Rowena Wendy's posts with tag: media
| Start: | Jul 23, '08 10:30p | | End: | Jul 23, '08 11:00p | | Location: | Lifestyle Network, Ch 52 on Skycable |
MomWorks episode on possible alternative careers for moms. Ms. Maricel Laxa and I undergo a make-up workshop at Center for Aesthetic Studies! I need to remind myself since I'm forgetful... O_o
I've recently been branded as shallow and materialistic by a certain life coach / motivational speaker whom I had the pleasure of meeting. She read my article "Confessions of a Contest Queen" on the Philippine Star, loved it, and pretty much hounded the Star staff until they gave her my contact details. She emailed me and requested a meeting. I obliged. She was one hour late. What happened next was a flurry of conversations. I toted along my "contest album" and my Ipod Touch which pretty much showcased what I had been able to accomplish by joining contests. All this led to a second meeting. She wanted me to guest in her TV / internet talk show or something, but all the details were not very clear. I didn't get the point of my being in her show, she wouldn't even give me the exact address of the studio. It was just all so vague, so I backed out. She was rather hell-bent on getting me there, until I asked her point blank "What's in it for me?". She looked at me wide-eyed as if I had suddenly grown three heads. Her expression was so funny I wanted to laugh, but I restrained myself and kept on giving her that blank, smiling nod she hated so much. She then said "Oh my God! You expect to be paid for being on my show? Do you know how many people are just dying to be on my show?". Uh... I've never even heard of your show, I thought to myself. "No, I don't expect to be paid, " I said calmly. "But how would being on your show possibly benefit me?" She was flabbergasted at my gall. "I've been hailed as another Jay Leno," she continued. She ranted on and on about how great she was and how she would do everything herself on the set... how so many people were really "nagpapakamatay" to be her guest. Anyhow, she proceeded to explain that her show was her journey, etc., that her show was a deep and profound work that not all people would be able to understand and appreciate. I was pretty lost. I told her when Lifestyle Network asked me to be on their show everything was crystal clear. I can't agree to something so... abstract. Up to the last minute, I still could not comprehend why I was supposed to even be in her show. In the end, she told me how disappointed she was that I turned out to be "...another one of those writers who could not listen". "It's such a shame because you write so well," were her exact words. She told me I was still in my self-centered, materialistic, me-stage where I always had to get something, etc. She probably gave me a full psychiatric session's worth of psychoanalysis, to which I responded with that blank, smiling nod she hated so much. I'm not a hypocrite. Just like most other people, I want fame, fortune, and all the niceties that come with these things. I'm just not ashamed to admit it, because I believe in being true to myself. If that is what being shallow and materialistic entails, then yes, maybe I am shallow and materialistic after all.
|  | I'm so fortunate to have had the opportunity to be a part of Lifestyle Network's new show "Momworks", which I was told was like the TV counterpart of ABS-CBN Publishing's Working Mom magazine.
The episode we shot today was about alternative careers for moms. Ms. Maricel and I took a glam fashion make-up lesson at Center for Aesthetic Studies in Makati City. This is where a lot of renowned make-up artists graduated, including Jigs Mayuga of L'oreal Philippines. Our instructor was Ms. Jennie Delica. I checked out CAS' list of services and a 4-hour make-up workshop costs about P2.1k. Bobbi Brown Cosmetics provided us with a full line of make-up and brushes to use.
After the lesson Ms. Maricel and I were provided models to work with. We made them up and voila! Haha, this is seriously an alternative career to consider. I think I have an aptitude for it... probably because I like drawing. Ms. Maricel is so nice... so down-to-earth and such a lovely person to work with. She really is a model mom.
After the make-up workshop, I was interviewed by Ms. Maricel regarding the whole experience. I was also given some wonderful tokens after the shoot -- a gift pack from Bobbi Brown Cosmetics containing Bobbi Brown's Lip Shimmer in Rosy (worth US$22) and Bobbi Brown's Eye Shadow Duo in Cement and Smoke (also worth about US$22) ... and there's also P2k worth of GCs from Jewels. Wow!
I'm very grateful for this whole experience. I was able to meet some wonderful people and learn a new skill all in one afternoon.
Thank you Lifestyle Network... especially Ms. Karen, Ms. Gie, and Ms. Kaths! :D |
| Start: | Jun 25, '08 11:30a | | End: | Jun 25, '08 5:00p | | Location: | Center for Aesthetic Studies, Makati City |
Still for confirmation due to the bad weather, hopefully it will push through. *Re-sked for Wednesday, pushing through at last! :D
Keirra appears in Disney's Princess Magazine for the third time this year! I emailed her Princess Jasmine pic for the Princess Postbag section in the hopes of winning the Best Costume award but it somehow ended up here in Fairy Godmother Corner of the July-August 2008 issue. Oh well...  At least we'll get P300 worth of Time Zone GCs so Keirra can play her favorite game, Love and Berry! My 7-year old cousin Ana Marie Eberhard also made it to the Fairy Godmother Corner page... Disney's Princess Magazine is giving away Crocs Jibbitz for this issue. Although I'd like some Jibbitz for Kei's Crocs I don't think we can win again next issue when we've just won this time... unless by some miracle we make it to Princess Postbag, hehe. For a chance to win Crocs Jibbitz, just answer the question "What's your favorite color of Crocs?". Send your answers with your full name, age, address, email add, contact numbers, and your loveliest photo to princesspromos@summitmedia.com.ph with the subject: "Fairy Godmother Corner July-August". Deadline of entries is on August 5, 2008.
| | My SM Story, Two winning My Favorite Book entries, one My Favorite Movie article, and a one-liner for Manila Bulletin's Word of the Day Contest. |
 Oh joy!
