A Debut at the Garden Ballroom ( Sta de Velez's 18th birthday)

Better late than never as the saying goes.  I continue to do my blogs and   posts the events that I should have did way way before.  One of them is the 18th birthday of Sta de Velez. A UST student from Naga City.  I am most appreciative to her mom, ma'am Tess de Velez for giving me this privilege the second time around.

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Yellow and Silver color for a Debutante (Ynah Bassig's 18th birthday)

Ricci Reyes-Ang of R&A Events got in touch with me to refer a coming out party for an 18 hear old lass Ynah Bassig. Sooner than I realized that the parents of Ynah , Sir Nonoy and Ma'am Margot happens to be related to me by affiliations.  The debutante's grandmother from her mother's side happens to be the second cousin of the husband of my physician Aunt (+)  who happens to be the sister of my father. Nope its actually not complicated.  Its just a matter of fast analysis of association. 

Ynah is a student of the Pontifical University of the Philippines or popularly known as UST (University of Santo Tomas).  Ricci have arranged a lunch meeting at Spirals of the  Sofitel Philippine Plaza where the Ynah's celebration will be held.  A simple family but very capable of mounting up an event of such magnitude.  I was to make two attires for Ynah, and dress up the entire family including their very pleasant grandmother.  Sir Nonoy and Ma'am Margot are so busy with their careers and I was endorsed to Ma'am Margot's sister Larisa to be their contact person  and coordinator with the attire concerns.
I am very appreciative of this family as they allowed me to do my proposal design and they took it from there.  No wannabees.  It made my work a lot easier and my appreciation for trusting me 100% with all the designs, styles and even colors.  I chose a combination of yellow and silver for Ynah  and stay away from the tradition debutante color of pink, blush, hot pinks and the likes.

Too bad I realize I was asked by an old friend to stand as one of their principal sponsors.  I would have loved to be present but my first commitment had to be the one and should be attended to as I commit myself to my career.

Come the day of Ynah's celebration day, her suite room was indeed packed with relatives and suppliers alike.  Peter Marquez  Photography and video took charge of the coverage and Cel Sabile was their hair and make-up artist for everyone and Rosie de Vera's Flowers and Foliage provided the floral centerpieces for all the tables at the Visayas Ballroom of Hotel Sofitel. I provided the attire of the entire family and R&A Events specialists was in-charge coordinating the celebration proper.

Me and my entire staff made sure that Ynah had her gala gown worn very well especially her petticoat.  It was time for her to position herself outside the door the ballroom . My staff was making sure that Ynah in her fabulous elaborate skirt in yellow and metallic silver top was well in place.  The door finally opened and off went Ynah walking the aisle as the main celebrant of this event.

The Debutante Diva (Denisse Manalo's 18th Birthday

Doing the final styling of Debutant by Toni Laprena

Nanan Vilalba doing the final make-up touches on  Denissse

 

Denisse with designer Joel Bautista

One of the  privileged celebrant I have ever met.  Denisse  after her high school graduation from Colegio de San Agustin in Makati  is continuing her college education at  the De La Salle University - Manila , my alma mater.  Among the grandest debut celebration I ever had as a debutante-client and witnessed spectacular performances  from the talents and dancers along with the celebrant which opted not to have a traditional cotillon dance number.  Her "fashionista" theme made her outdo herself as she handled and carried out well al the tasks prepared by their choreographer.  What a celebration it has been for a very supportive mom, Ma'm Maricon making sure that everything will be in place along with her meticulous touch with the preparation.  It was very proper to have her thoughts, considerations and dispositions positioned accordingly from which to have and which can do without.  Nevertheless, I'm very certain that it costed Mr. and Mrs. Manalo an arm and a leg to mount this fabulous event.Denisse, though a quiet type of  young lady though deep inside you will feel  the outpouring energy just like a regular youth transforming into a young lady has been thrown out from the safe confinements of her high school alma mater to a wider and more diverse college population and environment.

 Chacha Datu was the event planner in-charge made sure that the entire proceedings was carried out as planned and diligently,  Nanan Villalba did an excellent job on Denisse and her mom's  make-up in tandem with  ace hair-stylist Iwa Ajinomoto.  Sounded like a leading brand of monosodium glutamate but true to its output, Iwa did an excellent job with the hairstyling along with Nanan's  expert  and gifted hands that created the character-celebrant look as a real star Diva  for Denisse.

Rizal Ballroom of the Makati Shangri-la was the venue of this 18th celebration and Ronald Correos of 4th Wall did a fantastic  stage set up comparable to a weekend afternoon's show.  Bravo for the stagre set up along with the styling of the ballroom and its lay-out.  Toni Lapena and his team was the commissioned choreographer and was on top of his craft and was commendable as well.  It was a dream team that even made the event a successful and memorable one. Joel Felizardo was the  emcee-host for the programe and did a good job as well.  As part of the entertainment program, Denisse's mom , aunts and close relatives prepared a modern dance production that created a overwhelming cool reception from the crowd.  Huge efforts has been a pertinent factor for this event.

Weeks before this event Denisse and her dream team all flocked at the Acacia hotel to accomplish her pre-debut shoot.  Inxites Digital Studio headed by John Parado practically spent the whole day till sundown taking charge of the video aspect of Denisse  video footage requirements.  Reaching the topmost level of the Acacia Hotel to their helipad was the last stop for the pre-debut video coverage shoot.

Anthony and Irish Velasco of Shutters of Prey Photography  was not to be left behind as they were always on the go like John and his company from the pre-debut shoot till the day of actual celebration of Denisse 18th birthday or coming out party.  It was a celebration where I as her designer along with my other staff kept a very low profile giving importance and priority to attire changes which she did three times.  A very detailed type of skirt was the style I made for her in shades of pink and hot pink to fuchsia with diagonal multi- pleating and a laser-cut top embellisment to create a very special look and styling for her bodice.

