblading or swimming. It depends on what the kids want. This is bonding time for us.

Anna: Sundays are very special for us. We hear Mass in the morning, then lunch and dinner with the entire clan. We always look forward to the weekly gathering.

JP: For long breaks, we go to Bantayan Island in Cebu where the family owns a resort, and see my mom who runs it. Sometimes it’s the entire family who decides where the clan goes for the holidays.


On Anna: Collection funnel neck jacket over Maine short sleeve stripe crew top, & Julien Macdonald popper detail legging. On Miggy: boys blazer over stripe layer long sleeve top, both by Jasper Jeans for Boys, & Bluezoo basic jeans.


Your kids seem to have inherited your knack for sports. Did you pass on the fashion savvy genes as well?

JP: I will let Anna answer that.

Anna: Let’s just say the kids know what they want. They are free to choose which clothes they want to wear (as long as it’s proper for the occasion) or need to purchase, with our approval of course.

Miggy likes blue and has a preference for jackets and loafers. Isabel loves yellow and dresses and has an attraction to heeled shoes. The kids love the Debenhams clothes they are wearing now.

Miggy: I like the blue jacket and my favorite is the long-sleeved t-shirt with the jogging pants.

Isabel: I like all the dresses. They are pretty.


On Miggy: Jasper Conran raglan sleeve long sleeve top & Bluezoo V-neck knitwear. On JP: Red Herring V-neck purple knitwear over Maine New England green polo shirt, Red Herring slim chino, & Red Herring nylon traveling bag.

On Anna: Collection sheer ruffle top, Principles by Ben de Lisi Striped Cotton Skirt, Collection bag & belt. 
On Isabel: Bluezoo stripe dress with bows.


What is your personal style? What defines it?

JP: I am more of a casual guy. I like to wear cargo shorts and plain shirt of any color that fits right and comfortable. Working in a plantation, these rugged and outdoor collections of Mantaray and Red Herring will work best for me.

Anna: Anything comfortable but elegant.


On Anna: Collection stretch stripe V-neck jumper top, Principles by Ben de Lisi Sunray Pleat Dress, Collection Pretty Twiggy bag & Red Herring peep toe shoes.


Your style influence?

JP & Anna: Inno Sotto. We like his simplicity and elegance.

Are you still in touch with him?

JP: Yes. We’ve managed to stay in touch and be good friends. He’s Miggy’s godfather.

Are you trendy or conventional?

JP & Anna: I guess it’s mixed. We may have the preference for the basics but we’re not afraid to try new things. Comfort will always top the list.

Anna: Take these clothes for instance, they are very comfortable and the lines are minimal, the silhouette sleek and stylish. What I like best about the collection is I can mix and match the individual pieces and come up with a different look each time. These work for me, for all of us.

Located at the ground floor of Abreeza Mall, Debenhams is styling up Davao. Rustan Specialty Concepts, Inc. (RSCI) is the official franchise holder of Debenhams in the Philippines.

Shot on location at the Marco Polo Davao.

Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on November 20, 2011.






More stories.....


The Pachecos, in life & in style.
Mindanao Times on November 24, 2011.


A family affair. JP in Mantaray Y-neck striped knit over an orange polo shirt, Red Herring carrot pants. On Isabel, Cat cardigan over short sleeve top & belted kilt skirt, all by Bluezoo. Anna in Collection funnel neck jacket over Maine short sleeve stripe crew top & Julien Macdonald popper detail legging. On Miggy: boys blazer over stripe layer long sleeve top, both by Jasper Jeans for Boys, & Bluezoo basic jean.


Style is in the genes.



All in the family. On JP: Maine New England yellow striped polo shirt, Red Herring blue V-neck knit, black Red Herring jeans. On Anna: Frill detail cardigan over rose print cardigan, both by Julien Macdonald, & Ben De Lisi matte satin fit flare skirt. On Miggy: V-neck mock knitwear, roll sleeve shirt & chino, all by Jasper Jeans boyswear. On Isabel: Spot cardigan, Peter Pan collar tee, basic legging, all by Bluezoo. 


Crimson charm. On Anna: Collection funnel neck jacket, Maine short sleeve stripe crew top, Julien Macdonald popper detail legging. On Isabel: Cool short sleeve pop, Cat cardigan, belted kilt skirt, all by Bluezoo.



Style is in the genes.




A family affair. On Anna: Collection stretch stripe V-neck jumper top, Principles by Ben de Lisi Sunray Pleat dress, Collection Pretty Twiggy bag, Red Herring peep toe shoes. On Isabel: Bluezoo heart print cardigan, Jasper Conran spot tutu skirt. On JP: Red Herring dark red brushed hood long sleeve shirt, Maine New England red mock vee tee, Red Herring carrot pants. On Miggy: Jasper Jeans for boys V-neck mock knitwear, Bluezoo stripe collar polo & Jasper Conran boyswear long line short.

She loves to dance. On Isabel: spot cardigan, Peter Pan collar tee & basic legging, all by Bluezoo.

 Like father, like son. On Miggy: V-neck mock knitwear over roll sleeve shirt & boys chino, all by Jasper Jeans boyswear. On JP: Maine New England yellow striped polo shirt, Red Herring blue V-neck knit & black Red Herring jeans.