Kamera Digital News

Sweet and grand milestones

August 20th, 2007

Sweet and grand milestones
By Tessa Prieto-Valdes
Inquirer
INQ7.net, Philippines

Last updated 04:36am (Mla time) 08/19/2007
MANILA, Philippines – Life’s milestones make for unforgettable treasures, don’t they? Whether it’s small and personal, like our first paycheck, or as momentous as a golden wedding anniversary, a milestone provides precious memories that make life sweet and grand.

When the milestone is monumental, such as the 80th anniversary of the Camera Club of the Philippines, the celebration must be explosive and vividly displayed in brilliant colors.
Being the oldest camera club in Asia, this club has seen and embraced photography’s transformation from film to digital.

The Camera Club celebrated with an electronic tour de force, an exhibit of more than 300 photographs by its expert members.

Titled “Elements,” the audio-visual show runs on 10 top-of-the-line Philips LCD monitors and depicts air, earth, fire and water in various contexts, integrating awesome photos in amazing artistic renditions.

The show is on view at the Ayala Museum but will be exhibit afterwards in various SM Supermalls in the city.

The Club believes that art is for everyone and they want to reach as many people as possible. Fine art truly transcends the humdrum of business. What else can put Camera Club stalwart Jaime Zobel de Ayala’s photographic installations into a competitor’s mall?

Camera Club president Leo Riingen explained that the exhibit demonstrates the pervasiveness of digital media in photography as shown in a digital medium like the LCD TV. He warmly thanked the very generous support of Philips for the monitors and the necessary funding. He also acknowledged Canon and SM Malls for helping out with the anniversary events.

I use a small, purse-size, Swarovski-encrusted Canon digital camera for the photos in this column. It made me nervous to whip it out in the presence of these photography legends, each with their own gigantic, foot-long lenses. Well, at least I can say that my little camera gets more pictures into the newspaper that the average mega-wide camera.

Dolphy, Urban Spa, Nuvo Bar

Eighty is a wonderful milestone. Sharing the number with the Camera Club is the King of Pinoy comedy, Dolphy, who also recently marked that many years of blissful existence. My heartfelt greetings to this icon, who has made generations of Pinoys appreciate the value of humor.

Five, on the other hand, is not quite as great, but is usually the first important milestone for any business to achieve. By coincidence, both Urban Spa at Shangri-La Mall and Nuvo Bar in Greenbelt turn 5 this year.

Nuvo celebrated their fifth anniversary with a big blast, a Moët & Chandon champagne dinner hosted by eternal party king Louie Ysmael. Between the sumptuous cuisine and overflowing champagne, the party continued until the last party people finally left just before sunrise. Partygoers probably headed straight to Urban Spa for much needed massages!

Party ladies Cacay Moras and Liza Tan made sure I had my own bubbly, just as I arrived from the Swatch Party of Gift Gate queen Virgie Ramos. My timing was perfect as PR giant Joji Dingcong and I enjoyed our flutes of bubbly with matching fireworks!

Tatler

Five is good, but six is better. The Philippine Tatler, the nation’s premier society magazine, celebrates that figure next month with a grand ball on Sept. 29 at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel.

The annual Tatler Ball has become the most-awaited event, where elegance, refinement and charity are shared among the elite guests. It is also the only time Dennis, my husband, brings out his same old tuxedo. Men’s fashion is truly medieval compared to women’s.

Five and six make eleven, which reminds me of a friend with 11 toes, Ichay Bulaong. Her extra toe must give her extra energy because aside from leading Arc Worldwide, her top-notch agency, she finds the time for her personal advocacy— reducing our consumption of plastic bags by producing reusable cloth bags.

Ichay has her bags produced as a livelihood project by the housewives of the small community of San Teodoro in Mabini, Batangas. E-mail her at ibulaong @gmail.com.

Homecomings

Milestones that are school-related are the most fun. Our Assumption HS ’81 Homecoming brought back fond memories of our high-school days and brought back ties with classmates from all over the world.

This year, Assumption HS ’82 has been busy with preparations and practices for their Velada in October. Please support them by advertising in their full-color Memory Book. Call Rosanna Henares at 0917-8464987.

Another homecoming this year is the Colegio San Agustin Alumni Homecoming on Aug. 25, 7 p.m., at the CSA Gymnasium, Dasmarinas Village, Makati. Organizing committee head George Salud told me that they have lined up fun entertainment for all Agustinians. Nothing beats friendships made and sealed during high school.

The rain can dampen anyone’s parade but I say, shop the misery away. This weekend, the Urban Bazaar at the Rockwell Tent has fun and funky fashions from cool, young designers. Up-and-coming designer Mich Araullo, a junior Fashion Design and Merchandising major at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, will be selling her fashionable designs perfect for 20somethings.

Rain boots are the hottest rain fashion now and they will be available at the Urban Bazaar. Plueys, a brand of Wellington boots (visit www.pluey.com) from the United Kingdom, is now available and just in time for the rainy season. Head to the bazaar and be one of the first to have cool-colored rain gear.

In closing, I’d like to invite everyone to the mini-concert of visiting Toronto-based rock band, Robert Desmond Band, at Wasabi Restaurant on Aug. 22, 8 p.m.
The band’s melodic tunes with catchy verses are simply original, with an atmospheric trance provided by a mix of heavy guitars. Now what must that sound like? Call 8404223.

For my own personal milestone, I shall confidently predict that I will survive the first elimination round of “Celebrity Duets,” which was aired last night, after this column’s deadline. Speaking of which, it’s time for me to get back to singing in the rain!

E-mail me at seaprincess@inquirer.com.ph

Previous columns:
The greatest performance of my life – 08/12/07
Breastfeeders of the world, unite! – 08/05/07
The many paths to beauty and wellness – 07/29/07
Social responsibility is the new chic – 07/22/07
My first reception at the US Embassy – 07/15/07
Happy marriage between fashion and technology – 07/08/07
Back from our honeymoon – 07/01/07

Entry Filed under: World Digital Camera