  One of the few debut celebrations where I dedicated my self to full involvement of the event.  I ws supposed to leave after dressing up a celebrant for her march.  But with Denisse event, we were all very patient , waited and miraculously stayed on  for Denisse making sure that all throughout the event , there will never be gown malfunction incident which was given so much attention and diligence. Over-all, Mr. and Mrs. Manalo along with their son Mark had a very successful event that made a permanent mark on their minds that Denisse was very happy and everything turned out very well.
of the few debut celebrations where I dedicated myself to full involvement of the event.  I ws supposed to leave after dressing up a celebrant for her march.  But with Denisse event, we were all very patient , waited and miraculously stayed on  for Denisse making sure that all throughout the event , there will never be gown malfunction incident which was given so much attention and diligence. Over-all, Mr. and Mrs. Manalo along with their son Mark had a very successful event that made a permanent mark on their minds that Denisse was very happy and everything turned out very well.

Beach Wedding and Attire Trashing for US based Couple (Sanchez - Vasquez Wedding)

This is a one year in the making wedding preparation.  Dave and Gladys and their families have migrated to the United States but still chose to tie the knot in the Philippines.  The exact location is in San Juan, Batangas.  Yes! its one of those wedding destinations that I feel so near and yet so far.  San Juan de Nepomuceno Parish was the ceremony venue and Palm Beach in  Brgy. Hugom, after Laiya .  The farthest classy beach resort  in Laiya area as I thought of and  forget about using your mobile phones.  It is such an ordeal to obtain a signal.

Sorry for my Globe mobile number.  Not a bit of a signal.  I hope cell sites have been added or improved at the very least.

David and Gladys arranged for our accommodations the day before their morning event.  Thank God Paulo was there to assist me with driving or was he driving most of the time? Hmmm..... I could hardly recall.

Again, the ever energetic Chacha Datu-Arevalo of Lifestyle Party Planners, was to run this morning event. She would be the reception's host and emcee.

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It pays a lot to be handled by senior suppliers like Chacha the wedding planner, Of course the ever famous Penk Ching of the Pastry bin who did their wedding cake,  Chito Cleofas the Photographer, Danny Catalbas team of hair and make-up artist. Ian Cruz , the wedding videographer likewise impressed me with the on-site-video and Glady's fabulous bridal bouquet by Flowers and beyond.

We arrived on an early evening from a close to a 4 hour drive from Manila. Settled in our assigned rooms , rested for a while and went on to see the bride in her room with her family to check her bridal attire and check the accessories making sure that they are all accounted for.  Iron and steam pressing was  thoroughly

made by my staff making sure that Glady's gown is well pressed for tomorrow's morning wedding.

Unfortunately the rooms assigned to us where not that proximal to Glady's room an it took us some time to reach the suite they were occupying.  Nevertheless we were able to do our task .

The early morning drizzle for a while threatened us that we might be having a wet event but eventually ceased.  Chito and Ian were already there when me and my staff went to Glady's dressing area.  

Gladys wedding gown? Oh my!  Chito had the gown in the body form brought in the rocky areas of the beach for photo shooting and Ian was not to be left behind.

It would take a seasoned photographer to conceptualize that shot and  Ian was at pace.  Soon it was time to dress up the bride.  Her bridal bouquet of cascading Phalaenopsis orchids looked so fresh and eye-catching.

I knew my wedding gown was not far behind. The frou-frou part of the gown was created on top and not the usual skirt.  A traditional a-line skirt with a detachable train.  Customized embroidery with gold threading highlighted the design creating a three-dimensional look.

We had to leave early, the distance from the resort to the Church is not a joke.  But amazingly it was a straight route all the way on smooth asphalt road giving us a swift ride.  The road turning was only a few meters from the church.  The colors were in matted gold  for the mothers and metallic bronzy brown for the entire female entourage as per the couple's choice of color .  

I created a Tuxedo for David using a special pineapple fabric all the way from Aklan.  The design was geometric in inspiration with perforations.  As my supplier describes the design and termed it as "ringue" (ring-ge).  I had it overlay-ed to the tuxedo which made it more interesting and the current tuxedo fashion detail in matted satin piping.  I used a cream- khaki colored wool for the pants which event turned out to create a more classy look. 

David and Gladys' wedding cake by PENK CHING of the Pastry Bin

Like the usual Houdini, me and my staff headed back for Manila a few minutes after Gladys has finally commenced with her bridal March. Chacha was on top with her work doing her job every inch of the way. But I had left.  My work is done anyway and was able to witness the jolly and emotional bridal March from the groom until the bride.

I was on my way home and they all had to go back to the Palm beach resort for the reception.  I learned that the reception party was a big success.  

Wait till I saw the other pictures, the couple was immersed on the beach clad in their wedding attires.  It was a "Thrash the dress" eventuality.  I thought I will be shocked.  But why would I be? I thought Dave and Gladys had a great time with further pictorials with their wet wedding attires.  I just hoped they had it cleaned immediately after the wedding event.  A wonderful couple with a wonderful family.  Nope its not leg pulling time.  My one year of preparation for the attires they required me to do, (complete attires for all the male and female participants) went well.  I couldn't recall any incident of a wardrobe malfunction.  Yes! this was a very successful event.  This wonderful couple are to be remembered for the longest time I could. 

***some pictures captured from David and Glady's site.

  Photography by CHITO CLEOFAS PHOTOGRAPHY

  Video by IAN CRUZ FILMS