The SMS from Kitten Zapanta, Managing Editor of Wedding Essentials, read like this …

You have been chosen by Wedding Essentials to be featured and glammed up for it’s next issue!

I never say no these people nor pass the chance to ham it up in front of the camera. But what did glamming exactly mean?

Did it entail clipping my nose hairs? Wearing the latest collection from Paul Smith and doing Blue Steel? Or perhaps being oiled up and and posing au naturel?

Thankfully, the incident proved harmless enough (no incidents with oil nor nosehairs).

Set up in the very swanky Martini’s Bar of Mandarin Oriental Hotel, our very talented and friendly photographer Aldwin Aspillera made things easy for us first timers. After all, we were used to being behind the cam, not in front of it.

Rey Ilagan, preeminent stylist took charge of dressing us up (clothes courtesy of Debenhams) . Nikki Bacay of Traffic Salon did the makeup. A real honest to goodness shoot? Would you believe?

I would have wanted a five page spread on my own. But the editors thought better to share the feature with a couple other suppliers. Here’s Wally “I own this f**kin’ joint” Gonzales

and Madge “I wrote the book on poses” Lejano.

Oh, here’s me “Jason “I’d sell my soul to the devil for a modeling gig” Magbanua.

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And if you need to ask, yes that’s a scarf, I’m wearing one in my next shoot. It’s a statement - I’m not gay.  And perfect to wipe sweat, tears and snot.

After the shoot, Editor In Chief Marbee Go and Aldwin confer - “What a frikkin waste of time and money. We should have just photographed and featured cake toppers and bubble machines. Way more interesting.”