That's me!

Just some of the TV commercials that I voiced.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ld2LQFY_cuQ Skinwhite Lotion – coffee shop

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYC_3Fv-smE Palmolive Naturals – soft

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWoV4_VDMUY Palmolive Naturals – shine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isvE42uJW1k Block & White Lotion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S63CvMnYYeU Ever Bilena Body Butter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqSi_iikHpA Chalk Magazine event tvc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYM3f4EW97M Chalk Magazine monthly tvcs

I love being a voice talent! :)

Counting the days...

...21 more to go to be exact. Just when you want time to speed up, it suddenly feels like it's moving at a snail's pace. Sigh. Our honeymoon trip is making me this anxious. I am just so excited to finally get away from work, stress, the hustle and bustle of everyday city life.

Some days when things get too hectic or tension-filled at work, I sit alone in my office, close my eyes, and picture me and my husband holding hands and wading in knee-deep, crystal clear water, white sand between our toes, sun glistening on our tanned skin.

We fly off on October 28. Destination: Boracay, where two prestigious hotels await. Can't wait. My butt is literally writhing in anticipation. Teehee. While I wait and count the days, I stare longingly at this...

Watch this!

I found this on Youtube. My very first dubbing project with Twenty Plus Studios - SECRETO DE AMOR. Circa 2004-2005. I got the lead role, Maria Clara, and my leading man, Carlos Raul, was voiced by my good friend Jess the Blade. The project was directed by Direk Liza Cornejo. When I found this clip, I felt myself drift back to many years ago, when I was still quite new in the industry.

Before Twenty Plus, I was already doing projects with Roadrunner. My very first telenovela with them was that Ian Veneracion-Vina Morales-Eula Valdes series. I was a newbie, but I won the bida role! I got the part of Vina Morales. Wow. Trip down memory lane.

Dubbing is LOVE!

:)

Here's hoping...

A true leader has faith in his people. He believes in their capabilities. His faith in them is unwavering. He gives them chances to grow and spread their wings and shine. He gives them the chance to become leaders, too, someday.

A true leader is a diamond in the rough. In time, we will find ourselves someone who can really lead us. Someone who is not easily swayed. Someone who has the courage to say what's on his mind, and is never afraid to be honest. Someone who will not look for a scapegoat for his failures and wrong choices.

For now, unfortunately, we have to settle for the one who does not have the capability to lead or inspire. But though he disappoints with his incompetence, let us not be disheartened. Let this not bring us down. The failure of the King may be a heavy burden to bear, but it cannot shake the strength of the army. Let us continue to give our best, fight every battle with passion, give what we are expected to deliver. Let our hearts remain steadfast, with the hope that someday, a true leader worthy of our love, respect and loyalty will rise.

What I've learned so far...

Being married means re-discovering your partner all over again in some ways, even if in our case, Vin and I have been together for a decade. Living together in one roof will show you little things that you never saw before. And I think the keys to make things work are love, communication, adjustment and compromise.

We lovingly adjust to each other's little quirks and OC-ness. Vin doesn't like spillage on the lids of ketchup bottles or peanut butter jars, so I keep them clean. I'm a messy cook, with dishes strewn all over the sink and peelings piled on the countertop. Vin cleans everything up, so my kitchen remains spic and span. When eating toast, he simply scrapes the surface of the butter lightly to keep its rectangular shape, so I follow suit. I eat ice cream straight from the tub and cake straight from the box, and he now does the same. I cook, he cleans, I wash the dishes, he wipes the table and the place mats and refills the jar of lemon water and takes out the garbage. He picks up after me, I pick up after him, without so much of a grumble.

At the end of the day, when the lights are all turned off, we whisper a prayer together and hold hands while we sleep. It's wonderful. The greatest challenge now is to keep our marriage this beautiful as time goes by. We're taking things one step at a time, learning things by the day, enjoying each moment and celebrating every little progress. Our adventure is just beginning and so far the ride has been terrific. I believe the secret is to let God take the wheel and trusting His itinerary.

:)

Becoming Mrs. Carilo

September 8, 2010 was our Big Day. After being boyfriend and girlfriend for ten years, Vin and I finally tied the knot and are now officially Mr. and Mrs. Carilo.

It was the perfect day to get married. It was Mama Mary's birthday. And we were blessed with such lovely weather. We were surrounded by our families, relatives and friends, mostly people who loved us and cared about us. They say one can never have a flawless wedding. True, ours had some minor glitches. But all in all, everything was absolutely beautiful!

More wedding photos to be posted soon.

After a quick mini-honeymoon (our REAL honeymoon is scheduled next month), Vin and I finally moved into our new home. How does it feel like? Not so different. Only now I get to wake up next to the man I love every single day of my life.

I'm going through a bit of an adjustment phase though. I've lived with my parents for 31 years. Now I'm super missing my Dad and Mom, and my siblings, too. I miss the noises in our old home, my Dad's booming voice, my Mom singing in the kitchen, my sisters and my brother making kulitan. I find it quite lonely sometimes, being away from them. To comfort myself, I remind myself that the old house is a mere stone's throw away, just a 3-minute drive away (5-minutes if you get stuck in Don Antonio traffic). I know I'll eventually get used to this new setup. It's gonna take time, but everything's going to be alright.

Thank you to everyone who helped and supported us during the months and weeks leading to our Big Day. A lot of my friends "sponsored" the wedding by giving free services. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart! And I know it was a working day, so thank you to everyone who took a leave just to be part of my Big Day. God bless you! :)

This girl is married, and oh-so-happy, in every sense of the word.

:)

Check out more wacky shots at www.litratojuan.com

Bridal Shower Surprise!

