COME AND HELP OUT!

 

 "If you, then, though you are evil,

know how to give good gifts to your children,

how much more will your Father in heaven

give good gifts to those who ask him!"

 - Matthew 7:11

This past week, I've been seeing a lot of people being active in helping out Tacloban from being hit by the 3-times-stronger-than-Katrina, typhoon Haiyan. Some sincerely, some, just because of wanting to be talked to in the famous social networks online. Whichever is the real purpose behind it, let's not forget that we can help in our own little ways. And the most meaningful of all are the events where you helped willingly.

I work with 5 people of whose families have been victims of the tragedy. The little Filipino community here opted to help the ones first whom we know personally since that's the only way we would know that our help would go directly to the right hands.

I would like to extend the invitation to those who live here in Hong Kong to check out the 2nd bazaar for a cause that is going to be held in Pa Mei, Tung Chung Village. You are welcome to donate anything (though you could check out this article for the suggested list of "10 Worst Things to Donate after a Disaster").

Since, it is hard to ship goods and clothing directly to the families of our colleagues, the bazaar will sell the collected donations all for HK$5. Once you drop your donations, you might see something that you'd want to purchase. So, please feel free to look around. Also, this 2nd Donation Drive happening on Wednesday, (Nov. 20, 2013)  is strictly for adults only. Details go as follows:

Fund Raising for "THE CAUSE" Grown Up Edition

November 20, 2013, Wednesday
4PM to 12:05am
@ Hanedy and Butch's Rooftop near Pa Mei carpark

IMPORTANT:
Kids are DIScouraged to join

FOR SALE!!! All you see for ONLY $5 each.

This time, we would like to ask VODKA or RED WINE donations as well for this will be a night for the grown-ups.
$5 for each shot of VODKA
$5 each glass of RED WINE
100% of the proceeds will be given directly to Super Typhoon Yolanda Victims.

You guys can still bring donation for us to sell and please bring them to us
already SORTED for easy set-up.

Please Spread the word.
Thanks in advance for all your help."

The first bazaar earned roughly HK$2,500.00. That's just HK$500 each for the family of our own co-dancers here. But they are very appreciative of all the help that we extended. Four of them now are in the Philippines to evacuate their families to Manila and just stay there for the mean time. They have spent most of their lives in Tacloban and it surely is up to leap of faith how they will start anew. But taking it day by day is the only solution and this small amount would help them to start.

Another Haiyan drive that a Philippine professional photographer, (currently residing here in Hong Kong) Mark Bautista, had done, was a Photoshoot for a Cause. Collaborating with Sunshine Huang, Ela Lisondra and Elias Hendricks, they held a successful photoshoot last November 15 with HK$3500 fund raised.

There are still 2 batches to go. Batch 2 is scheduled on Nov. 22, 2013 (also in Pa Mei Village, Tung Chung, Hong Kong) and the 3rd one's details are yet to be announced still.

With these two donation drives, please feel free to leave your email addresses if you are interested to go to the first one or avail the 2nd one. We will send you personal messages regarding location, contact numbers and/or any details you need thru it. All of these are just easy steps into extending help to our fellow men.

All of us are given an opportunity to help people. It doesn't necessarily have to be too great to shout it out to the whole world. It could be in its simplest form such as, offering a seat in the bus, sharing your time to volunteer and helping an elder with the groceries. Before we go greatly into helping the world, start with those around us.

MARK BAUTISTA PHOTOGRAPHY

I always feel excited every time I am about to do a photo shoot, may it be me who's going to be the subject or me doing the project for somebody.

Recently, I had the infamous Mark Bautista to grace me with his talent. Mark, who had been of service for a lot of Hong Kong performers, had already caught my attention as he continuously works on a lot of portrait shots of my friends and colleagues at work. And they all came out divine. Finally, our schedules met after 3 attempts of booking a day with him. We grabbed the opportunity for a fun day.

No awkward nor dull moment as we started as he was as passionate in styling me up as he was with his camera. Truly, he and Jen Bautista are a good match in coming up with a new me. There is more than "dedication" for a word to describe their team as Joms Ortega's helping hands contributed to the photo shoot's huge success too. All of us just went in sync automatically and I, myself was also amazed that it went smoothly and longer than we expected.

