Dominic Barrios | Wedding Photographer in Manila, Philippines

Venue: Plaza Dilao Paco Manila

Shot with Gracielle Hernandez for Imagine Nation Photography

The moment we entered the venue for Joaquin’s birthday, I knew it was going to be big.

Check out Joaquin’s cake…Yummy!

The party had cool and funny ventriloquists.

Some amazing and funny acrobats.

and Joaquin’s friends just couldn’t keep their eyes off of the performers.

Joaquin also gave us a surprise dance number. He really danced well, he even had backup dancers. Learned some steps from this little guy. “Apple bottom jeans, boots with a fur..” “Low, Low, Low…”

Guess who’s the father of Joaquin?… No other than Isko Moreno. Yule Servo was there also… Cool!

And here’s our handsome birthday boy… Joaquin! Smile!

It was a great and fun-filled birthday celebration. Can’t believe parents would spend for their kid’s 7th birthday party. Joaquin was very lucky to have his wonderful and loving parents. Glad I was able to enjoy shoot his party and witness all the fun.

Joaquin, Happy Birthday! I’m betting I’ll be seeing you on TV someday. You rock!

Venue: Phil Am Homes Clubhouse

Tita Myrna is the mother of one of our brothers in the community, Nes Jeturian. While Nes is a chaptermate of Heidi Valencia and Carlo Cecilio (My co-photographers in Imagine Nation). When Heids first called me about the event, she told me that this was just going to be a honoring party, and so I said “Okay” since I wasn’t going to do anything on Friday.

I wasn’t very familiar with Phil Am Homes so I had to search it on the net and drive my way there. When I got to talk to Nes, he told me the directions to our first venue, the church, since there’ll be a Thanksgiving mass first. I decided to go early to look for the venue because I didn’t want to be late or be caught in traffic. When I followed the directions given to me, I saw that the church venue was at Sta. Rita de Cascia. (Trivia: Sta Rita de Cascia is my first church where I’ve shot my first wedding in Imagine Nation with Ivan and Raschel. Second was Ronald and Lou’s wedding). I probably arrived an hour earlier because of not so much traffic and just God’s blessing.

Nes and his sister, Candy, prepared a list of people who’ll be honoring Tita Myrna. And the whole time we were just laughing because of the things these people really loved about her and what they were sayiing about her.

Her friends from the CFC community, and Mother Butler guild prepared song presentations for her after sharing all the good qualities they’d like to honor about Tita Myrna.

Candy, together with her loyal friends, sang a medley of exceptional songs that they always sing during the special events of the family. And I must say, these Trio really rocked the house. Their last song, a christmas kundiman song, really touched my heart and raised my teardrop alert to level 1.

Another highlight of the event was the CFC community honoring Tita Myrna and singing a song for her. First the Tito’s were serenading her with their version of “You are the Sunshine of My Life” then the Tita’s came in dramatically singing “Ikaw lamang”. Man, they sang beautifully and I already felt the teardrop alert raised to level 3 instantly.

Here are the CFC group with a kissing pose. Woohooo… Thank God they’re sooo GAME.

Another picture with a Wacky Happy People.

One of the special guests there was Tita Mila and Tito Joe Yamamoto, from the CFC council, who was also the spiritual heads of Tita Myrna and Tito Jet. They also gave an honoring speech for her and reminiscing of the good old times in their service.

After that, Tito Joe Yamamoto lead the Praying Over for Tita Myrna and Tito Jet.

Everyone in the room joined in praying over the couple and while shooting the scene, I just joined in praising God for the good life He has given us and the blessing of just being there and witnessing the atmosphere of love in the room.

After the Praying Over, the dance instructors led the way and opened the floor for a night of fun. Just played around with the shutter and flash here. =P

Tita Myrna sure is a fun fun lady. Here is Heids doing her thing with Tita Myrna and Candy.

It was a real blessing just to be there that time and hearing all the positive qualities and encouragements for Tita Myrna. The love and concern of the people around her, the community, friends, church and of course her family.

To Tita Myrna, Tito Jet, Candy and Nes. May you always stay happy, healthy and blessed by God with so much love.

“Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

Deuteronomy 5:16

Venue: North Greenhills Clubhouse

Maraiye Francine is the youngest daughter of our lovely secretary, Ate Mot. We arrived at the venue earlier and everybody, including the party suppliers, were setting up the balloons, decors and booths. From what I saw that day, that party was going to be BIG.

First Clue: Check out Francine’s Cake…

Second Clue: The goodie cupcakes…yumm

Meet Francine with her lovely parents Ate Mot and Richard. Joel at the left and Aaron at the right.

The lovely ladies: Joel, Aaron and Jesy.

When the kids arrived at the party, the booths were all up and running. Look how busy the hair salon was.

(L) Matthew won a mirror and I decided to play with it. (R) Sabrina here was competing with the boys on building the plastic cup pyramid.

And then I found JB, “Smile-y”…while the other kids were playing with the bubbles at the stage.

One of the program’s highlights was the Magic tricks and all the kids were awed with the show.

(L) You can see how the kids really wanted to take home the appearing stuffs from the Magician’s Hat. (R) And at this point, the famous unicyclist of the Philippines came in and performed their tricks as well.

It was fun watching them that it was tempting enough to just drop my gears and pay attention to their tricks. But “work comes first”.

While shooting the crowd, I saw some familiar faces. My co-photographer Mike Tan and his lovely wife, Tin, together with their beautiful daughter, Mika.

Instead of the usual pukpok palayok, the “IN” thing today is the balloon-popping and all the goodie candies are still awaited for.

Lastly, here is Ninong Erron and Jesy with the birthday girl, Maraiye Francine.

I had the funnest birthday shoot that day because there were freeflowing gellato ice cream. Also, I got to take home a limited “Francine Turns 1″ bean bag and took home some balloons. Woohoo… Not only does God make beautiful weddings, but Birthdays as well.

Thanks Ate Mot!

17 years to go and it’s your debut Francine. =) I think I can still hold a camera by that time. =P