I was so happy when I looked at the Sunday Lifestyle section of Philippine Star today, May 18, 2008, and saw my published essay entitled "Confessions of a Contest Queen" on the second page. I've managed to win National Book Store and Globe's My Favorite Book Contest Year 7! This means I get P5,000 worth of National Bookstore GCs valid for one whole year... just in time for the school season. Thank you God, haha! I won once before back in 2006, then they changed the contest format for 2007 into "If My Life Were a Book" and I didn't join, they reverted back to "My Favorite Book" for 2008 and I joined again... I want to scan the essay but my scanner is in the office so it'll have to wait until tomorrow. It's actually posted on the Philippine Star website here - http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Sunday%20Life&p=49&type=2&sec=47&aid=2008051729 - but I'd still rather post the scanned newspaper clipping. The contest is ongoing until December 2008, full mechanics are printed in the Sunday Lifestyle section of Philippine Star. Those interested can still join. They don't call or inform winners so you really have to check the Sunday Lifestyle section every week to see if you've won. Turnover is roughly two weeks. :D I find it surreal that my essay was published almost exactly a year after the author of my favorite book died. Update: Scanned and incorporated the article to this blog post.
| | I attended the Spot Launch Party with my friend Beia at CAV Wine Bar and Restaurant in Fort Bonifacio High Street yesterday. Spot is a joint web venture of Summit Media and GMA Network, it features restaurant reviews mostly but will also cover shopping places, spa services, and the like.
We had food and wine pairings that afternoon, the food was delicious. I'm the farthest thing from a wine connoiseur but it was a good experience. The event was hosted by Marie Claire Beauty Editor Ms. Marie Calica, and most of the Summit Media people were there (of course!) including the president Ms. Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng, whom I really admire.
I met Spot managing editor Ms. Cathy Paras, whom I had been communicating with via email prior to the event. My review of Portico and I were featured in the Spot AVP, there was somebody who played me in the presentation wahahaha talk about having a stunt double. We also got to chat with Ms. Nicole Bulatao (General Manager of Spot and Associate Publisher of Marie Claire) and Ms. Myrza Sison (EIC of Marie Claire, and Editorial Director of the whole Summit Media group!). We were also entertained by the street magician Conrad.
We went home with a goodie bag containing a Spot pen and various GCs, a specially made cupcake by Sonja called Reese's Peanut Butter Pie, and a Spot champagne glass filled with Chocolate Confections' yummy treats. It was a great party! Loved the food, wine, and the people. I miraculously won a P1k Madison Grill restaurant gift certificate too. :D
Check out http://www.spot.ph |
| Start: | May 8, '08 03:00a | | End: | May 8, '08 06:00a | | Location: | CAV Wine Bar & Resto, Bonifacio High Street |
Spot.ph's launch party!
I just got my very first writing assignment from an up and coming baby/children/parenting magazine. If I do well, I'll have a slot as one of the magazine's regular contributors. I'm sort of excited and at the same time stressed since I've never really done this type of work. Since this is for the magazine's maiden issue, I have no idea what kind of tone or style they want to adapt... I really want to do a good job.
After airing the first version for two weeks (up to the second week of April), the Singapore Tourism Board decided to come up with a new version of our TVC featuring more scenes and more places. This time, all the places have labels. They said this will be the final and official version. I just lifted this video from their website http://www.discoveruniquelysingapore.com
Who would've thought the cellphone pic of Ken eating a cupcake at Cupcakes by Sonja would win a contest? I certainly didn't think so... but it did! It was chosen as one of Spot.ph's favorite pictures and we get 2.5k worth of Red Box GCs for it! Totally unexpected... I was expecting one of my restaurant reviews to win, this was just an accompanying picture for one of my reviews...
Kikay Exchange, one of the more popular local beauty blogs, recently published my article about Ace Water Spa. They held a writing contest for potential contributors and I joined. I didn't do it for the prize this time (the prize is a summer caftan and I don't wear dresses of any form), I did it for the chance to build my writing portfolio. It took me decades but I've only just begun to realize that I actually like writing. Anyways we just got back from Boracay, but I'll post about that separately after I organize our pics. My general sentiment though is Boracay is really quite overrated.
Our 45-second TV commercial for Discovery Channel and Singapore Tourism Board. This is the first version airing since end of March, and that is not my voice narrating. There will be a new version out this week which I was told will become the official version.
This commercial will air for one month in Discovery Channel and Discovery Channel Travel & Living... in twelve countries (Southeast Asian territories including Australia and New Zealand)!