The appointment was at 11am. And as soon as Mark reached the house, we uttered our hi's and hello's and he took note of what looks I would and would not be willing to do. After then he looked at the closet, asked where the shoe cabinet was and scattered the set of accessories I have to match 'em altogether. I did bring out some of my preferences and he combined it with his own. We had set my home as the location as it went more than versatile as we have thought so. We went for industrial look, rocker look, serene, happy, "maring" (sweet), and of course, we had to wrap it up with the Katrina Kyte Dalino pose.... as he wanted it to be documented from when I did it when I was younger.

All in all, it was such a good rediscovery of what I always have loved to do. The "plus" there was gaining another friend who was more than willing to show who I truly am, not just based on looks. It was a good release to be helped out to portray the real me even thru a very silent picture. It was all worth it. Professionally speaking, he did a great job of convincing me to give out more than what I was used to working on. Jen and Joms on the other hand, never ran out of praises and kind words. Oh! They knew how to encourage a "SMIZE" out of you. Catching up with them made the time spent go priceless in doing this project. I've performed with them before but now they have moved on to greater heights and hearing them talk about it nurtured my dreams. It's always important to surround yourself with positive people who makes you feel that "nothing is impossible", people who never loose hope and are just happy come what may.

It's a long gone thankful post but still, I would want to extend my biggest gratitude to Mark Bautista, Jen Bautista and Joms Ortega for all of these wonderful shots....

I suggest you coordinate with him if you want to refresh your portrait shots or just to capture a certain moment with family and friends. It is definitely worth it. Or please feel free to comment if interested on how to contact his team.

Related posts:

1. THEN AND NOW - a tribute to the creator of the KATRINA KYTE DALINO POSE, and to the ones who had made it famous.
2. JACKY JUNTARO PHOTOGRAPHY - See the works of Jacky as he had helped me make a record of one of my bucket list coming to life.
3. BUCKET LIST - Check out what we have in common and what I may have written down that you want to include in yours.

THEN AND NOW

It's amazing how pictures could play a great role in our lives as they mirror
traces of memory, that even to us, the truth behind it is awakening.

It was seven years ago when I had my photo taken by Patrick Mabanta

whose creative efforts had given birth to the "Katrina Kyte Dalino pose".

He studied photography in Brunei then had put up his own business

in the Philippines that time (around 2005).

My sister advised that a photo is a good investment

if you want to land some commercials and gigs, so I had my own taken.

I'd say for both business and pleasure (for FRIENDSTER - lol!).

I was hesitant to own this pose as this photo shoot was

just for own usage coming up with zed cards to give to a number

of talent agencies in the Philippines.

When I decided to be part of the Disney family,

people started tagging me doing this pose and it made me feel

more than grateful to be remembered this way.

I love seeing them get inspired as they embrace their own beauty

and confidence in having their photos taken doing this exact pose entitling it

"a tribute to you" or just the mere fact that they feel beautiful in doing it,

putting on a fierce attitude and adding up their own personal touch.

But going deeper, I love it that they remember me this way.

In fact, all of their renditions were so good,

it came to a point that I felt intimidated as theirs

had looked way better than mine.

To that, I challenged myself to have my picture taken once again

considering the added experience, stronger motive and bold intentions.

It did show as looking at both of the images,

you would find remarkable changes.

My eyes became more relaxed and not too innocent.

My cheekbones had formed and all baby fats and/or chummy cheeks

turned to form a deeper angle chiseling the jaw.

My awkward lips had faded away and so did my two

front teeth that are longer than before for some reason.

Hahahahaha!!!!

I guess a woman had emerged alright.

For the latest Katrina Kyte Dalino Pose,
I'd like to extend my gratitude to Mark Bautista and his crew,
Jen Bautista and Joms Ortega for a wonderful photoshoot that we had last Sunday. 
Edited photos are yet to come up and I'd share it to you soon once
it's all completed and shared by the photographer.

I've included a slide show of the people who had shared
their photos doing the "Katrina Kyte Dalino pose".
A million thanks to all of you.

Katrina Kyte Dalino Pose - Slideshow