I had an awesome bridal shower surprise last night at Centerstage Tomas Morato. I got there late because I had to sleep off a raging migraine. When Alvin and I entered the videoke room, I was greeted by my family, Len and Mike and my friends from French class. Such a happy gathering of the people closest to my heart! Nadine and Jada arrived a few minutes later. We had an overload of food, super fun games (courtesy of Len! Thank you!), and goodies galore! My sisters Adie and Bek took care of designing the labels and prettifying the prize cupcakes and candy souvenirs. And just this morning, Mom and Adie told me about their trip to Tomas Morato to scout for a good venue, braving the rain, too! I was super touched! I am loved in so many ways. Thank you!

It was a wonderful night! Not the typical un-wholesome kinda party, but fun-er! Super thanks to everyone who shared their time (and singing prowess) with me last night. I had a blast!

Mike, Len, Bride-to-be Me!, Adie, Ant, Bek and Mommy. Thank you! :)

Mes tres amis! Merci beaucoup! :)

One of the games played was this one. Making a wedding gown out of tissue paper. This was the winning team: Jada and Edna as designers and Nadine was the model.

Awww... antok na si Mommy. :)

So who says your fiance can't be part of your wedding shower? Tee-hee! Excited to be his missus. :)

Thanks, Mommy, Adie, Bek and Len! Love you!

:)

Updates...

I finally saw my partially complete wedding gown last night, and it's gorgeous! I had my second fitting with Mommy Virgie last night at her place. Since the groom is not allowed to see his bride in her gown before the wedding day, Alvin patiently waited outside the house. I was tempted to take a picture of the gown, in all its lacy, golden splendor. But I decided against it. Syempre dapat surprise. :)

I tried the gown on with my wedding shoes, too. I got them a few weeks back. My friend Pam and I went to the dep store of SM Megamall one evening, and went home with happy and triumphant smiles. Super bilis lang namin nahanap. It was like I was meant to find them right then and there.




Now that we're talking about SM's dep store, I am amazed at how fab their Parisian designs are now. I remember back then when their shoe styles were awful. You really didn't want to buy them no matter how easy on the budget they were. But it seems they've gone through a fashion overhaul over the years, and the shoes are just delish! Still inexpensive, and now looking so much better! Pam was able to buy a pair of very chic, high-heeled gray booties. The camel heels I wanted didn't have my size. But Alvin and I went to the dep store in SM North Edsa and found them there, and he bought the shoes for me. Yey! :)

Parisian and What A Girl Wants in SM Dep Store are now on mine and Pam's shopping lists from now on.


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I got super imbyerna with the first printing company we found for our wedding invitations. They actually do printing for my Dad's school. Their rates are cheap, so Vin and I decided to get them to print our invites. The problem is, they're sobrang tamad! Or maybe they just didn't want to accommodate us. I was trying to get a quotation, and they really took their sweet time to come up with the very simple price list. I had to rush to their office pa and talk to the girl who promised to send the quotation to my sister's email a million years ago. I had to be masungit just to make them move. So, my fiance and I scouted for a different supplier and our friend, Tita Mags, recommended New World Printing Corp. They were able to deliver our invitations just in time. And the invites look so much better, too! The colors are brighter, the paper they used was better. More importantly, hindi ako na-stress.




So now Vin and I are acting like couriers, going around the metro to distribute our wedding invitations, braving traffic, heat and rain. Nakakapagod, but it's so much fun! Check out the design of our invitation on our wedding blog.

:)


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Someone told me, after finding out I was a radio announcer (and not a doctor or a lawyer), "Okay lang. Ang importante naman may trabaho."

This made me smile. I wasn't offended at all. I get this kind of reaction from a few people, and I'm used to it. People react differently when they learn about my job. Some chuckle and think that it's not an occupation to be taken seriously. Some, most of them actually, are impressed, sometimes awed. Radio DJs are considered celebrities, too.

I guess the most important thing of all is how I see my work as a radio personality. We go on air, wearing big smiles and making sure our voices sound like sunshine even if we're going through a storm. We fill the radio waves not just with music you love, but with all the knowledge we've got and all the humor we can squeeze out of ourselves. We take pride in knowing there are hundreds of listeners tuning in to us every single day, singing along with the songs we play, laughing with us, sharing a part of their day with us, making them feel happy or nostalgic, or sometimes mad and angry. We make you feel kilig everytime we greet you and your friends on air. We're voices on the other end of the radio you have at home, or the stereo in your car. Voices that have become your friends, your companions. We may not be saving lives like doctors in a hospital, or doing something huge and important like a lawyer fighting for a case or a politician passing a law, but we sure as hell try our very best to give you really good entertainment on your radio as you go through your day. We make sure you're not bored at work, or while you're stuck in traffic. We make sure every time you tune in, it's a worthwhile listening experience.

"DJ lang" daw ang work ko. I just smile.

:)

Wishful thinking...

Oh, to have Martha Stewart organize my wedding. Sigh.

I remember browsing through a copy of Martha Stewart Weddings Philippines several times while planning for my big day, getting tips and ideas here and there. I was lucky to have met and interviewed on my show the editor-in-chief, Tata Mapa. Now this lovely, energetic lady was even luckier to have met Ms. Stewart herself during a US trip.

Martha Stewart, you are inspiring.

Toink!

Lead actress in a local soap opera plays an emotional scene. After a dramatic confrontation, she tries to get out of the office. She runs to one corner and tries to push open a door. She fails. She pushes another door. Fails. Then she cries aloud, "I need to get out!" Camera zooms in on a sign on the door: PULL to open.

She reads this, sniffs, and pulls the door open, exiting with her head held high.

Hilarious.