Click on the triangle icon to view. Import.flv (1.9 MB)
 I actually submitted this article to GH sometime last November 2007 for the March 2008 issue but it somehow got pushed back to April 2008. Anyways I got a copy over the weekend, can't help but be excited over my very first published magazine article. Hopefully it won't be the last, haha.
Full-page scan of the article HERE.
| | Wow, my first magazine article has finally been published! |
 My aunt called me last night and told me it's airing already! I myself have not seen it yet because I'm still jetlagged from our US trip. I was told it's going to air from the end of March up to the end of April on Discovery Channel and Discovery Travel & Living. I haven't gotten our DVD copy either... hopefully I'll get to see it soon.
| | We started the day by going to Robinsons to shoot some shopping scenes. It was still closed as we arrived there 8am sharp, and it opens 10am. The kids were in awe of all the candies and toys in the kiddie section. After Robinsons we went to Vivo City, a new shopping complex. We shot some food tripping scenes at Food Republic there, and then had our lunch. We were in a rush so we had very little time to go around Vivo City.
We went to Suntec City next and boarded the Hippo Bus. It's a double-decker bus which tourists get on for a nice city tour. They rented the whole bus just for us! It was raining when we started shooting at the Hippo Bus but luckily the weather cleared and the kids had a great time. We weren't able to get any pics as it was quite difficult to move around the open air top deck. Even our cameraman had a hard time standing and balancing the huge camera since the bus was constantly moving. Our commercial video is my only hope for the documentation of our Hippo Bus ride!
After the Hippo Bus ride we headed for Sentosa and shot some scenes at the beach. Our things became separated as we rode different cars, so again we were not able to take any pics! Ken and Peter had some really nice scenes there though so I'm pretty sure they'll show it in the commercial.
After the beach we headed for Jumbo Seafood Restaurant at Riverside Point. We had a great view of the riverside and we had the yummiest dinner with all the popular Singapore dishes like Chili Crabs! Kei was acting up again because we had been shooting since 8am (it was past 8pm then) so most of the scenes featured Ken instead. Clarence of the Singapore Tourism Board wanted to take us on a river cruise after dinner but the kids were so tired that much as we all wanted to we had to pass.
The kids will surely never forget their Auntie Cyndi, Auntie Dorothy, Uncle Clarence, Auntie Amy, Auntie Jasmine, Uncle Daniel (our jolly cameraman), our director (I didn't get his name!), Uncle Ken, Uncle Surash, and the rest of the crew. They felt a bit sad when we told them their aunties and uncles won't be with us in the following days... they're such good people, the kids had so much fun with them in the two days we were all together. |
| | We were transported to Singapore Zoo by 8am the next day. We were told to get in costume and we had our hair and make-up done by Jasmine. We had "Breakfast with the Orangutans", an attraction of the Singapore Zoo. Keirra threw a tantrum which left me very stressed as I could not calm her down. Good thing she eventually settled and the crew was able to take some much-needed shots for the commercial. After that we rode a buggy and a stagecoach around the zoo, and then watched an animal show. When we wrapped up the shoot at the Singapore Zoo, the Singapore Tourism Board people treated the whole group to ice cream at Ben & Jerry's.
We scuttled over to Little Studios after the zoo, we had Hainanese Chicken Rice for lunch there and then proceeded to shoot some family photos for one of the scenes. I also recorded the voiceover narration for the commercial there.
We went to have dimsum at The Cathay Restaurant after Little Studios, but we neglected to take our own photos. The Cathay Restaurant is reputed to be one of Singapore's finest Chinese restaurants. We went to Sentosa right after to watch the evening show "Songs of the Sea". It was really good but flash photography was not allowed. The kids loved the mix of water fountain effects, laser lights, music, and pyrotechnics. We were seated in the center front row and the cameras were shooting the whole time we were watching. I hope we can see some of the show in the commercial...
We got back to the hotel at around 10pm and the kids were knocked out.
You can check out Songs of the Sea on youtube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMsFPieUWLk |
| | We boarded the 8:20am flight of Singapore Airlines, it was Keirra's first ever airplane ride. The kids were very happy because their seats came with their own monitors and consoles so they could watch videos and play games while in the air. They were also given Cartoon Network kiddie packs, and they were able to amass quite a collection. Keirra got all three Powerpuff Girls plushies, a coloring book, a box of crayons, a picture frame... Ken got some of the same stuff plus a Ben 10 50-pc puzzle set and a Ben 10 wallet. The flight attendants were very nice and the kiddie meal was very good!
We arrived at the Changi Airport after 3 hours where a Mercedes Benz picked us up! We were rather shocked by the limousine service as I was expecting just an ordinary taxi. We got checked in the Mandarin Oriental Marina Bay at around 1:30pm.
That same day at around 5:30pm, we had a briefing with the Discovery Channel Asia folks at our hotel. Cyndi (the producer) and Amy (the wardrobe stylist) brought suitcases full of clothes for us to try, so they could set aside the clothes we would be using for the 2-day shoot. Ken and Kei warmed up to them immediately and were clowning around with them by the end of the day. |
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