MANILA, Philippines?TV host and short film director Pedro ?Joaqui? Valdes says he prefers locally produced shirts and footwear to foreign brands.

Joaqui, 24, is an advocate of Yabang Pinoy, a movement that encourages Filipinos to patronize not only local products but also concepts and ideas.

A quick look at Joaquin?s closet showed tops from known Pinoy shops like Analog Soul, I Love You Store and tailored suits from Exclusively His. The award-winning filmmaker even owns a pair of abaca slippers from Liliw, the footwear capital of Laguna.

Collections

These are my all-time favorite DVDs: ?Shakespeare in Love? by John Madden and ?12 Monkeys? because I?m a Terry Gilliam fan. I?m also a fan of James McAvoy in ?Atonement.?

There was also a phase in my life when I would go home early every Tuesday night to watch HBO?s ?Band of Brothers? series. I followed the series and read the book by Stephen Ambrose.

I used to collect comic books when I was young. This issue of ?The Ultimates,? which I borrowed from a friend, shows Wesley Snipe?s face copied for the character Nick Fury.

Gadgets

My HC1-HDV camera is one of Sony?s first releases. I like it because it?s small and unobtrusive. It?s great for making documentaries.

I also have my trusty point-and-shoot camera, a 7-megapixel Canon.

Memorabilia

For four years, I rowed with the UP dragon boat team. This is my baby. It?s a Grey Owl Paddle. It?s made in Canada.

This is a copy of the screenplay of my next film. It?s called ?Hamog.? It?s a full-length aswang story shot in the Mt. Province.

Clothes

I like wearing locally made T-shirts, like this one from the I Love You Store. I also own a couple of shirts from Analog Soul.

I also bought some stuff during my recent Beijing trip (where he won the Golden Duck Award, Best Short Narrative for ?Bulong? at the 2nd New Beijing International Movie Week). I got a shirt with the Olympics logo and another from the Beijing Film Academy.

This is a suit designed for me by my brother?s girlfriend who works for Exclusively His. It?s very tapered, not too conventional.

I love to wear board shorts when I travel with the show ?100% Pinoy.? I wore this Billabong shirt when I climbed the tallest balete tree in Asia, It?s located in Baler, Quezon.

Footwear

My favorite pair of slippers is made from abaca, and it?s from Liliw, Laguna.

I?m a size 11. This Pumas work well for me. The other pair (Vaiernes) is hand-painted. The Merrell pair is made from asbestos.

E-mail mcruz@inquirer.com.ph