THE W@WIES HAVE SPOKEN!

(photo by Paul Vincent)

We would like to congratulate Raymond Fortun for being named the 2009 Supplier of the Year (SOTY) in this year’s W@Wie Awards in ceremonies held at the Blue Leaf Events Pavilion. It’s been one amazing crossover of a man from the courtroom to the altar.

Raymond is part of the Top Ten (actually 11 for there was a tie in one slot) wedding suppliers for 2009.  They were formally introduced via video presentations especially done for us by Chug Cadiogan. The production of the video took several days for Chug and his team did not just interview the awardees; but followed each of them while at work, and even shot ‘mini-me’ versions of each supplier complete with props and costume!

We’re presenting these clips here in the same order the were presented last night.

Here’s our Top 10 (in order of interview/appearance): Bob Nicolas (video), Angel of Hearts (flowers), Jayson & JoAnne Arquiza (photo),  Eloquente Catering, k. by Cunanan Catering, Josiah’s Catering, Phoeben Teocson Cinema, Nice Print (photo), Rejectkrew (mobile),  Raymond Fortun (photo), and Threelogy (video).

From the list above comes the Top 5 Wedding Suppliers of 2009!

And finally, the man of the hour: the 2009 Supplier of the Year!

Mabuhay ang Top 10!

Way before our announcement of the Top 10 wedding suppliers for 2009, photorapher Erron Ocampo approached us and volunteered to do a pictorial of the nominees with his fiancé, Jesy Alto doing the makeup and styling.  Due to a tie in the rankings, we have eleven names this year.

“Hotseat” was their concept and even brought a country-style La-Z-Boy recliner to the studio by fitting it in the backseat of their car! Erron then had each wedding supplier pose near the furniture without actually letting them sit on it.

 So who will take the seat and be named the 2009 Supplier of the Year?

Checkout this year’s gallery of nominees.

The W@Wies have already decided.  For the second time in The W@Wie Awards history, eleven wedding suppliers landed in our Top 10 for 2009.  For the first time, three caterers and three videographers are included in the magic list.  Also included are three photographers, a florist, and a mobile (lights & sounds) provider.Here they are in alphabetical order:

• Angels of Heart (flowers)
• Bob Nicolas (video)
  
• Eloquente Catering
• Jayson & JoAnne Arquiza (photo)
  
• Josiah’s Catering
• k. by Cunanan Catering
• Nice Print (photo)
  
• Phoeben Teocson Cinema
  
• Raymond Fortun (photo)
  
• Rejectkrew (mobile)
• Threelogy (video)
  

The Top 10 are all on equal footing as the W@Wies will vote anew to determine our Top 5, and ultimately, the 2009 W@W Supplier of the Year.

Winners will be formally announced during the awarding ceremonies cum Christmas Party to be held on November 27 (Friday), with Blue Leaf Events Pavillion hosting this annual event.

Congrats to our Top 10!

(photo by Oly Ruiz of MetroPhoto)

Another gown designer took home the “W@Wie”!

From up the stage, we could see Cecilio Abad as his name was announced. We saw how all the girls he dressed-up went around him to kiss, hug and wipe his tears away (parang Miss U!). We also saw how all the photographers aimed their lenses to that table to capture the moment.

Cecil was still in tears as he made his acceptance speech. What made it more touching was that he brought his whole staff with him up the stage. He also made mention of how Veluz (2005 Supplier of the Year) helped him in running his couture business. Truly, a testament of the industry’s community spirit which is essentially the “theme” of the whole event.

We asked Bob Nicolas to do the W@Wie Awards AVP for this year. To say that Bob simply delivered is a great disservice to the guy. He (with his wife Lette) rented a state-of-the-art studio for the interview of the Top 10, and even went to actual weddings (not his clients’) just to capture clips of these suppliers at work. Really, the guy is always all about pushing the limit.

Below, we present The 2008 W@Wie Awards video in order they appeared in the program.

(TOP 10 in order of appearance: Jayson & Jo Anne Arquiza, Clarice Avinante, Phoeboen Teocson, K by Cunanan Catering, Nice Print Photo, Josiah’s Catering, PartyPics Live!, Threelogy, Raymond Fortun & Cecilio Abad)

(TOP 5: Josiah’s Catering, Jayson & Jo Anne Arquiza, Raymond Fortun, Threelogy & Cecilio Abad)

But before we announced the 2008 Supplier of the Year (SOTY), we called up on stage the past SOTY winners (from 2003 to 2007) to elevate them to the Hall of Fame. A video was shown to honor them especially done for us by Threelogy. It’s basically a montage of photos and text. Boring right? But not when it’s made by these guys. See what I mean…

(SOTYs: Alex Franco - 2003; Jason Magbanua - 2004; Veluz - 2005; Paul Vincent - 2006; Mimi + Karl - 2007)

Immediately after that, the winner was announced through this video and this humble guy from Ormoc went up the to join the Hall of Famers. Same surrealism. Same stage. Same trophy.

(Cecilio Abad - 2008 Supplier of the Year)

Congrats, Cecil! Benz & I are truly proud of you and the work you do!

 
(photo by J&J - Jayson & Jo Anne Arquiza)

Since the last W@Wie Awards, we schedule pictorial with all the TOP 10 nominees during the AVP shoot.  This year, we hammed it up in front of the camera with the 2008 Top 10 wedding suppliers  to join in the fun!

The mugshot concept is by the J&J photo tandem — that’s Jayson & Jo Anne Arquiza.  The idea was further enhanced with the addition of “criminal charges” as suggested by their fellow nominee — Atty. Raymond Fortun.  How appropriate, right?  Talk about collaboration!

If you’re part of the W@W’s facebook network (both Benz & I are now certified FB addicts in bad need of rehab!), you’ve probably seen some of these mugshots in our profile pic the past week or two.  But we’re sharing here for the first time the entire set of mugs taken by J&J.  It’s hilarious!

See this slideshow.