• Oliver Tolentino

(via inquirer.net) BEVERLY HILLS —“I’m still awestruck. I feel like I’m in a dream,” Oliver Tolentino admitted after he and eight other designers were about to be introduced to the fashion and entertainment press as the finalists in the Oscars Designer Challenge 2010.

The Filipino designer said, “I, a province boy who grew up in little Orani, Bataan, am at the Academy headquarters before the international press for the presentation of my gown that might be worn on the stage of the Oscars? Someone should pinch me!” Oliver stood beside his gown entry, draped on a hanger, which is an ivory piña (pineapple fabric) and abaca fiber mermaid gown with freshwater pearl detail.

Reporters and photographers admired Oliver’s exquisite creation. We heard Oliver extol the beauty and quality of our piña and abaca fabrics to every journalist who interviewed him. TV star, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy’s Carson Kressley (host of Oscar’s exclusive web series, ‘Behind the Dress’ which premieres March 3rd) couldn’t help but admire the black abaca blazer that Oliver wore (his own creation). “I want one!” said Carson.

The winning gown, to be determined by online voting, will be worn by one of the awards escorts onstage at the Academy Awards on March 7, while its designer and his guest will get to attend the prestigious show. [READ MORE…]

*Click the image above to vote for Oliver’s gown. One vote per person per day.  Voting open until March 1st.

• Mich Dulce

(via philstar.com) LONDON – From a tropical country where few people wear hats, a Filipino fashion designer and milliner, actress and musician has won the British Council’s Young Fashion Entrepreneur (YFE) Award for 2010.

Mich Dulce bested 10 competitors from Bangladesh, India, Libya, Lithuania, Russia, Sri Lanka, Syria and Turkey to become the first Filipino to be honored with the prize.

Judges and the public raved not only about her designs, but about her use of indigenous materials, including sinamay and abaca, the latter a material the British associate with rope, said Leslie Stokes, chairman of the British Council Philippines, which sponsored the local search for the YFE.

Dulce’s fashion business, which started out on eccentric frocks and dresses, has now expanded to hats, headpieces, corsetry and bridal wear. Her unique style has been featured on “Young Asian Fashion Designers” published by Daab Publishing in Germany.

Along with her title, Mich gets a £5,000 grant for a collaborative project with the British Council. [READ MORE…]

Yesterday, W@W has been invited as The Wedding Lounge (TWL)  — a full-service wedding boutique — celebrated its moved to a new location right at the heart of Ortigas Center.  The new place is spacious yet homey, classy but welcoming, not intimidating at all.  Before the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Chiw Bailon (one of TWL’s founders) credited Jackie Mitra (of Plum Gifts) for doing a fine job in the cozy interiors of the shop.

TWL is composed of the following wedding suppliers (in alphabetical order): BaiCapture (photobooth), Carina Canlas-Villaluz (gown designer), Chocolate Confections by Maribeth Bailon-Santiago, Judy Uson – The Cake Artist, Metrophoto, Metro Eventscape Planners, Plum Gifts, Printsonalities (social invites & fine stationeries), Shindig Unveiled (event planner), and Wink (Written in Ink – alternative to traditional invites).

The Wedding Lounge is now situated at the G/F Amber Place, Escriva Drive, Ortigas Center, Pasig City.  Google Map marks the spot where it is exactly. 🙂

[This is a follow-up about the controversial women’s group party-list proposal which we posted over the weekend.]

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(via the Philippine News Agency) Several lawmakers on Tuesday expressed disapproval on a proposal that would mandate a 10-year limit on the validity of marriage contract.

 

Women’s party list group Isa-Ako Babaeng Astig Aasenso (1-ABAA), which is gunning for a seat in the May party-list elections in May, plans to put forth a measure requiring couples to renew marriage every 10 years so that it would not be voided.

Speaker Prospero Nograles said he was not in favor of the proposal as it was against his Catholic beliefs.

Nueva Ecija Rep. Eduardo Nonato Joson also junked the proposal, saying couples who want to get out of the marriage can resort to annulment.

“Okay na yung legal or de facto separation and civil annulment of marriages ngayon,” he said.

Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante, a pastor, said making marriage renewable reduces it to a “mere legal contract” instead of a relationship.

“What is happening to our values? That’s what happens when people don’t believe in absolutes anymore,” he said.

Muntinlupa Rep. Rufino Biazon said the proposed marriage contract expiration should be opposed “because it will endanger the integrity of the ties that bind Philippine Society.”

“The Filipino family is acknowledged as the basic unit of society and it cannot be denied that marriage is the foundation of most Filipino families. Marriage and families cannot be treated separately and impose policies on one and not consider the other,” he said.

Biazon said the Philippine Constitution guarantees the protection of the family’s integrity and states that marriage is an inviolable social institution.

“The non-expiring marriage contract is not a violation of any human right because entering into a marriage is an option where those engaging in it are well aware of the terms,” he said.

“To give marriage an expiration is also to give families an expiration. It will be dangerous to open Philippine Society to the mindset that marriages and families have a pre-determined end,” he said.

While proponents may argue that the contract is renewable, Biazon said, “the fact that when you enter into marriage you already know it will expire at a certain date, it already affects the way society will look at marital unions.”

