They’re hot off the press!

Get your FREE copy of Bride’s Yellow Pages (BYP 2010 edition) during you visit of Mandarin Oriental Manila wedding fair to be held at  slated on March 20 and 21, 2010 (Saturday & Sunday).

The event also coincides with the promo dubbed “Our Wedding Proposal,”  a special raffle draw open to all engaged couples who attend the grand wedding fair and who book their wedding at the hotel. First prize is a voucher for a PHP500,000 banquet, to be applied to the couple’s wedding function. Also at stake is a weekend stay at the Mandarin Oriental Club, as well as a dinner for two at The Tivoli.

Next week, BYP will be available for sale (P100/copy) at The Wedding Library (SM North Edsa & Megamall) and at the Filipinas Heritage Library (Makati).

Fresh from the success in the re-staging of “Rent,” 9 Works Theatrical unveils their next musical theater undertaking with the screen-to-stage adaptation of “The Wedding Singer” slated to open on October 2010 at the Meralco Theater.

The original 1998 romcom hit, starred by Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore, is where the oddly popular wedding song “Grow Old with You” is from co-written by Sandler himself. In 2006, this Hollywood instant classic opened on Broadway, earning the show five Tony Awards nominations, including Best Musical.

In connection with the Philippine production, 9 Works Theatrical will be holding auditions this weekend:

• March 19 (Friday) | venue:  Philippine Opera Company, 15 Garcia Villa St., San Lorenzo Village, Makati City | Registration at 9am.  Auditions at 11am.
• March 20 (Saturday) | venue: Infinitif Dance Studio, 2/F Berris Building, 6678 Taylo St., Barangay Pio del Pilar, Makati City | Registration and Auditions at 10am. Dance Callbacks at 2pm.

They are looking for actors and singers to fill principal and supporting roles:

• Robbie Hart (rock tenor, can play guitar, 25 - 35 years old) - a musician and lead singer for a trio that plays at weddings; very charismatic yet insecure with “puppy dog” appeal

• Julia Sullivan (soprano, 25 - 35 years old) - Robbie’s love interest, a sweet and understanding yet naive waitress for a catering firm, comedic ingénue

• Glen Guglia (baritone, 30 - 45 years old) - a calculating, money-loving Wall Street type

• Holly (pop belter, 20 - 35 years old) - Julia’s bubbly, uninhibited and loveable cousin

• George (baritone-tenor, strong falsetto, comic role, can rap, 20 - 35 years old) - Robbie’s flamboyantly gay, eccentric friend and fellow band member

• Rosie (soprano, comic role, can rap, 50+ years old) - Robbie’s feisty grandmother

A total of 16 chorus members will be cast. There is a large chorus of singers and dancers for the wedding scenes. The dancing is 80s-inspired, so jazz training is excellent background.

Impersonators of Ronald Reagan, Nancy Reagan, Mr. T., Tina Turner, Billy Idol, Cyndi Lauper and Imelda Marcos are also needed.

For further inquiries, get in touch with JonJon Martin at (632) 557.5860 or +63916.264.4434, email jonjon@9workstheatrical.com, or visit www.9workstheatrical.com.

Below is a musical montage from the original Broadway cast.

(via Business World) Bridal custom is much in demand in the Philippines and competition is all the more fierce with the proliferation of wedding venues that cater to the whimsical (or magic realist) fancies of a couple tying the knot.

Mandarin Oriental Manila has decided to step up its game by providing that extra little something that can’t be had elsewhere: two clothing designers are exclusively part of the preparations — Monique Lhuillier by way of a table collection for Royal Doulton, and Estien Quijano, who lends a hand with the themed banquet sets unique to the hotel.

As an added perk, an ongoing promo dubbed “Our Wedding Proposal” offers a couple registered at the hotel with the opportunity to win a free P500,000 wedding reception in a raffle draw, and an invitation to the hotel’s bridal fair on March 20 and 21. The promotion is open to all engaged couples who confirm their weddings with Mandarin on or before April 15 — even if the wedding is set for 2011.

“When the themed venues came in, 2008-2009, we really felt it. We worked at being accredited at these places — we do outside catering… But when you opt for a venue outside the hotel, you have to pay for the venue as well as the catering, the photographer, all this, but the hotel is a one-stop shop, the ballroom is dressed already. We give more, the clients get more,” said Cyndy Austriaco-Cuna, Director of Conferences and Banquets for Mandarin Oriental Manila. [READ MORE…]

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more about the bridal fair:

Guests can also sit in different talks held by Max Factor, Elizabeth Arden, and LuxAsia on bridal beauty; couples-to-be can also consult with Feng Shui master Joseph Chau on auspicious dates and compatibility.

Mandarin Oriental, Manila also announces a special raffle draw open to all engaged couples who attend the grand wedding fair and who book their wedding at the hotel. First prize is a voucher for a PHP500,000 banquet, to be applied to the couple’s wedding function. Also at stake is a weekend stay at the Mandarin Oriental Club, as well as a dinner for two at The Tivoli. The wedding banquet must be held from May 1, 2010 until December 31, 2011, and confirmation with the hotel should be on or before April 15, 2010.

Entrance to the bridal fair is free, but requires registration.

For inquiries, call 750 8888 or email momnl-socials@mohg.com. One can also visit the hotel’s Facebook microsite at www.facebook.com/MandarinOrientalManila.

(via PAWP) The Philippine Association of Wedding Planners, Inc. (PAWP) once again offers its 7th comprehensive two-day Basic Course on Wedding Planning and Coordination on March 27 & 28, 2010 at the EDSA Shangrila Hotel.

The seminar is replete with valuable information, tips and exercises. The topics and materials are aimed to equip the participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to become a professional wedding planner. The course was designed by event planning experts covering every aspect of a wedding, and each topic incorporates their years of experience in the wedding industry.

Fee is P12,000.00 which includes 2-day buffet lunch, AM/PM snacks, whole day coffee and tea, materials/handouts, and a Certificate of Attendance.

An EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT OF 10% for enrollees who give full payment on or before February 22, 2010. [READ MORE…]

RJ Ledesma sent an email about the launch of his book “I Do or I Die! RJ Ledesma’s Imaginary Guide to Getting Married and other Man-made Disasters (As Told to him by his Yaya)“ and he wants us to share with you.

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Dear friends,

Greetings! I hope you guys can make it to the launch of my newest humor book “I Do or I Die! RJ Ledesma’s Imaginary to Getting Married and other Man-made Disasters (As Told to him by his Yaya)” this coming THURSDAY (October 22) 6pm at National Bookstore, Glorietta 5 in Makati City. Please feel free to bring friends, buy a couple of signed copies to help me pay for my baby’s diapers. I’ll see you guys there!

BTW, if you are abroad and would like to order a copy of the book, you can pick it up from here. 

I would really appreciate the support and I look forward to seeing you there!

Cheers,
RJ Ledesma