Since a child, I have had this strong inclination to the arts. I doodled a lot at school, and I could clearly remember how ecstatic I am whenever a teacher would announce that we have to submit any art-related project while most of my classmates frown at the news. I applied to a Fine Arts and an Architecture course in some of the popular universities in our locality, but my family’s financial status could not handle the expenses, so instead I traversed a discipline that I am not so in love with. Dreams can wait, they say–but not too long. Or maybe, I just have an impatient ass.
I have a long list of what I want to do: study Fine Arts, Fashion Design, Speech Communication; do commercial modeling; participate in theater or any acting-related workshops; and the list goes on. So not long after my college graduation, I finally mustered the courage to leave town and take my chances here in the big city. I am getting older by the minute, and the industry I’d love to be part of does not worship twentyish people much. Chances are slim for “mature” people.
I had to do lots of research and contact people who could help me, and I think all my hard work paid off. This entry is not about me though (although you’ll see my face splattered on this page, this is a tribute to all the people whom I have met and made friends with and who have helped my dream kick off).
The first people I rendezvoused with were Gerry Diwa, Leimoure Sanchez, and Monde Rosales. They met with me for a test shoot at a studio owned by the Lensmates. It was July of 2010, I guess. Then I got lucky and was invited by Ruel Tafalla (the Lensmate’s master photographer) to their “shoot for a cause” the next week:
Then some random photographer from Hawaii named Rick Bernico contacted me and arranged a photo shoot here. I was pretty skeptical accepting his offer, but obviously I did. Haha.
Then my blog where I post my pictures started spreading, people began to recognize me as a model (although I’m not). I got invited to several other photo shoots and events.
These were taken during Nathan Lubian‘s The Abandoned workshop. I played a witch role here. By far, this was the most exciting shoot I’ve attended. My good and fab friend Pol Sumayao styled me here. In the event, we met Nonoy and Gracy who both became dear friends of ours.
I lost count how many photo shoots I’ve attended or how many photos I have and I still have to get from the photographers. All I know is that every event I attended lead me to another bigger “project” and to forming another set of friends worth keeping.
Then the unexpected happened. I was chosen as one of the top 40 candidates for Meg magazine’s Face Search. Even though I did not make it to the top 10, I was still able to experience VIP treatment.
I, along with the other candidates, was prepped up by The Face Shop and Bench Fix (You don’t get that everyday, you know.). We were presented to elite, popular media and entertainment people. Ultimately, a special “bond” developed between each of us contestants.
I will not forget these wonderful photographers and make-up artists as well:
Ned Elarmo
Jay Peña
Inocencio Domingo
William Talosig
Cyrel and Arnel Manlises
Brian Baltazar
Jerome Tan
Laurence Cu
Dayle Ng
Mitch Hernandez
Judy Teves
Carandol Eruaphiadon
Alvin Delos Reyes
Charm Gonzales
Ronald Malate
To those I forgot to mention, my apologies. The names above are the only ones I could recall at the moment or are the ones who at least managed to tag me on Facebook. Hehe.
Indeed, 2010 was a fruitful year. I’m looking forward to my next adventures this 2011. I hope they will be as awesome. 🙂
Forgive me if I cannot post all of my photos. But you can certainly head over to my Blogspot and Flickr sites. They contain almost all of my photos.
Search
Hey there! My name is Daphne and I am based in Tampa Bay, Florida.
This blog has been my digital home since 2010. I initially created Metamorphosis as an outlet for my thoughts but eventually focused on my (questionable) style, beauty routines, and adventures.
