Cello's donuts whatnots

Sad that my phone churned lowres photos of these goodies. I'm nonetheless happy that I got to bring home *drum rolls please* 30 tasty Cello's donuts from the owner herself. 

I heart her! She's really so nice to me. :)

I'm in Cebu again! Just a couple of minutes ago I was doing a little al fresco chilling with our Cebu folks and we have tomorrow pretty much planned. Bridal fair and work in the day then party by night! I'm staying at Marriott Hotel in Lahug which means... La Marea is just a matter of 15-minutes. Yehaahh!

Jason Magbanua on MBC

I'm on a high. Really.

The Jason Magbanua feature I've been prattling about in my previous entry finally came out in MBC yesterday, and Jason himself liked the feature. THE Jason Magbanua. The man, most girls and I have long been dreaming to be the wedding videographer.

It is in all levels a collaborative effort. A fact that I wouldn't deny myself. I have Ms. Charlene, our copy editor to thank for this praise-worthy article fit for such top-notch character.

J Mag's post in my managing editor's wall. 

PS. Next entry's gonna be about my greatest Baguio trip EVER. :) I still am a little hung over with all the fun that we had that I cannot even upload the photos. lol Later perhaps. Soon as I finish my deadlines and my throat soothes from being sore and my cough allows me to breathe properly.

Ze Manor at Bagyow!

GAWDD! This is where I'm staying in the next few days. Weather is crisp and the view is just spectacular!

Plus this is the only hotel which gives complimentary alcohol to guests. Yeahbaby!!! Not to mention the fact that we're shooting tomorrow with two utlra-talented group of people.

And this guy right here, Chef Billy King. Oh my God! He totally went all out with the meals he prepared for us. I absolutely love him!

 This is us, Vids, Crae and I enjoying the pepper ice cream that capped off our scrumptious dinner :)

Man of the Hour- Jason Magbanua

That's the WE team with the sweetest event stylist Teddy Manuel and our beauty associate, Ate Mica Tuaño. You might notice that Ate Mica's face to be quite familiar, maybe because she also happens to be a model in several billboards and TV commercials. 

Couple of days ago WE were invited to the screening of the 2nd Weddings at Work (WAW) Videofest featuring the life of videographer-extraordinaire THE Jason Magbanua. After the screening, I felt words after words swimming in my head fit for a full-blown entry. The thought of discerning the distinct style of five photographers who were invited to showcase a figment of Jason's life is just mind-blowing. However, my boss wanted me to write a news article for the event. So yeah, my words would have to be reserved for that article. It may come out in the Mar. 31st issue of Celebrations. :p

Here's our photobooth shot courtesy of Baicapture.

It's supposed to be a black-tie affair but since we came from a shoot, we had no choice but to come in a casual attire.Oh well.

Coverage Teaser 2011

I know, it's a hand with a sparkling ring. But this photo is as much that I could post as a teaser on what I'm working on right now. Sorry peeps. The whole array of photos were awesome. Believe me. Everything's so fasyon, I love 'em! And soon as all this is over, I promise, I would dedicate a special entry for the photos under this collection. Because they are just so gorgeous that it would be a crime not spreading them to be appreciated by others!

Although this specific job demands a relatively bigger amount of footwork, I'm readily loving the challenge that goes with it. Officially, this will be my first wedding coverage. Pretty cool right? Coverage, as in I get to write most of the stories about them that would come out in Celebrations. I would be the official blogger for weheartweddings and I'd be doing their wedding of the week feature, which of course is somewhat minor because its like that part of Celebrations is MY section. 

Honestly, I wouldn't say that I'm not even slightly terrified over such great a task, but I'm keeping my head high and my hopes up that everything would be manageable come wedding day.

Wish me luck! 

Cheers to boosting challenges!

Surreal!

Every writer dreams of being published. 

Although, to some,  it's a different dream altogether to be published  in newspaper, much less in the country's leading broadsheet.

And after three years of being in the publishing industry and being out of the loop in the blogosphere, today, I got one of my gazillions of much coveted dreams to come true.

I got published in Manila Bulletin folks! 

