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.