Archive for March, 2009:

PERFECT TIMING

10 Comments · Mar 20 2009

I dont know where to begin….

Ive been too busy lately and so many things are going on. Combine this with the fact that I don’t really know how to blog and not to mention that i don’t really write well, so after 5 months I am finally writing this down…

I promised myself that Mimi Abesamis would be the first bride to be feautured in our new Blog. Why? Why not? Mimi is not just a wedding supplier. She is the other half of the tandem behind Mimi + Karl (Fotogra). They have photographed a hundred-or-so weddings, and have worked with many makeup artists. This was the reason why I was so thrilled, the mere fact that they chose me to do their wedding has left me overwhelmed. That’s SOMETHING! That’s BIG! Nothing beats the pressure of working with another supplier who’s seen it all & shot them all. So the trust they have given me — Well, it feels like I have just won an award. (I’m just adding more hype so I can write a long post, but in truth they chose me because we’re friends….. HAHAHA!)

Last week Mimi handed over to me the CD of their wedding pics… and I was like “DIOS MIO, HOW AND WHEN WILL I EVER BLOG THIS?” So Eto na!! (Here it is!) ….. I am so proud that Mimi + Karl”s wedding was featured in the latest issue of Martha Stewart Weddings… and this is what I call PERFECT TIMING, indeed. Hurry and Grab your copy!

some wedding pictures from Jill Lejano

at the reception

SCANNED PICS FROM MARTHA STEWART MAGAZINE PHIL

Talk about the PERFECT TIMING???? After reading their feature, turn the page to see the latest work by Felicity Son (Hair) & Xeng Zulueta (Makeup)…. IN FULL BLOOM

MIMI + KARL NUPTIAL

Makeup: Madge Lejano

Hair: Aaron Lejarde

Groom’s Hair: Steve Pagsanjan

Photographers: Jill Lejano & Jake Versoza

Gown & Suit: Veluz

Event Stylist: Ted Manuel

Wedding Planner: Amanda Tirol

Ceremony: Elizalde Private Beach Resort

Reception: Discovery Shores

MARTHA STEWART

Hair: FELICITY SON

Makeup: XENG ZULUETA

Photo: PAOLO PINEDA

Magazines, Weddings

ERASERHEADS: The Final Set

17 Comments · Mar 17 2009

We saw. We airbrushed. We conquered.

We were part of history. Only after the concert did we fully comprehend the throves of people that watched the show. Bong (Threelogy) had awesome pics on Facebook, panoramic shots of the crowd, complete with the awesome fireworks display. But the view from the front of the house wasn’t bad either. Madge and I were scuttling back and forth from Ely Buendia and Raimund Marasigan’s dressing rooms for pre-concert, intermission and post-concert down time. At one point Madge couldn’t find her airbrush gun amongst our stuff apart from being stuck in Raimund’s dressing room when fans decided to mob them for autographs. It was a great experience and all thanks to respected and esteemed director Juno Oebanda (our backstage photog also) for hooking us up with Diane Ventura, Eraserheads’ producer and manager. This was truly one of the highlights of our lives.

FINISHING TOUCHES ON ELY

ELY CHECKING HIMSELF OUT

RAIMUND GETTING AIRBRUSHED

SAY Eeeeeee!

Direk Juno, Ely & Diane

SHOW TIME

AFTER PARTY WITH ELY

AT THE AFTER PARTY W/ MARCUS & BUDDY (Mimi & Karl are there too in the back!)

Backstage photog: Direk Juno

Showtime photog: Madge Lejano

After party photog: Dino Lara

Got this from Gia Lara’s Blog (Dino Lara’s Sister) www.passionistta.com

Eraserheads - This band’s music made such a big impact in the Philippine music industry. It is wrong to say that they were just a band. It is unfair to say that their songs were merely, just songs. The Eraserheads, although they disbanded years ago, still affects people with their timeless music.

On March 7, 2009, the Eraserheads came together again to perform their much-awaited “Final Set”. For what seemed like the longest intermission since their reunion concert last year was cut short due an unforeseen circumstance, the Final Set was carefully planned and organized to make it as memorable as possible.

Indeed, it was memorable. It was immensely satisfying knowing that they weren’t really great playing live when they were still together. And they knew that. On an interview before the concert, they said they will try their hardest to perform like never before. They surely did. Ely, Buddy, Marcus and Raimund have grown and their individual pursuits amplified their skills resulting in a masterfully refined performance. If I’m not mistaken, I believe they laced some of their songs with very subtle mixes of techno (almost Daft Punk), Strawberry Fields Forever by the Beatles, Jump by Van Halen and With or Without You by U2. Apart from that, the Final Set had fireworks, pyros, confetti and a piano set on fire. These surprises were perfectly executed and I love that they were beyond our greatest expectations. And as if the surprises weren’t enough, they came back to perform three more songs when people thought the concert was over (in fact some were already outside the concert grounds).

