Engineers on the March ( Jallorina - Macutay Wedding, May 26, 2007)

It was a gloomy day passing thru the skyway of the SLEX enroute to Bellevue Hotel. But not for Erwin and Sabrina who's up to exchanging their wedding vows today. I think the weather was just fine, breezy and not humid. A bit of drizzling though but not enough to give us inconveniences. As the saying goes "lots of blessings when it rains". Two hours before her wedding march, we arrived at room 1014 where Sab was dressing . To our surprise she was already dressed up. We noticed the petticoat dislocation and requested that my staff fix the fitting. Ariel Javelosa Photography, Tropical Blooms for the flowers, Eddie Bruan for the bride and her entourage's hair and make-up and Events Experts team headed by Jody Liwanag to run the entire event was her pool of suppliers working side by side ensuring the swift undertaking from the hotel to the church and onwards to the reception.

Erwin and Sabrina are exchanging vows at the Greenhills Fellowship Church in Alabang and Alabang Country Club for the reception. Bernie Pasamba was providing the musical score of the ceremony. Of course we were with her till her landing on the church's doorstep prior to marching taking care her final look. I'ved felt Sabrina's sincere appreciation of my our work in her wedding gown along with her entourage's dresses as well as the mom's.


Erwin and Sab are such easy couple to work with. At the end of the day, its not always about the amount of money that you gained but the expression of appreciation and satisfaction for your efforts and creativity.

I do, EDSA Shangri-la's Bridal Fair for 2007

A Chinese theme bridal fair last May 4 and 5 at the Isla Ballroom of the Edsa-Shangri-la Hotel. May 4, Friday was Wedding Essentials Night. A bridal gala fashion show featured some members of Fashion by the Wedding Designers of the Philippines and new designers. FWDP's bridal participation comprised of members namely: Joel Bautista, Jerome Ang, Susie Bonaobra, Edwin Uy, Carmen Lazaro, Michelle Lim and Randall Solomon. I was interviewed by RPN-9's Mister Fu segment in behalf of the association which aired on a tuesday evening and a wednesday early evening segment of the news. May 5, Saturday, Bridal Fair opened to the public with FWDP doing some talks on Wedding trends.

A Wedding in Retrospect (Gaisano - Javier Wedding, September 2005, Sacred Heart Church)

I remember a few months back, I received a text saying "hello" and asking how I'ved been. The number did not register on my mobile phone's caller ID. It was a surprise and nice to hear from Jhezarie once again. A former bride client even before I started blogging. Jhezarie was Bb. Pilipinas-International 2005 and became the first
Miss Asean held in Jakarta the year after her local reign. She got married to Henry, a businessman of a well known family from Cebu. Of course I made her wedding gown and flew to Cebu to assist her with preparations on that day. Together with Jackie Rivera, her chosen hair and make-up artist we arrive on an early morning flight and
immediately proceeded to Waterfront Hotel where we were staying. We freshened up first upon getting to our rooms then buffet breakfast was served and then proceed to the Gaisano's mansion where the bride was dressing up. It was one of those high profiled weddings with principal sponsors composed of business tycoons, political celebrities, etc. I was even surprised to see Tina Lirag of New Yorker as one of the guests along with Ms. Rosemarie "Baby" Arenas. I knew I also noticed Ms. Viviane Yuchengco of the RCBC group as one of the principal sponsors. The wedding rites took place at the Sacred Heart Church.


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A Grand Antipolo Wedding Event (Gatlabayan - de la Rosa Wedding, April 19, 2007)

Who wouldn't recognize these two families from Antipolo City coming famous political hiearchies of this city famous for its cashew nuts and "suman". Joemel and Rowena has decided to tie the knot on a Thursday at the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Voyage (Nuestra Sra. de La Paz), The city's most famous cathedral.























The family of Sir Joven and Madam Mel have been close to me. A very close friend of theirs, Rico Pinlac have been instrumental with my acquaintance and eventual closeness with the family. The sincerity and warmness of their hearts have drawn me closer to them and has been proven twice in a row without doubts and uncertainties. My appreciation and gratefullness for their continous trust in me.
The scorging heat was beginning to take on all of us but their chosen suppliers came in full force making sure that the wedding preparations was well undertaken. Jackie Rivera was in-charge for the hair and make-up of about 10 female entourage including the bride and groom's female family members and a principal sponsor, No less than Rosie de Vera of Flowers and Foliage was around making sure that all floral requirements were being made accordingly from the church to the entourage to the reception venue at Jamesville Resort and hotel owned by the groom's uncle, the incumbent mayor of the city. Irma Yu of Celebrations Cake was likewise in sight to facilitate the setting up of the moroccan inspired wedding cake she designed for the couple. Jorge's Portrait was comissioned to do the wedding photography and videography. Preparation was indeed tough for a reception event with close to a thousand guests. A successful event indeed!

