Tough girl Liz

It could just have been one of those ordinary working days but it turned out to be a hot, exciting day for many. Kris and I were booked for a pictorial for SMART in one studio at DPI (Digital Photographers, Inc.), an unassuming building in Pasong Tamo that houses a number of studios with amenities that make it a hub for some of the most in-demand photographers and their celebrity clients.

That Tuesday, a few weeks ago, Kris and I with photographer Doc Marlon, were in one studio. Our stylist was one of the industry’s top style experts, Liz Uy who also styles us for SNN. Low-key, hardworking and driven, Liz not once has canceled a commitment because she was inadvertently involved in the media fracas about her split up with John Lloyd Cruz. One time, while in the SNN studio, we were delivering reports about her and Lloydie. She simply smiled and firmly stayed in her space behind the cameras. Tough girl, Liz is.

In another studio at DPI, a magazine was having a pictorial for the Best Dressed Men in the country also with Doc Marlon. In between my costume changes, he would flee to the other studio. He must have special powers because after my costume changes, he would already be in my studio without anyone noticing that he just came from the other room. Talk about perfect time management and careful photo shoot planning.

In the other studio, I was told Anne Curtis and John Lloyd were also being photographed by the brilliant Marc Nicdao for a catalogue of a direct-selling company. In the middle of my pictorial, Anne came by to say hello accompanied by my favorite Raymond Gutierrez who was one of the Best Dressed celebrities being photographed by the magazine I talked about earlier.

Anne and Raymond are two of Liz’s closest friends. That day was the first time Liz would be seeing Lloydie in almost four months. And they did. But by the time they met, I had already left DPI. It was Kris’ turn to be photographed.

It could have been a tense, stressful time for Liz but if it were, she certainly didn’t show it. She continued to do her job with steely grace.

I don’t know how Lloydie and Liz eventually met up. But I heard they did see each other and had a chat. How long and serious was this, I didn’t pry anymore. Sometimes when people like Liz and Lloydie are involved in a ticklish controversy, it makes our job punishing to intrude into the lives of wonderful, beautiful human beings.

A few weeks later, I had another pictorial, this time at the photo boudoir of one of the country’s best — the one and only Raymond Isaac for my print campaign for Bear Brand. Liz, in a body-hugging black dress that emphasized her svelte figure arrived at the studio as she was styling my pictorial again. She said, she just came from the media launch of Swatch (bravo Tita Virgie Ramos!) that welcomed John Lloyd into the Swatch family. Again, they bumped into each other, even hugged in front of media people present when Liz won a raffle prize.

There are things that can never be planned — like healing broken hearts, rising after a fall, and moving on. It’s comforting to know Liz and Lloydie will be good friends sooner that they probably expect. Moral of the story: God is good to people who are good to themselves and to others. It’s good karma.

Halo-Halo Extra Special

Ballet Manila opens its 14th performance season with the most exciting treat ever: Halo-Halo Extra Special, a delightful mix of original Filipino ballets, going onstage from Aug. 21 to 30 at Aliw Theatre, Star City Complex, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City.
    The show features the works of choreographers Osias Barroso, Ernest Mandap, Augustus Damian III, Gerardo Francisco and Sergey Vikulov, plus a special tribute to late dance guru Tony Fabella.

Prima ballerina Lisa Macuja-Elizalde says, “Tony Fab’s a generous spirit will live on forever in his dances and Ballet Manila is honored to showcase such a genuine Fabella ballet in Ang Mahiwagang Biyulin. Like all of his ballets, it is exceptional in its musicality, charm and its uncanny ability to make everyone teary-eyed from laughter. Very much like the man himself!”

Tickets are available through Ticketworld at 891-9999. For details, call the Ballet Manila office (tel. nos. 400-0292 and 525-5967, fax 404-3086), e-mail [email protected] or log on to www.balletmanila.ph.