“While I will fight for the rights of women, I put more premium in protecting the integrity of the Filipino Family. I will oppose marriage contract expiration,” he said.

On the other hand, Marikina Rep. Marcelino Teodoro said the sanctity of marriage “should not be treated as merely a contract that has an expiry date.”

“We should respect the vows that the couple have exchanged and not give a deadline to it. This proposal bastardizes not only the sanctity of marriage but as well as the Constitution which dictates that marriage is a special contract of permanent union between a man and a woman. This only obscures the inviolability of the family system which is only built upon by marriage,” he said.  (by Lilibeth G. Ison / PNA)

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related news article:

• Solons say no to ‘renewable’ marriage

[via CBCP News] The head of Manila’s Roman Catholic Church has banned wedding rites from being held outside the churches.

Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales said that for a couple to get married outside a parish church was contrary to the meaning of Christian marriage.

“All Catholic marriages within the Archdiocese of Manila should be held within the parish churches,” Rosales said in a circular issued to his clergy recently.

Rosales said he was acting to prevent the sacrament of marriage being ridiculed and to press the observance of “all ecclesiastical laws.”

“I have to ensure that abuses do not creep into ecclesiastical discipline, especially concerning the celebration of the sacrament of marriage,” he said.

But the cardinal took exception for those “in periculo mortis” cases.

The religious term is a marriage that is performed when either the groom or bride is in danger of death.

Canon law does require that weddings take place within a church building but each bishop may particularize the policy in his diocese.

Hence, like in Manila, there are other dioceses that do not allow outdoor weddings without a dispensation from the bishop.

Rosales is known for his moves to ensure the solemnity of the sacrament of matrimony within his pastoral jurisdiction.

The church official earlier called the attention of soon-to-wed couples not to forget the solemnity of their marriage ceremony.

He noted that couples focus too much their attention on the wedding details like invitations, attires, among other things, and their attention towards the solemnity of the ceremony is diminished.

Rosales also stated that more couples are now opting to have a civil wedding rather than a church wedding because of the increasing cost involved in holding the latter.

He likewise appealed to bridal parties to wear proper attire during wedding ceremonies. Certain clothing can distract fellow churchgoers from prayer, he said.

(via Manila Bulletin) Known for her hits “Everyday” and “Sa Isip Ko,” Agot Isidro takes on a new role as a ‘wedding singer’ as she returns to the music scene via “White Lace and Promises,” a collection of well-loved wedding songs.

Released under PolyEast Records, Agot said the concept of “White Lace and Promises” is just right for the ‘ber’ months.

“Contrary to popular notion that June is the wedding month, it is actually during the ‘ber’ months that more Filipino couples walk down the aisle. The nights are longer during this time and people anticipate receiving their Christmas bonus,” she said during the press conference for the album held at Discovery Suites on Oct. 14.

She shared that choosing songs for the album was a challenge “because there are so many good wedding songs.”

Nevertheless, Agot and PolyEast were able to come up with an album they could be proud of—one that features versions of OPM classics and international standards that can be used for both intimate and big weddings.

Agot confessed that she initially balked at recording a version of Basil Valdez’s signature song, “Ngayon at Kailanman.”

“I didn’t think I could sing this song. I thought the song was too ‘big’ for me and I knew how popular and well-loved this song is to Filipinos. I hope I gave justice with my version,” she related.

Her version eventually ended up as the album’s promotional song.

The singer-actress also did a duet with Martin Nievera on the Patti Austin-James Ingram song, “True Love.” She said the Concert King had to sing four songs prior to recording “True Love” to enable his vocal cords to stretch because it was arranged in a key higher than he is used to.

Other songs in “White Lace and Promises” are Rico J. Puno’s “Together Forever,” The Carpenters’ “We’ve Only Just Begun” [the second verse of which is where the title of Agot’s album was lifted],  Shania Twain’s “From This Moment,” and The Corrs’ “Runaway” (which Agot sang at the Judy Ann Santos- Ryan Agoncillo nuptial on April 28).

Agot said she is reminded of her wedding to businessman Manu Sandejas whenever she listens to her latest album. The two tied the knot on Oct. 7, 2000 at the St. John Bosco Church in Laguna.

“Unlike some people who recall their weddings as blurs, I remember mine very vividly. It was raining while the priest was saying mass, but the rain stopped as soon as we [Agot and Manu] stepped out of the church,” said she.

Incidentally, Manu agreed to be photographed as Agot’s love interest for the album’s inlay. She said that Manu replaced a Brazilian model for the task when negotiations for the latter didn’t fall through.

Agot is choosy in accepting invitations to sing at weddings, preferring to do so only for people whom she knows well..

“Weddings are very intimate occasions, [so] there’s this danger of becoming an ‘unwanted stranger’. It’s important that you discuss with the couple what they want to sing. The music is your connection with them,” she explained.

album tracks:

1. Ngayon at Kailanman
2. Here There and Everywhere
3. Runaway
4. This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)
5. Together Forever
6. I Will
7. From this Moment
8. When You Say Nothing at All
9. We’ve Only just Begun
10. Fallen
11. Looking Through the Eyes of Love
12. True Love (duet with Martin Nievera)