The story of flight 5J904, originally scheduled at 515pm, Feb 29 from Caticlan to Manila:

1. You cancel the flight without notifying us.

2. You rebook us for an earlier flight which eventually gets cancelled after you let us wait for 2 hours.

3. You give us nary an apology and wait at the 11th hour to inform us. You ASSURE us a plane is waiting in Kalibo.

4. You herd us into a bus to Kalibo for a 90 minute ride we wanted to avoid in the first place.

5. Surprise! After the busride from hell - NO FRIKKIN’ PLANE BACK TO MANILA!

Cebu Pacific, you suck! If you can’t handle the Caticlan runway then don’t and save your passengers the torture.

Tagaytay was characteristically cold and windy last night. But neither the incessant rains nor freezing climate dampened anybody’s spirit.

The ceremony was held at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish and the reception at Raymond’s family estate.

Eric Maningat had the easiest job in the world prettyfying Anna.

Anna wore Rajo Laurel as did Raymond.

Overheard from a conversation: Rajo was waiting for the “right bride” he would use the sheer material on (pictured below) imported from London. He couldn’t have picked a better choice.

I went for mood and atmosphere this time for the Onsite Video. Perhaps inspired by the fact that photographer Cocoy Sarmenta’s was shooting bits and peices of the event in Super8.

Watch it now.

It’s a good time to pick up a copy of FHM Philippines this month. Not only because of the uber hot Katrina Halili on the cover …

but also because they ran a feature on me …

well not me really, but my small collection of lomo/toy cameras …

Don’t buy for it for me, buy it for Katrina, she needs a nice comfy jacket.

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Ok now, I can truly say that I’ve been there and I’ve done that.

We left a good hour and a half before the bride did from Vivere Suites like we always do. We proceeded to set up at Saint James and managed to get very pretty establishing shots. Then my lead videographer (who we left at the Hotel), gives me a shocking text asking where we were. It took all of two seconds to realize that we were in the wrong church.

Dumb dumb dumb. All the signs were there. Airconditioning was off. Not one guest around. And in hindsight, there is no 6pm wedding in Saint James.

We packed up and drove like the wind, heading to Fernbrook Garden where the ceremony was really going to be held. We arrived and set up in the nick of time. I don’t know if I just got confused with the Groom’s name and the church venue but anyhoo, lesson learned.

They were one beautiful couple (and beautiful sons too). James was as handsome as ever (my wife says) and Tania was simply stunning ( I say) with or without makeup.

PS: I was all giddy with a schoolboy crush over (Ninang) Amy Austria who looked hot as ever. I am now digging up my old VHS copy of Cover Girls.

Watch the Onsite Video.

I spent more time on a plane and in an airport than at Video ‘08 Wedding Videographers Convention in Orlando, Florida. But I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

The trip was Brutal. 11 hours from Manila to San Francisco, another four going to Atlanta (after a five hour wait) and the final hour from Atlanta to Orlando. The coup de grace to all this of course was the inflight movie - Balls of Fury. I was ready to rip out the exit and jump without a parachute by the second half of the movie.

Meeting people I knew only online (some for over two years) was a blast. Everybody was just so warm and accommodating. Seems I never left the Philippines at all.

(Laura of Edit1 Media and me harassing Daniel Boswell of dvArtistry - I swear this guy was ten feet tall!)

The first night, the Awards Banquet, was awesome. Here they gave recognition to the EventDV 25 as well as the winners for this year’s Artistic Achievement Awards. I had to come in a spiffy suit of course.

(The event was truly international, as Sylvia and Niels hailed from the UK and Lee (the eleven footer) came from Greece) .

It was great that many friends and colleagues from Wedfact made the list. I never knew how it felt to be in awards ceremony where you sent some entries to. IT WAS NERVE-WRACKING!!! Still Motion from Canada, Elysium from the OC and VHVideo (Florida) cleaned up this year.

We were fortunate enough to sweep the Onsite Video Category. Here are links to the videos that won -

First - Martina and Elmer
Second - Suzette and JP
Third - Jen and John

Here’s the official list of the winners. FYI too - the Emerald we got for pre-ceremony was edited by Pang. Woot! And as a sidenote, it was incredible too that I was coincidentally seated with a fellow Pinoy who also won in the awards. How cool is that? And hey, Imacron picked up awards too! Pinoyvideomakers Rock!

However anxious I was on the first night. What I felt then paled in comparison to how I was feeling the second day. I was due for my lecture in the evening and I was a bundle of nerves. I had to make it count. I had to make the trip worth it (for myself and my colleagues). And most importantly, I want to be able to tangibly share whatever knowledge, tips, techniques and strategies I had for success.

I went all out.

(image by Photomirage, thanks Sara and Karl)

After the lecture , I thought it went “fairly” well. Then the verdict came in. Mmmm, fairly became an understatement. Here are some reviews of the lecture.

from Event DV
from the 4EG site

The DVDs I sold did pretty well too. Thanks to Pang and the rest of the J-Mag crew who labored over its production.

(photo by Loyd Calomay)

My appreciation to all the people who I met, shook my hand, and gave me a smile. Thanks to the people who helped me hawk my DVDs. Extra special thanks and my deepest gratitude to Bruce Ostrout and Darrell Aulbert who showed me around, brought me to Hooters, assured me of my daily dose of transfat but made sure I was fine and dandy.

Oh and just before I headed to Orlando Airport, we snuck a quick “boyband” pictorial session with Glenn Elliot, Bill Gaff and Chris Jones for an upcoming EventDV article.

It was an unforgettable trip and a definite highlight in my career as wedding videographer.

*Now back to regular programming before we give more details of the awards night.

Sunday saw us document a wedding with so much emotion and drama that the Conservatory at Peninsula Manila was ready to burst at the seams.

At the helm of the ceremony was Brother Gus of the Word Community Church.

Download and watch the Same Day Edit.