Hardware Zone Magazine Philippines Holiday Gift Guide 2013/2014

This is a super late post. Sorry, it almost slipped my mind. But hey, better late than never.

Last October, I got invited by Hardware Zone Magazine (HWM) Philippines to be a part of the style team of their Holiday Gift Guide 2013/2014. It's like a catalogue of products (not only gadgets but even apparel) that serves as a source of gift ideas. It was actually out in the market from December 2013 to February 2014.

Our models were Angelia Ong, Ladylyn Riva, and Farah Ramos. And I co-styled the wardrobe and the hair of the models together with Shiela Del Rosario. The shoot coordinator was Darlene Sasan of HWM, and hey, they're all my friends. It seemed like a "barkada" project for us.

The themes were: couch potato, adventurous/explorer, and party animal.

Here are the final output:

Lady on the cover wearing Solari Clothing's "Lush" dress

Here's our team:

And we're about to work on the HWM Summer Gift Guide 2014. Stay tuned!:)

xoxo,

city girl

Behind the Scenes of PLDT's heyU

Do you remember these videos that went viral last February?

Well I was actually a part of the team behind these digital advertisements by PLDT's new product, heyU. It's actually a VoIP service that works like Viber, but this time, it's free to call landlines. Telpad users can download the app for free, while regular PLDT landline subscribers have to pay Php 100 on top of their monthly service fees (MSF) in order to avail of the service. Besides free landline calls, heyU also allows calling the US, Canada, and Hawaii for only Php 1.50/minute just like that of a budget card. A special rate of Php 5/min also apply for calls to Sun, Smart, and Talk N Text.

As part of the digital team that handled heyU, we were the ones who developed the online ads, and the videos as well. We were also the ones who conducted the "heyUpickMe" twitter promo that made one girl win a date with Daniel Matsunaga. However, I just left my job even before heyU's official press launch at White Space last April 24. But still, I felt happy that the brand I used to service had a successful launch. Too bad I was out of town so I wasn't able to witness it live. But thanks to social media, I got updated real time.

Anyway, it was an honour working with team heyU -- clients, agencies (digital, PR/media), production house (including the director, producer, editors). It was a quick yet fun experience for me. I met new friends and I've learned a lot too!:)

Here are some BTS photos I wanna share:

Photo shoot for online ads

Video Shoot

Date with Daniel Promo

Quick Rundown of March Events (Overdue)

Super late post due to the unexpected turnout of events...

My classmate got married on March 21 but I was too busy with work and other errands so I was only able to make it at the reception at Blue Gardens, Quezon City. Gosh, this year a lot of my friends got engaged so I expect to attend lots of weddings starting the second half of the year. No I won't get alarmed even if I'm still single now haha!:)) Anyway, my friend's wedding was cute. It was inspired by cherry blossoms. In fact, they came up with a photo booth with a cute concept.

Last March 22, we celebrated the World Water Day in Quirino Grandstand by having a parade and forming the world's biggest human water drop formation. Despite the rain, the event had a successful turnout. After that, we proceeded to Manila Ocean Park for a music festival and to witness the Lights and Fountain Show.

And as I have mentioned earlier, there's an unexpected turnout of events. The last 2 weeks of March were never easy for me. I was doing a lot of things in school for final exam, final paper, and business plan. I had to quit my job to accompany my grandma and little cousin to Japan. I was forced to make this decision because the company didn't allow me to be away from work for about 40+ days. This made me extra busy with work since I had to fix my clearance while cleaning up my stuff for turnover plus I was still doing existing and future projects that time. My last day at work was March 27 but I had to take a leave on my last day to finish my final paper for school since my flight's on the 28th. It was a tough decision for me, most especially that I was enjoying my job and the company of my colleagues at work. But as always, things happen for a reason and I was just letting God rule my life.

