PWAP at the Grand Ballroom of the Hyatt Hotel and Casino Manila

Just came from the party of PAWP held at the Grandballroom of the Hyatt Hotel and Casino Manila. It was a celebration of the association's accomplishments and achievements. As one of the speakers during their last event, I was invited to be part of the celebration of their victory party. Fabulous! All the PAWP members I saw except for Peaches Go whom I learned to have an ongoing family event. I personally met Gem and Mylah, two of their advanced course students whom I had the priveledge to speak on Wedding gowns the last time. I got stucked with them chatting and sharing ideas and experiences on weddings and in the wedding industry. The Hyatt people were very hospitable in showing us around and realize how amazing, modern, and competitive the hotel was.
My congratulations to PWAP for such an event. Indeed, they lived up to their image not just as coordinators but as professional planners as well. I envy them, on a positive note, it will inspire me to help my association and motivate my colleagues and be assured that all objectives we set are beeing achieved.

Immaculate Conception Cathedral Parish

Coming from our wedding service at Mt. Carmel, I asked my driver to take us along the stretch of E. Rodriguez and proceed to the Immaculate Conception Cathedral Parish along Lantana St. in Cubao. I remember that this was the church were my parents got married forty years ago. I saw their wedding pictures back then. Seeing the inside of the Church, I realized it has undergone a big change. A Cathedral status indeed! This is a stunner for wedding couples opting to have an old looking grand altar. The ceiling was detailed with opulence and very impressive. It should definitely be considered for Catholic Weddings in Quezon City.

Simplicity and Beauty ( Manuel - Baluyot Wedding, September 16, 2006 )

Opening the Discovery Suites' 15th floor elevator found us the room of Sheila Baluyot. It was time to dress her up upon entering the room. Eddie Bruan the famed hair & make-up artist in the bridal industry has just finished doing the bride. Ruby Alvarez was both her florist and wedding coordinator. As a designer, I seldom appreciate my work unless someone else compliments me for it. I felt I just outdid my self for the dress' simplicity, clean line and workmanship. No less than the bride's sister who came home from the US to be part of the entourage was impressed on the gown's appeal and elegance.
In my own thoughts, The beauty of the dress does not measure the tons of beadwork that you put on , the length of the train that at times becomes pretentiously grand. Neither the heaviness of embroidery nor the intricacy of details and embellishment can pull of the over-all look of the dress. The fitting was perfect and the length of the dress was right. Sheila looked radiant considering the simplicty of the dress with no illusions. The long stretch of the Mt. Carmel Church march line in New Manila gave her the moment to look her best as she walks down the aisle to the altar.

My Talk on Wedding Gowns

Saturday, September 9 around 3:30 pm was my turn to do the talk for the advance course students in wedding planning organized by the Philippine Association of Wedding Planners (PAWP)held at the EDSA Shangri-la Hotel. I was invited to tackle the topic on Wedding Gowns. It was a small interesting group of students coming from all over the country and one student coming all the way from Guam. These are already certified wedding planners who were committed on learning more about the different facets of wedding planning and coordination.
I even met a former client-bride of mine (Analie Astorga - Motilla) was enrolled on the beginners' group and has decided to take wedding planning a serious matter as well. Even more interesting to note that weddings@work matriarch, Benz Rana has joined the bandwagon. Its so noteworthy to become well rounded in the bridal industry. My congratulations to PAWP headed by JP Montilla, Janice Taccad who took charge of this activity and the entire PAWP members. This association is indeed serious in making a wedding planning and coordinating job a serious profession.

My Area at the Wedding Expo

I just like being at the corner area of the designer's zone. I came out with varied designs from the classic bouffant skirt, to the shapely figured serpentine gown and a beach wedding gown design. The audience turn out were as expected.

After the Wedding Expo.... my Thoughts... my Experience

Just came from the wedding expo over five hours ago. My experience? As always, I have to congratulate Sharon and Dojie Fabian and the entire staff of Themes and Motifs for a job well done. Over-all, they managed to pull it off once again. From NBC tent to the PICC's Forum gave me a bit of comparison and personally, though history at it now , i'd commend the NBC tent's previous wedding expo experiences than this 9th edition with its new home.
Indeed rules were given and had to be followed. I may have requested my assistant Paulo to attend the suppliers' meeting for me but I made sure that I was endorsed thoroughly with what was taken up during the meeting. I was absent only once in all editions of the wedding expo (except the wedding summit also organized by T&M)and I didn't have any unfavorable experience with that. Themes and Motifs are known for their strict implementation of the rules, discipline, and being well organized and I do admire them for that. From the ID cards, to the layout, to the time, etc. I realized that the venue's operations' staff were simply too annoying and has treated us with arrogance and intimidation. I'm such a rationale person. In fact, I do believe that when rules are set, they were meant to be followed and abided. I wouldn't go into details until I'm requested to do so. Moreover, I am firm to believe that only the legitimate T&M personnel should officialy approach us with whatever concerns there is pertinent with the exhibition and never with any of the venue's staff members. Maybe these people does not realize that what we pay our organizers are hard earned financial resources and is not a joke assuming that kind of amount only to be treated with such audacity. Or maybe even by voice paging in the hall, we were adviced about these approaches. I just hate being mistaken for a liar. Some incompetent PICC staff who pretends to be "know it all" creatures!
Indeed I'm upset with the treatment along with some other exhibitors in my zone at least. Even the exit point were so inconsiderately far for us exhibitor suppliers coming from the other end of the venue. I even regret for the major caterer sponsor who wasn't able to serve food for us exhibitors and were just limited to the audience's tasting buds. With the hot humid temperature outside, we were made to walk outside just to get to a place to eat.
Over all, I still congratulated Sharon for all their efforts and success in mounting this exposition. An honest kudos they deserve. As for the venue's pawns, a more friendly approach to us on the next edition. After all, we suppliers are the ones who supports our reputable events organizers to make this activity event a reality as well.
Just one more thought in my mind. I hope the "Weddings@work" of John and Benz will be back at the next WE edition. We sure did miss them.

Onwards to The Wedding Expo

Its wedding expo time again. A new venue for the 9th edition. Its going to be a bigger place at the Forum of the PICC at the CCP complex along Roxas Blvd. We've prepared our exhibit materials and ready for ingress later. Hoping to be at the ingress site at the earliest possible time. Oh no! Its the color coding scheme! I guess I have no choice but to wait. I'm not a risk taker when it comes to rules and regulations. Rules were made to be followed and I have always believed in abiding by it in a system. I guess its part of being rationale as a human being, following rules.....