Miracles

My miracles happened when I began asking.

Even without the guarantee of a definite answer, I asked around from one hotel to another, ending up in a last-minute conversation with our editorial assistant and the Executive Editor about my desire to do a fashion shoot in Manila with Cebu’s representative to The Voice of the Philippines, Eva de los Santos.

They led me to my first miracle last week: Executive Editor immediately phoned Resorts World Manila (RWM) media consultant Charles Lim, who offered a two-night stay at Remington Hotel, a stone’s throw from RWM where—surprise, surprise—Eva rehearsed for the singing contest.

And then I bumped into The Freeman General Manager Melandro Mendoza at the Mactan Domestic Airport two hours before my flight to Manila.

“Bakit ka hindi nagsabi nang ma-aga? Ikaw talaga!” He told me while dialing Philippine Star’s in-house photographer Revoli Cortez, who also, upon my request, was coordinated by our Managing Editor Quennie Bronce.

For baggage economy, I inquired if Yvonne Quisumbing’s dresses were still in Makati. Thankfully, the fashion designer’s previous fashion week pieces are housed in a unit she rented, which suits our concept. I knew Eva had a measurement of a model.

Eva and I were anxious about how to insert my appointment with her crazy schedule. Perhaps, our mutual agreement about going with the flow has been more efficient than our previous plan of cueing each other.

She and I were strangers to the hoopla of show business, its protocol, its locations and its people, but I believe God stood in the midst, so I could run the quickest and farthest photo shoot I did in my career.

Ever since Eva made it to the auditions, I fantasized about running a feature of her in a Cebuano haute couture theme. I was never a disciple of reality programs; now, I am hooked up with The Voice. Thus, I’ve thought of Specials (today’s edition) for features, which are not in our pool of regular Friday concept; yet, they demand time and importance due to popular following.

I was even more excited that her styling on the show fits her so well. As far as pop culture is concerned, Eva can be an epitome of fashion and personality—a formidable tandem which we all must master, a vice-versa relationship between trend and personal style. Although she refuses “high fashion,” unconsciously, she has beautifully sojourned with both.

Soul searching, I told my family and friends about my primary reason for travel. It sounded laughable but true. By immersing in a different community, I am slowly seeing the bigger picture and finding that one true anchor to a rather fluid life.

Eva strongly clings to her anchors. I hope this issue reflects her faith in herself and her powerful voice translated into how she stands on stage. Like her, you just have to make a brave step, even without seeing the entire staircase.