The Official Onsite Wedding Video | Paolo & Sam’s Wedding by Bob Nicolas

I absolutely waited for this.  I nagged Pao and Sam Valenciano, ever so dear to me, about when it was coming out, it was shown at the wedding but it wasn’t as complete then as it is now, now it’s perfect.  At the time I asked, Paolo said they were still fine tuning it before sharing online.

There are some wedding videos that make an impact even on people who don’t know the couple personally and even make strangers cry, and I’m sure this one is exactly that.  It captures the exact mood and embodies the everlasting love, childlike humor, and solid friendship we all experienced during their union last February 7, 2013.

The cinematography just grabs you and pulls you into the wedding with the magic of Bob Nicolas and his onsite team.  Of course the direction and comments on the edit by Pao, the groom (who is also an editor) make all the difference.  Watching this video FULLSCREEN is the closest experience to being at their wedding if you weren’t there. If you can’t view the embedded video click on this link to watch Pao and Sam’s Wedding on YouTube.

Cousins ♥ Photoboothing at Pao & Sam’s Wedding

I told you that at my cuz Paolo Valenciano’s wedding I was too lazy as part of the entourage to be shooting with a full throttle camera the whole time, much less holding one…so I didn’t.  I also couldn’t be bothered with taking pics of myself because I was having too much of a blast observing my station as a bridesmaid, mingling, eating, laughing, and whatevs…I also wasn’t seated with any of my much younger cousins that evening so forget about group photos with the baby bunch.  What I nearly forgot amidst the blur of celebration that evening was that there was a photo booth (I was like “oh yeaaaaaaaaaa, there was one”)…and that I had 2 pictures taken with my cousin KC (mom is Tito Kiko’s older sister) who was seated at the same table right before I accompanied her to her car.  It was so late I’d forgotten that we had that photo moment…then these popped up on Facebook.  Tada!  And yes, I did my own makeup   I’m so happy we have these to keep.

The married couple, Pao & Sam Valenciano.

Somewhere at home there are exactly two photos of me and KC also shot back to back when I was 11 and she was 9 and I was still taller than her (straightens back).  It would have made a great throwback, but like I said…it’s somewhere.

Around the World in 80 Years | Sam’s Travel Inspired Bridal Shower

On behalf of our side of the family I thought of a somewhat unusual bridal shower concept for my cousin Paolo’s fiancee, Sam.  Together with my Tita Donna (homeschool decorating Mama), Tita Maricel, my mom and other Titas we decided to sweep Sam off her feet with uplifting decor, roadtrip music for journeys (Babalik Ka Rin, Come Fly With Me, Leaving on a Jet Plane, Love City etc.), and travel-related goodies for trips via land, sea, or air.  It just occurred to me that most couples are peppered with loads and loads of stuff they need at home which is excellent, but what about the stuff they need when on their marital adventures or great getaways?  Well, wake up to wanderlust.

L-R: Alex Godinez and Sam Godinez

Pao and Sam were cute on foot but I thought they should soar to new heights so I placed them in the balloon.

I created a rose tinted filter and added it to some of the shots using something like Photoshop (created meaning I filled a top layer with an old rose tint and ticked the Hard Light blend mode for the layer).  Seeing the shots through “virtual” rose tinted glasses adds some “heartwarmth” to them in a way that’s not so obvious.  We’d also like to say a really big thank you to Benefit Cosmetics PH, like on FB here  and Goody hair accessories PH who showed some heartwarming “kikay” support on our special day  for Sam.  Click read more to see all the photos

New Year in a New Way | Farewell 2012, Hello 2013

Hello everyone…took a moment just to say it’s nearly New Year and we’ve been lighting up the scene here at home already with bangs, pops, crackles and what not.  I realized I was quite eye weary of dark New Year’s eve photos so I took some photos as one would on default at night…then saw it differently…

This is so me, looking on the brighter side of things.  This year was a very tough year for me emotionally, but God has always been faithful and I need to see that more and trust in his day to day goodness and compassion.  I love Him to bits…though He can’t ever be…bits (ahem).  I still love how fireworks truly light the sky…but I just wanted to do a different take.  Happy New Year to you all   I’ve been thinking about an idea that’s been swimming in my brain just for January… The B.O.M.B. awards aka the Best of My Bag awards.  You heard it first here   Happy New Year!!

Reviewing the First Christmas – Overlooked Aspects and What Matters Most

Hi, everyone!  To put it bluntly I just can’t sleep and later I won’t have the time nor peace of mind to post anything for you…in fact none of you may have a moment to yourselves to even be reading this post on this very day, but just in case some of you do have spare minutes I’ve left a little film for you to watch.

There are many traditional views on the birth of Jesus but digging deeper into the Bible has revealed some incidental aspects that may change many things about the Nativity story as most of you know it, but there’s nothing to be fearful of because these details will never change the things that matter most about the beginning of the greatest story ever told.  I invite you to watch this lovely entertaining, informative and yet heartfelt video “Retooning the Nativity.”  As Emma Thompson had to confirm with her lobster bedecked daughter in the movie Love Actually, “So there was more than one lobster present at the birth of Jesus?”.  Merry Christmas!