I was so happy after accomplishing all the requirements in school and I was so touched because my friends an co-workers joined me for a send-off. I felt really loved. I had 4 send-offs: classmates, colleagues at work, TNT friends, and the KSP gang. I was so lucky to have them all.:)

 March 24 - Dinner at Tomato Kick w/ classmates

 March 26 - Karaoke night w/ officemates at Music 22

 March 26 - Drinks w/ TNT friends at Dilinger's Greenbelt

March 27 - Victor's birthday surprise and my last Wintermelon Milk Tea at Moonleaf Don Antonio

And on the 28th of March...we flew to Japan. Will be away from the Philippines for almost 3 months. I knew I truly deserved this.:)

FEB 2012 Happened so Fast at WORK

While at it, I never knew I have been doing A LOT until I've seen the photos at work that I have collected for the past month. I didn't even notice it was the Valentine month haha!:)) So let me share how my February became a packed month at work...

Feb. 1 - Oh we planted mangroves in Putatan, Muntinlupa City...at least for photos ops purposes haha!

the Chief of Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), Sec. Neric Acosta

Feb. 3 - We were invited to the Ibon-Ebon Festival in Candaba, Pampanga, the home of different migratory birds.

 Mayor Jeff Pelayo led the parade that we joined

Feb. 3 - Yeah, all the way from Pampanga, I went to Tanghalang Pasigueno in Pasig City to see David Archuleta's taping of a concert scene in his new teleserye on TV5, "Nandito Ako". Well it's my first time to watch him perform live and it was cool!:)

free tickets from the office

Feb. 8-10 - Our team went to Cebu City for the 33rd PAWD (Philippine Association of Water Districts) Convention at Radisson Blu. I loved our room, the buffet, and the lace cookies that I got! Plus I was able to meet with my Cebu-based friend. However, it was really a stressful 3-day trip because of work. I wished I have enjoyed it  more.

 Mayor Mike Rama of Cebu City plus our boss and some personalities I don't know haha

 the Bollywood-inspired Fellowship night in Cebu International Convention Center

got this from Don Merto's! awesome but expensive haha!

Feb. 22 - Advanced birthday celebration of our Company President/CEO. Of course, I got involved by making some logistics-related arrangements. On his actual birthday, Feb. 24, he was in Baguio, then a lechon was delivered to the office...and since he's away, we took charge of eating it! LOL!

Feb. 23 - We attended the LGU Sports Summit Welcome Dinner at the Rizal Stadium in Manila. There I got to talk to the Head Coach of the Philippine Rugby Team (yes, the VOLCANOES haha). I was introduced to some members of the team who were there. Some of them really looked good. And the next day when we googled them at work, what popped out on the screen were their photos wearing just underwears! haha! So they were those guys who were once in the huge billboard of Bench somewhere along EDSA.:))

those 2 hotties at the center were Jake Letts and I forgot his name!:))

Feb. 27-29 - Had another stressful 3 days at EDSA Shangri-la Hotel for the Water Loss Conference 2012. It was a huge event attended by lots of foreign delegates, plus the President of the Philippines, Noynoy Aquino. We also invited some beauty queens. Good thing I was friends with some of them. On the first day, we invited Czarina Gatbonton, Ms. Philippines-World 2010; on the second day was Angelia Ong, the Face of Binibining Pilipinas 2011, and on the last day was Nicolette Henson, Miss World Philippines 1st Princess 2011 and Binibining Pilipinas 2nd Runner-Up 2010. Among them, I was closest to Angelia 'coz she's really a good friend of mine even before she became a beauty queen. I've been friends with Czarina 'coz of lots of our common friends. It was the first time I met Nicolette but she's really nice and I really enjoyed talking to her.

Czarina (oh please excuse the stressful me haha)

 my soul sister Angelia! also our barkada's bunso:)

 new acquaintance, Nicolette!:)

and this is me for the Gala Night! Lady in Red!:))

See, I survived February! Just imagine how varied those events were. From tree planting under the sun to a sophisticated gala night in a high-end hotel ballroom. My job is stressful yet fun. And btw, I didn't have much photos of me 'coz I've been stressed out almost the entire month and it wouldn't be nice to show that haha!

Well I'm really gonna miss work. It's too bad that I NEED to leave the country with my family, and leave work because of that. However, we'll never know. For sure God already has made plans for me. Whatever those are, it's for the better. We'll never run out of good opportunities. Just be patient and calm.:)