Joyfully Yours

On the morning of June 19 (Tuesday), my boss sent me a text that I'm attending Miss World Philippines Gala Night. I have attended a lot of gala nights with my previous job but I've never expected that I'll be attending a pageant's gala night.


That night, I wasn't wearing a long gown since I wasn't prepared but I try to look confident with my get up since everything I'm wearing is from SM Ladies Fashion so I represented our products quite well.

LFMC Marketing Coordinator Carin Jimenez & Graphic Artist Miguel Castor

If you're interested on how to help and be a part of WFP, log on to http://www.wfp.org/about/donors.

Make your move and as Michael Jackson's song says, "Heal the world, make it a better place for you and for me and the entire human race." Together, let make this world a better place to live in!

During the time of our grandparents or maybe even great grandparents, "Harana" (Serenade) is used as the main form of courtship here in the Philippines much the same way as writing or reading poems to express love during Shakespeare's time. A man sing songs outside the house of the woman he adores hoping that she opens the window to take a peek at him or watch him singing. When the man is handsome, no matter how bad he sounds, the woman smiles and patiently listens. At present, I think no matter how handsome or ugly a man is, he won't sing outside the house or people will think that he's crazy. "Harana" is actually a very sweet gesture that will make any woman flattered and touched but since it's too old fashioned, men today dismiss doing it.

Ambassador Alfonso T. Yuchengco giving the Opening Remarks. Maybe "Harana" still existed during his youth.

When I heard about Philippine Opera Company's "Ang Bagong Harana," I was quite excited to watch it. I wasn't able to watch it last year so I'm really happy that I got a second chance that made me determined to watch it this time!

I don't need a man to go outside my house and sing for me! I can just go watch "Ang Bagong Harana" to get to experience "harana" in essence. As expected, there were a lot of love songs in the repertoire however, the twist is that it's infused with everything Filipino which we have learned in schools but have not really seen in action. The show introduced the start of music from the time when I was still a child to the familiar modern times. Even the dances evolved from the Filipino cultural folk dances to a quite modern dance. The whole show is not only a tribute to the known and anonymous Filipino songwriters and singers but it's a tribute to our country and the richness of our culture that we often take for granted.

A rewind to take us back to how our ancestors might look like. Photo by Johan Sy of Studiyo.

This looks quite familiar. Remember "Linggo ng Wika" in school? Photo by Johan Sy of Studiyo.

I remember the story of this hero although I can't remember who he is but he said that before he loves a woman romantically, he loves the country first because only a man who truly loves his own country can love a woman faithfully forever. This show reminded me this story and made me feel how much I love my country no matter how chaotic it may seem everyday because I'm supporting a form of art which money cannot buy. It's something from the heart to appreciate and a reminder of who I really am.

Jack Salud with Karla Gutierrez

Marvin Gayramon in "Kalesa"

"Ang Bagong Harana: A Musical Journey Every Filipino Should Take" is now showing at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati. The remaining shows are on June 9 (3:30pm & 8pm) and June 10 (3:30pm). Catch it on its very limited run this weekend and get ready for the musical adventure of what makes a Filipino!

The dresses looks very lovely and enchanting. Photo by Johan Sy of Studiyo.

I think the Filipino version of fairy godmother should wear dress like these! Photo by Johan Sy of Studiyo.

The show is directed by Floy Quintos starring Jack Salud, Karla Gutierrez (also the Artistic Director of Philippine Opera Company), Nazer Salcedo, Charlene Magalit, Janine Santos, Lawrence Jatayna, Al Gatmaitan, Aizel Prietos, Marian Santiago, Marvin Gayramon, Anton Gutierrez Carlo and the Ramon Obusan Folkoric Group (who is celebrating 39 years of preserving Filipino traditions).

The casts from Ramon Obusan Folkoric Group in Harana are Christine Obusan Singson, Jememma So, Meryl Zafra, Kimberly Penones, Kenneth Torres, Jason Valdez, Rannie Geronimo, Joey Rico, Jose Oga, Mark Roy Magaling, Michael Obusan Medina and Raul Nepomuceno, Jr.

Other staff includes Musical Arranger Paulo Zarate, Musical Arranger Von de Guzman, Musical Arranger Jessie Lasaten, Choreographer Raul Nepomuceno, Costume Designer Zenaida Gutierrez (Karla's mom), Set Designer Eric Cruz and Technical & Lighting Director Jay Aranda.

A surprise song number "Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal" by Levi Celerio.

For tickets, call Philippine Opera Company at 881.7168, 0917.5272880 or Ticketworld 891.9999.

It's my first ever time to attend the Philippine Fashion Week as part of the organizing team. It certainly feels different since I'm not lining up outside the venue, I'm comfortably seated inside the venue without any people and just waiting for the show to happen.

As part of the digital team, I was tasked to give out live updates to SM Ladies Fashion fans on Facebook. It's my first time to give out live updates and I felt like a court side reporter who needs to give up-to-the-minute updates which seems quite difficult because of the internet reception and uploading of photos to the computer however, I was able to do so successfully!

The good thing about this is that whenever I spot a VIP and ask him or her to pose for me, he or she is willingly to pose without batting an eyelash.

Early lovebirds Victor Basa and Divine Lee who were the 1st who came to the show.

The pretty Sarah Meier who sat behind me and had a chat with me after the show.

Fashion designer Kate Torralba who I caught after the show.

Preview Magazine Fashion Editor Daryl Chang who was already on her way out and I've stopped her for a pose.

The show started promptly at 7:30pm which made me feel that it's going to be a good show. The show was jump-started by the new collections of Parisians. It revealed heels, heels and more heels are the in thing this year. Even though a lot of women love the comfy flats but gorgeousness in heels is the hot trend! Well, there are comfy heels around which one has to dig around to discover.

The mysterious intro

Fierce red heels that makes any woman scourging hot! Good luck, boys!

The nude heels perfect for a warm sunny day.

The glass slipper that makes Cinderella a princess!

The night out heels perfect for well-manicured feet.

The main highlight of the show is of course the very colorful clothes that's perfect for this tropical country. Whether the weather is hot or rainy, these colors will surely put a smile on any woman's face.


The most unforgettable part of the show is when the 5 of the most popular fashion bloggers showed up! Everyone was alive, clapping and enjoying the fame these ladies were getting. Somehow this event made people feel that fashion is for everyone even the normal people like these 5 ladies get to enjoy them!

Camille Co

Patricia Prieto

Alyssa Lapid

Lissa Kahayon

Laureen Uy

These ladies made a very big and surprising impact in the fashion industry today just like the way they surprised the audiences during the show. This part tells everyone that even though you're not a celebrity or a socialite, you can still be fashionable!

The night did not end when the show ended. Guests were still staying at the cocktail area enjoying their drinks and chatting the night away about the fabulous show!

Beauty Queen Melanie Marquez

ABS-CBN Senior Reporter Mario Dumawal

The bar filled up with more drinks to celebrate the night away.

LFMC Ad & Promo Manager Pat Jocson with her friends

The best part of the show for me is being able to sit at the middle of everything. I was seated in front of the media taking photos. I was on the second row though but I was beside the videographer who kept calling me to take photos if he sees something nice.

For more details of the show, just check out SM Ladies Fashion and SM GTW on Facebook. To watch the whole show, check SM GTW's website.