SHOW PROPER: Grand Allure Collection, Philippine Fashion Week 2007

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It took me weeks to conceptualize, design, create this collection for the Philippine Fashion Week 2007. It was a great experience week for me. The day of the show itself saw us bringing in the collections at 3:10pm. Models and hair and make-up artists were busy preparing the models for the 4:00pm show of Triumph fashions. We headed straight to the backstage to keep my collections in place.
My three assistants, Glecy, Mercy and Paulo all got the dresses inside the small and
packed dressing rooms. I noticed that some designers are still having their gowns fitted by the models. We're 21 designers all in all for the evening's show. Their assistants were ironing, steam pressing, refurbishing their collections. What a busy sight!
I knew I came in prepared. We were very relaxed (Edwin, Susie, Dennis, Jerome of FWDP) while anticipating for the show to begin. I had to go back to the office for a while to prepare some more things needed for the show and making sure that all my staff gets the priviledge to watch the show and see the fruits of their labor. By 6pm I was back in the tent to wait for dressing time and for the show to begin. It was a big event and excitement for us FWDP members. The show was well presented, flawless without glitches. Comments I received was that as a whole, all the collections were ok. Over-all it was a successful show with dignitaries, celebrities, models, junior and senior designers both foreign and locals around and most of all our invited clients. The hair and make-up team comprised of Jackie Rivera who did the fabulous hair-styles of the models creating a one-look appearance, Jinky Ilusorio, Marlon Suarez et al. Raymond Villanueva was the formidable director for the show. The models who wore my collections comprised of Ornusa Cadness, Paulette Quinto, Michelle Panemanglor, Jasmine Maierhofer, Mia Ayesa, Ava Abejar, Rowena Rebosano, Chrisel, Melissa Frye and Gionna Cabrera. The ever pleasant Sao Salinda was the coordinator for the designers with Producers Audie Espino and Joey Espino of Runway Productions as the heads.

A Wedding March in March (Manlapig - Bolisay Wedding, March 24, 2007)

Almabelle and Stephen both based in Singapore came home for their wedding. Exchange of vows at the St. John Bosco Parish and the reception which followed at the Peninsula Manila. Arriving two and a half hours before the ceremony, Almabelle dressed up exactly two hours before marching time. The bridal suite which appeared like connecting rooms to me was an ideal place for the bride's preparation area. The second team of John Ong of Imagine Nation was doing the photography and videography I guess. Likewise, the second team of Madge Lejano's make-up studio was present for the hair and make-up preparations. It was a relaxed afternoon for Almabelle and not a bit showing of intensity nor stress from excitement. The bride's mom was with us relaxed and jolly and appreciated the well-fitted gown we made for her. She stood out on that occassion. I'm very certain.
At the church upon our arrival, we were greeted by the ever diplomatic and smiling Father of the groom. I think we did everything as requested by the nice and wonderful bride. The groom was likewise levelled, cordial and pleasant. There was just an overwhelming insistence on the mother of the groom's concerns about the female entourage designs and level of contentment. The issue of attire decency was on its peak. The good-natured bride just went on managing the situation along with the mother of the groom's persistence. No I don't feel sorry for Almabelle. I admire Almabelle's maturity and understanding. As they say, "its poise under pressure" . I thought it will be an ordeal with the mother of the bride as the usual circumstance. It turned out to be the other way around. It was manageable anyhow. My best wishes to the couple! CHEERS!

Fitting Time, Philippine Fashion week 2007

March 21, 2007, Wednesday, 1:00 pm 7th Floor, Manansala Towers, Rockwell Center, Makati City. Fitting schedule for my collection for the fashion week. There were were too many people during this time. Designers, designer assistants, models, organizers were all in one hall. Seasoned models are wearing my collections. Its not yet finished. My clothes were in to a lot of adjustments. Manageable on our end. We'll just have to wait till the day of the event to see the final look of the dresses on the models complete with shoes and accessories. I'm providing all the shoes and accessories for these ten tall ladies in shoe sizes 9 and 10 only for towering heights of 5'10 and 5'11 only!