LJ AND JIM: SDE from Jason Magbanua on Vimeo.

It was very serendipitous. I was in Exposed Down Under in Australia and got a call from LJ verifying for real that she was getting our services for her wedding.  I was ecstatic.

Laguna? Makiling? or perhaps Los Banos?

Nope. Laguna Beach, California.

Ooooh K.

Seriously, the weather was perfect last Thursday.  Very much in tune with the California vibe, everybody was just chillin’.  We all know how Jim is a clutch player but he totally lost in during his vows.  Pastor Rob (a former player himself before responding to his call to be play a more active role in the church) was a bit more anxious than usual.  It was his first wedding to officiate alone.  And it was a sweet first time because the couple was very dear to him.

I love celebrity weddings where there’s no paparazzi.  This was one of ‘em.  Save for the small ABS crew during the preps, it was a very private affair.  The way Jim wanted it.   The only other artista around was Rufa Mae.  But we got introduced so I have the liberty of calling her Peachy now. ;-).

The wedding was co-shot by Oly Ruiz, a cousin of the Moreno’s. 
Thanks to Mon Villacorta for the excellent second shooting and big props to Edelweiss and Noel who helped along in the shoot. You guys rock!

Enjoy the Same Day Edit!

I’s been a crazy busy trip so far with no room to breathe.   I’m quite fortunate to have worked with the bestest couples, the most awesome second shooters and assistants.   Things are slowing down at least this week. Allow me to share a still from last Thursday’s wedding.

She was just positively radiant!  Please stay tuned as I will be posting her highlights video real soon.

The next day, I checked in at this fabulous hotel in Long Beach where my equally fabulous bride, Charlene, did her preps.

Hotel Maya was something else.

Also watch out for her SDE to be posted soon.

Just several hours later, we were shooting a Save the Date video for Diana and Jose in Red Rock Canyon in Las Vegas.  My groom saw elephants on the formations,I saw litlle cute bunnies and twinkies. No, I wasn’t high

They heighed me off to the airport right after and so now I find myself in Disney World in Orlando.  Excuse me while I go find and harass Goofy.

Ok So it’s my turn to bring Jakob to school, none of our cars were available so we had to take a cab. And as most of you know, editing an SDE in under two hours is easier than catching a taxi at 7 am in Makati.

And so we waited…

The wait for the cab took quite a while as I noticed everybody was getting up one at a time.

Baby Elise was up and about.

Lukas was already on his morning ritual with Angry Birds on my iPad.

And so it goes that we were an hour late for school. It was a double bummer because the school cafeteria was still closed so I couldn’t partake of my newest addiction - Deep Fried Oreo!

Going back to the house was even harder than I thought!

And so I decided to walk. I found myself in Mcdonald’s Pasong Tamo, enjoying a Sausage McMuffin and blogging.

Note to self: must learn to drive!

Last July, we were given the chance to do a lecture session in Sydney.

As most of you know, we do this on a regular basis.  But I am always on edge everytime =), not quite nervous but definitely not at all relaxed.

You see, the thought of myself being flown in to speak is a HUGE responsibility.   Planning and executing an educational venture is time consuming, expensive and stressful.  I should know, I was part of ReFrame.  When all the hard work is done, the final piece of the puzzle for the event to become a success, is the speakers’ performance.  If the thought of that is not stressful, I don’t know what is.

However, the attendees for Exposed couldn’t be more easy, friendly and attentive.  And THAT eased me in.  But make no mistake, their congeniality is only matched by their desire to learn and progress.

You KNEW it was a rousing success when people from all over that big continent flew in to Sydney.  And yes, there were representatives from Southeast Asia as well.  That was truly awesome!

Here’s a recap video by Peter of the whole experience -watch here.

My deepest gratitude to Rochelle and Dave (they are not a couple, but were for the duration of the planning of EDU ;-), Susanto and Dewi and the rest of Paper Cranes for being excellent hosts, Abraham Joffe for the “barbie” and my co-presentors, Michael Wong, Konrad Czytowski and Alvin Paver (and the Aussie presentors too!)- the most talented wedding filmmakers in the world, yet the most down to earth too.

Cheers mates!

A trailer is there to tease and to hint….

Elwood and Sarah: The Trailer from Jason Magbanua on Vimeo.

The fantastical story of a  chef and pastry chef respectively.  Pure fun!

REAGAN & AILEEN LOVE STORY from Jason Magbanua on Vimeo.

So much tears flowed during Erin and Christian’s wedding.

Erin’s Dad was sorely missed.

But her mom, her bro and sis, and of course Erin, knew deep in their heart that he was around, watching over them, smiling and perhaps shedding a tear or two as well.

Erin and Christian: SDE from Jason Magbanua on Vimeo.

The Caleruega-Splendido combination never fails.   You just got to love this quaint chapel in Tagaytay and the nice intimate reception venue only 20 minutes away.

My first wedding in the Transfiguration chapel was a decade ago and it still never gets old.  (though I am ;-))

ALLETH AND OLIVER: SDE from Jason Magbanua on Vimeo.

“Twas a very long engagement as Alleth said and she had all the time to figure out all the details of the wedding.  My favorite touch was the custom kicks made at the Chuck Taylor site.  I want a pair!

Check out the Hitchcockian cameo somewhere in the piece, the funky first dance, and wait, was that hesitation on Alleth’s part during the vows? (kidding!)

When the groom vows  to his bride that he will support her shopping sprees,  he probably …

1.  has a bad hangover from the night before the wedding
2. is making up for something
3. is truly, madly, deeply in love and means it.

With Carlo, I’m betting my  money on number 3.

The rambunctious bridesmaids were a joy to shoot (and watch).  Take a look…

Lyn and Carlo: SDE from Jason Magbanua on Vimeo.

I loved how this INC wedding ceremony was held in traditional Filipino.  Makes you appreciate the beauty of the language.

I had to whip up my translator and ask my big brother who is a Baptist pastor - “what is the direct translation of “uliran”  in English?  So you shall find out.

Melody and Marvin: Iglesia ni Kristo from Jason Magbanua on Vimeo.