From tasteful renditions of songs, a pink Hello Kitty guitar to sneakers, guitar picks, drumsticks thrown about, and personal pictures and videos taken, we all went home swelling with pride. I wished the people sang more and jumped more, but I guess at this day and age of blogs and Youtube, people are so into recording moments. My brother, who is the biggest Eraserheads fan I know, beamed like a kid on Christmas day. I’m actually thankful he was that addicted to the band because I didn’t have to review the songs since Eraserheads music was like air in our house. I really believe in the importance of doing your homework in knowing at least most of the songs, that way you’ll notice the slightest changes and the real effort of such geniuses in putting on an epic show. Actually, even noticing the inevitable disorientation and forgetting lyrics, it is all part of the show. The band is composed of humans after all. It adds to fun and makes you chuckle. To me, this is one of the best concerts I have been to.

More than just a concert, it was a celebration of great Filipino music. We also paid tribute to our master rapper, Francis M. who died days before the event. At one part of the concert, we shouted his name and sang the chorus of his extraordinary song Kaleidoscope World while waving our hands in the air. Hence, Tribute 3.0’s kaleidoscope design. Here’s to genuinely passionate artists. Thanks for giving us walang humpay na Ligaya (never-ending happiness) through your music.

Notes:
Photos by Dino Lara and Madge Lejano

News, Non-weddings, What We Are Loving Now

KRISTA RANILLO IS MAXIM’s MARCH COVER GIRL

2 Comments · Mar 15 2009

Photographer: DOC MARLON

Styled by: TON LAO

Designer: TINA DANIAC

Hair by: Joel Estrelles assisted by Angel Salian (The Makeup Studio)

Make-up by: Xeng Zulueta

Magazines

THE FIRST CANON 5D WEDDING

1 Comment · Mar 13 2009

This was meant to be.

Sometime back in January, I answered an overseas call from the U.S. It was an inquiry for wedding hair and makeup rates for an upcoming wedding in Aquatico resort in Batangas. Despite her American twang, I was quite sure that the caller was Filipino. Email addresses were exchanged and soon after, Irene (the bride) booked me for the said wedding. 3 weeks go by and I get a text message from one of the mangoRED boys claiming to be part of an upcoming all-star “dream-team” wedding alongside Jason Magbanua & Threelogy in Batangas. The message seemed cryptic but after much sleuthing, I managed to put the pieces together. The wedding party arrived in Manila and preparations were in full swing. I didn’t even have to prod to confirm that the Dino Lara was their photographer of choice. Not only Dino, Jason, mangoRed and Threelogy were going to be part of this, throw in Bob Nicolas and the Mayad Studios Team as well. This was going to be “kick-ass” as Mr. Lara would tell David (the groom) later on.

Madge and I were in disbelief as we sat in the car en route to the venue and were making like a bunch of giddy teen-aged girls. In between high-fives, we couldn’t believe how everything was coming together and most importantly, we didn’t expect to be part of something this big. Goes to show that we are simply where we are supposed to be and extremely blessed to be given the opportunity to work with the wedding industry’s greats. I kept telling Madge how I lucked out on this one, and I found out that Irene got my name from a good friend in Malaysia who in turn got my name from Ruffa Gutierrez. This is a case where random is not as random as it seems. We’re all connected in some way, reducing the world to less degrees of separation.

This feat could not have been pulled off without our day coordinator, Chinkie Uy-Agregado. Hats off to her for winging this, to think she had NO prior knowledge or involvement in the wedding itself. This may not happen again so thanks to Irene & David for hiring us.

We are more than glad and grateful to be of service.

Xeng & Madge

An all 5D Wedding Video Shoot and Same Day Edit: Irene and David from Jason Magbanua on Vimeo.

Photo & Video:

Dino Lara

Bob Nicolas

Jason Magbanua

mangoRED

Mayad Studios

Threelogy

News, Weddings

WEDDING EXPO PHILIPPINES

0 Comments · Mar 06 2009

AN EXCLUSIVE PROMO AWAITS THOSE WHO WILL BE BOOKING US AT THE FAIR: OUR BRIDAL PACKAGE OF P28,000 WILL BE YOURS AT ONLY P25,000! COME SEE US IN PERSON TO FIND OUT WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE.

SEE YOU ALL THIS WEEKEND!!!

WHO: wedding suppliers from all over the Philippines

WHAT: the grandest, most prestigious, most comprehensive, and longest running wedding fair in the country

WHEN: March 7 - 8, 2009

WHERE: PICC Forum, CCP Complex

AN EXCLUSIVE PROMO AWAITS THOSE WHO WILL BE BOOKING US AT THE FAIR: OUR BRIDAL PACKAGE OF P28,000 WILL BE YOURS AT ONLY P25,000! COME SEE US IN PERSON TO FIND OUT WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE.

News