MYMP and Nathan of BAMBOO at PIYESTA!!!

Friday, March 12, 2010

February 25, 2010 MYMP dined at PIYESTA. They were in town for the grand finals of Acoustic Band Competition of Gaisano Mall Gensan. This was a great opportunity to market Piyesta and get to meet celebrities.

MYMP is one of my acoustic band favorites but so sad that Juris left and decided to go solo. But Juliet on the other hand is also a great singer and a very gracious.

I joined them for dinner and they treated me as if we already know each other. Chin loved our "crispy tuna buntot." I made them my taste testers for our new dishes. We got 4 thumbs up and Chin said, serve mo na ito!! ang sarap. He loved all our food. I told him, and sarap mong pakainin Chin we just laughed.

It was an amazing experience for me to get to know famous artist that i really idolized.

It was just like old friends having dinner and chit chatting.

I got them to sign our wall.

The next day February 26, 2010 Bamboo Band was in town. They were also scheduled to dine at Piyesta. Sadly it was just Nathan their bassist who showed up. The rest of the band were dead tired from the series of concerts they had. But hey one is better than nothing right??

It was just a quick very late dinner.

I also got Nathan to sign our wall too.

KALILANGAN: Queen of Mindanao Festivals

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Febraury 26, 2010 the first Queen of Mindanao Festivals Pageant was done at Robinsons Place Gensan. This is a pageant not only of beauty queens but also the festival she represents.

I was one of the judges for this unique and colorful pageant together with Chattee Lara, Ria Jose, Dulce Lada, Romarie Cunanan, Johnny Abad and Avel Manansala.

Like i said this was no ordinary pageant. Beauty queen title holders from different festivals all over southern Mindanao are buying for this very first "Queen of Mindanao."

This was participated by Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, Saranggani, South Cotabato and General Santos. The pageant started with the festival attires. Each queen wore customs that best described the festivals they represent. A very colorful, rich in culture and lively attires. This caught the attention not only of the renowned designer Johnny Abad but also us, the judges and crowed who witnessed the event. Even though we live in Mindanao not all of us have the luxury of time and money to visit these festivals.

The festival director, Orman Manansala is the genius behind this unique event. A really great way to present a festival with in a festival. It is an eye opening event for me. It was like i went to (7) seven different festivals but only in one venue. It was perfectly coordinated and directed by Dino Veloso.

The atrium of Robinsons Place Gensan roared with the drum rolls of different kinds of drums and gongs when it was time to present different dance numbers for each festivals. Each queens performed a dance number.

Then it was time for the formal gown my most awaited portion. A back and white gown designed by Johnny Abad brought out the beauties of the queens.

They were serenaded by Gensan's Pop idol, Jun Jimenez.

A simple yet very informative question and answer was done. Each queens described and explained the respective festivals they represent.

And before i forget Noynoy Aquino dropped by together with Ruffy Biazon and Guingona.

This event also was televised through live streaming a genius work of Lyle Santos and Avel Manansala. Generals all over the world witnessed the event.

This was the first Queen of Mindanao Pageant and I hope this will be the beginning of a new era of festival and beauty pageant.

Crowned 2nd runner-up is Christina Bona Juanico of Sarmiento’s Buklod Festival.

Bagging the 1st runner-up is Petal Cagape of Tampakan representing Tamfaken Lum-a-lay Festival.

In the end the beauty of Gensan's Tuna Festival Queen, Madonna Galang stand out. And she was declared the first Queen of Mindanao Festivals.

(beauty queen judges hahahaha)

(Me, sir DINO and Romarie)

(Davao and Gensan Bloggers, Lakan at Lakambini finalist with MADONNA GALANG 1st Queen of Mindanao)

(wacky shoot!!!)

ALL PHOTOS courtesy of BRIAN DAN CONGSON

KALILANGAN: Lakan at Lakambini 2009

(Photo by: Orman Manansala)

Kalilangan Festival will not be complete without choosing the Lakan and Lakambini.

(Ryan Reyes and Shane Lara LLK 2009, Photo by Chattee Lara)

I went to Gaisano to witness the event. Every year I'm looking forward for this pageant. I'm always looking forward for the gowns and the production numbers of the candidates. And indeed I was not dismayed, the modern filipiniana gowns designed by Johnny Abad, the President of Filipino Designers Association of the Philippines are epic. I can see the judges reactions when they saw the gowns and I think they want one also. (okey, okey i want one also hehehehe)

(photo by: OMAR GALLINERO)

(photo by: OMAR GALLINERO)

Maureen Paulo and Jenel Labiana were 1st runners up and Dave Barbero and Sarashvati Sarkar bagged 2nd runner up.

(Caroline Lim Lakambini 2010 photo by OMAR GALLINERO)

And a new twist in showing of the candidates curves not with bikinis but with a PLAY SUITS a very interesting and colorful twist I may say. The shows choreography as expected was superb with sir Dino Veloso directing it.

(photo by: OMAR GALLINERO)

A close fight but in the end the wit, poise and intelligence of Caroline Lim and Gervic Romero bagged them the title of Lakan at Lakambini 2010.

(photo by: Orman Manansala)

(photo by: OMAR GALLINERO)

Mario Valentino and Romarie Cunana were the Masters of Ceremony.

(photo by: OMAR GALLINERO)

I had the chance to meet new blogger friends Ria Jose, Chattee Lara, Angel Abella and Dulce Lada . Lyle Santos and Brendel Balaga was tasked to judge the pageant.

(new friends Ria Jose, Chattee Lara and the master Leonard Pe)

One thing I love when ganda ever so much, Orman Manansala organize an event is that it's not boring. And every year their is always something new and exciting.

(Gensan & Davao Bloggers)

Fashion Show the Finale

A Fashion Show for my events finale is perfect. I ask the ganda ever so much festival director, Orman Manansala to help me with this, and a 120% percent support was given.

Live music from Kuerdas Band was the models background.

The finalist for the Lakan at Lakambini 2010 modeled the collection of Robinsons Department Store. It was my first time to shop at Robinsons Dept Store and discovered that they have a wide variety of stylish wearable collections and believe me it is very affordable.

The collections of Aven & Claire for kids were modeled by my cute and very adorable "pamangkins. " And they were all a crowed pleaser knowingly it was all my relatives cheering for them. It was their first time to go on stage and they were perfectly behaved and they each delivered a stunning pose.

Hair & Make-up were done by ENVY ME SALON & SPA Robinsons Place Gensan Branch "creative team." A colorful and vibrant look was the theme for the fashion show.