Under the newest section called Celebrations, an offshoot of our magazine wherein you'd find spoils, features, real-life stories and announcements about debuts, weddings, anniversaries and pretty much any milestone that's worth celebrating. Our maiden issue came out today, and I must say it turned out quite good. All the birth pains and the intolerable drama we had the other day was all worth it!

Now you guys, I know this is shamelessly plugging my publication but if it's not to much to ask; please make it a habit to grab a copy of MB every week, especially on Thursdays. Better if you do it everyday though. :p 

The feeling is just so surreal, I can't write properly. HAHA

first page

I wrote On the Spot and Wedding of the Week

Special thanks to Jun Sunga for that sweet thank you message, to Marky Cantalejo for calling me a star and to Gideon Hermosa for telling us that we're awesome. :)

Cebu's Pride

Couple of months ago, we went to Cebu for our magazine's launch and for a setup shoot. That's the time I first met this young Cebuano photographer who caught my eye because his features pretty much resemble that of my graphic artist friend who I call my babe.

I do remember sitting opposite him as I assess his face, I told myself "he kinda looks like a rookie." Banal pre-prod meeting went on as I continued to observe his gestures and listened to his response to the queries being shot at him left and right, he sounded unhesitating and indisputable. Snooty! I recall myself thinking.

We shook hands, bid goodbyes and headed to our rooms. Little did we know, this guy whom I thoughtlessly tried to read will become one of my coolest chums in the industry. Notwithstanding our distance, as he's Cebu based. We managed to keep in touch, crack jokes, reminisce moments and plan some more, all thanks to God's gift to mankind called social media.

Fast forward to yesterday, I snagged a deal with him. Two fabulous portrait shoots when we go back to Cebu this March for a very simple favor that we gave him.

Presenting.
The itsy-bitsy favor.
The works of my future wedding photographer slash friend Marky Cantalejo on Wedding Essentials magazine's January to June issue.

Apart from the Chinese supplement which I've worked on this issue, I would have to say this would be my second favorite. Partly because he did the photos and I did the text,  (LOL) but mainly because it's so regal and velvety.

I think this guy is really bound to go places. So just before you get rich my friend, do our portraits and do swear to give us discounts once we book you to be our wedding photographer. HAHA

XOXO

360-marky

Don't forget to drop by his site for more of his brilliant works. :p 

http://www.markcantalejo.net

WE13 Charlene Almarvez

Since the online universe, and probably other mediums out there had been buzzing about Danica Magpantay bagging the Ford Supermodel of the World title last Saturday in New York. Which if I may stress, is absolutely momentous, the first for Filipinos since time immemorial.

Allow me to post our January to June issue cover girl.

Say hello to the 17-year-old Charlene Almarvez, 1st Runner Up Ford Supermodel of the World 2010 gracing the covers of Wedding Essentials Magazine's 13th issue.

High fashion at its best!

Life's goooooddd

Whenever I've less than P500 bucks on my wallet or if I can't eat what I'm craving for at once. Or at times if some hideous trick of fate is at play, I tend to forget how good life's been to me for the past 23 years.

Good enough to a point that it didn't spoil me. 
Good enough for me to discover the taste of success and the bitterness of losing.
Good enough to make me remember that the world does not revolve around me.

Course I more than once got an ounce better than what I'm asking for. However, there are those lean moments of my life when I felt like fate plainly turned its back on me. And it were those periods in between abundance and scarcity that shaped my perspectives and motivations in a more stern and wise level. It didn't exactly made me fit the bill for a perfect person, but I can say I pretty much came close to the ascribed perfection. Most humble, appreciative and persistently thriving during  instances of unfathomable discomfort.

I guess what I'm really trying to get my head around to but cannot seem to do so is the fact that I feel so fantastic knowing that contrary to what's been planned, I won't go out of town a couple of days before Christmas!!!!! Thank you Universe. Which only means one thing:


I. CAN. FINALLY. SET. A. CHRISTMAS. SHOPPING. DATE. WITH. MY. MOM.

To me that's helllaaaa radddddd! :D YAYYYYYY!!!!

Life's totalllyyyy good. 

Although I still can't get over the fact that our trips would start end of January or 1st week of February next year. Must diet for the much-awaited epic Boracay experience with the WE team!! ♥♥♥

Thunderbird sure looks captivating but its magnificence only falls second to Boracay.  Aaaaand the excitement lives on. Rah-rah-rah!

Sneak Peek #1

Bonjour my dear readers from Philadelphia, Alabama and Germany!♥♥♥

Knowing that I've readers from around the globe just revs up my senses to blog some more shit and nonsense :p

After weeks of constant tumblr-blogging, blogger's interface suddenly looked strange. Or was it just me? Ultimately what made me turn to tumblr would have to be their incredible interface. Just one button and you can reblog an entry and its source. Hit another button and you can like, perhaps a photo, and have them compiled under your 'liked posts.' Tumblr is just so amazing and user-friendly that I can't believe I'm starting to see myself riding into the whole tumblr bandwagon.

'nuff tumblr lauding. :)

I've been so preoccupied overseeing the layout of the next ish that I haven't really got the time to sit-down, and to blog of something decent. And I tell you, this entry is no different. :D

Just some morsels of photos of my favorite features on the mag which I can't hardly wait till the ish' release to reveal. :)



PINK!!!!!

*Photos courtesy of Jeff and Lisa Photography

Bohol outtakes

Much as I want to unveil to the entire online universe the bunch of photos we've had from our fantastic week-long Visayan escapade, I can't. Sucks right? I know.

Just to cure this itch, here are a few outtakes.

Overeating: guilty or innocent?

dessert table's filled-to-the-brim

Guten tag my dear readers from everywhere!

I'm writing not with words dancing in my head, but vivid pictures and appealing after-taste thoughts of souffles, macarons, meringues, chocolate truffles, tarts, flowing fondues, creme layers and luscious mini cakes. These lip-smacking visualizations I still kittenishly conjure to myself three days after the food tasting I engaged in.

You should have seen how flippant and mad I got with the mere sight of their French dessert table!

Needless to say, I unquestionably heart sweets.

Just peering at the goodies made my heart skip a beat that I thought of raiding the table pronto! The epiphany was nothing I ever thought of soon as I nibbled on them. It was practically heaven in a tiny bit of sugar-coated treat. 

A sweet tooth, that I am.

Chewing over each ones' caloric and sugar content ensued after a mouth-full of truffles and fruits dipped in chocolate fondues. Yet no feeling of remorse came to light. It was a rather pleasant surprise how I comfortably paid no heed to that emerging guilt.

Truth is, it's all fattening. I knew it, who doesn't? Chocolates simply equate to fats over sugar, but I just didn't really have the heart to care that very second. 

Well, If I can just defend myself from that utter sinfulness, I do remember my trainer telling me that I could still eat everything, provided that I take them in moderation. Yes. That was just a one time feast. Nothing entirely major to be conscious about.

I mean. If you like eating and you were given that precious privilege to do so, will you turn your back from it? I bet not. 

PS. A perfect reflection how I often give in to the dark side and defend my choices afterwards. Nuts right? More photos to follow.

Nicole Hyala!

Emmylou, better known as Nicole Hyala and I

In line with our 3rd year anniversary, I am sharing my one-of-a-kind present to my boyfriend.

Because he finds her very entertaining and witty, I decided to be bold enough to ask for a photo-op with Nicole Hyala during our Beautiful Weddings event last October 13; where she happened to be one of the few couples who got a personalized BW cover.

Good thing she was kind enough to accommodate yours truly. Thank you Nicole Hyala! :)

Anyways, do check out our Nicole Hyala Special edition cover, available in all Filbars outlet.

Happy 36th month with you my love! ♥♥♥

Two things

Have you ever experienced hearing so bad a news that caused you to brood about it overnight?

Well, I did.

Wedding hues to choose

Feasting my eyes over these lovely wedding color palettes at Martha Stewart's page.
In no particular order of favoritism, I present to you the ones I feel like I can actually use for my own wedding... two years from now, LOL!

Lilac and Brown