Make ME Up, Wrap-Up

acie fores makeup workshop 15

All photos in this blog post are by Nico Belasco Photography.

We were so fortunate to have hosted sixteen sweet ladies last week for the Make Me Up Workshop on August 5th, in cooperation with Mafae Belasco of Mafae Management and Make it Blissful’s Martine De Luna. The workshop was a hybrid “inspiration and information” workshop, beginning with a motivational talk, and ending with a practical makeup demo showing all the participants how to apply makeup using the best practices, and how to go seamlessly from a day-to-night look, using specific products from our partners, Eye of Horus Philippines, London Cosmetics Philippines, and Biore Philippines.

london cosmetics philippines 1

eye of horus philippines 1

The program opened with us getting to know one another. It was a great time to get up off our seats and meet new ladies: fellow moms, busy professionals, small business owners. Everyone took selfies with their new friends, got to chat a bit about their lives, and then went around the room meeting members of the staff, the City Club, and us, the instructors. It’s always great to mingle!

acie fores makeup workshop 6

acie fores makeup workshop 5

acie fores makeup workshop 2

Martine De Luna was our emcee for the day, and she basically provided her own brand of inspiration and encouragement! (Thanks, Martine!)

Mafae Belasco — the CEO and consultant behind the management company, Mafae Management — opened the day with her fresh talk, which focused on empowerment and ownership. Mafae is a woman who wears many hats: wife, mom of five, entrepreneur, a coach for models and beauty queens (She was Miss Philippines in the 2003 Miss World Pagaent, and placed in the top five!), and her favorite role is that of a mentor to the personalities she manages.

acie fores makeup workshop 8

acie fores makeup workshop 1

acie fores makeup workshop 7

Mafae’s core focus for her talk was really to exhort everyone to “find your ‘why’ in life.” Everyone with a “why” has a more purposeful approach to their life, she said, speaking from her own experience on how she is able to manage the many roles she has. We learned how important it is to go back to the why on a daily basis, and make it the heart and motivation of all we do, whether we are at work or simply living our everyday lives. There were so many points to absorb, and Mafae beautifully summarized it in her key takeaway for us all. “You must love you,” she said, explaining that self-love is at the heart of fulfillment and purpose. (It makes sense, doesn’t it? When we are fulfilled and confident and love ourselves by having that positive, healthy self-esteem, then we can accomplish any goal, any dream we are working for, because we know we deserve them. Wow! Mind-blowing!)

Her talk was the perfect jumping point into the practical portion of the workshop, the makeup workshop! Prior to this, however, the participants were all treated to the London Cosmetics table, where they each selected their own lipstick colors.

london cosmetics philippines 5

london cosmetics philippines 2
[one-half-first]london cosmetics philippines 3[/one-half-first]
[one-half]london cosmetics philippines 4[/one-half]

Acie has been giving makeup workshops for some time now, usually in intimate, personal settings, such as in a client’s home or in a salon. This was not he first time she did a makeup workshop, demo-style, for an audience. It was a great way to teach the core basics of makeup application. Acie took us through from the core basics (skincare and cleansing, prep, and application per area of the face) to actual makeup artistry, which she demonstrated on our two model participants for the day.

acie fores makeup workshop 12

For Frances, it was the day look

acie fores makeup workshop 13

acie fores makeup workshop 14

For Ricci, the look was an evening one.

eye of horus philippines 2

During the workshop, we learned the importance of why we use and apply makeup in the first place. “Makeup is for everyone,” Acie said, noting that every face is gifted and blessed with unique features. “Makeup is simply meant to enhance, not cover-up.” It is what makes our facial features “perk up” and come to life, as it were, especially since every kind of makeup — from the foundation, down to the detailing products like eyeliner and mascara — is meant to bring out the best in our features.

In line with Mafae’s message for us to love ourselves first, Acie’s portion drove home the point very concretely:  Makeup application to enhance your natural gifts IS a part of loving yourself and developing yourself.

035A8922

We’d like to thank everyone who made this important and inspiring workshop possible:

And thanks to all the ladies who made this event a success! We’re all super proud of you and believe in every one of you!

acie fores makeup workshop 16

So what do you do? B I G ideas, B I G dreams B I G hearts.

March 8 was International Women’s Day.  Wednesday March 9 was a beautiful reminder of what International Women’s day was about.

I was recently invited by a fellow southerner and batchmate of my sister, Martha Orosa Uy, to spend an afternoon with her and a few ladies (we were a total of 50 that day) to listen to inspiring stories that lift the spirit and learn from the varied experiences of the speakers that day.    It was a coming together of women who want to be inspired in their lives in a TEDtalk kind of way.

Martha Orosa Uy giving the introductory remarks.
Martha Orosa Uy giving the introductory remarks.

 

Some Members of the group from L-R Penny Katigbak, Marilen Espiritu, Cecile Limjoco, Patty Olbes and Susan Syquia
Some Members of the group from L-R Penny Katigbak, Marilen Espiritu, Cecile Limjoco, Patty Olbes and Susan Syquia

Martha Orosa Uy, together with 9 other ladies formed an informal group called BIG last December 2015 , an acronym for Build, Inspire and Give whose mission statement is to “start a revolution where stories are shared and entrusted to others so we may understand and become better versions of ourselves, whether that’s being a mother, wife, friend, sister  or boss or employee” .  Empowering oneself through sharing life experiences is a result of a woman’s wisdom gained from the community she lives and participates in.  What a beautiful thought to live one’s life isnt it?

Empowerment is a catchphrase you didn’t hear in the past few decades until only recently.   An issue more relevant than ever, woman empowerment simply means to live our lives freely with a sense of self worth, respect and dignity, to make their own informed choices and decisions and to have control of her life both within and outside the home and workplace. This being the foundation of which the group is formed, every month, a theme is selected, and resource speakers are invited to share their experiences and expertise based on the theme of the month.  December was The Greatest Gift, January was New Beginnings, February was about Love You, Love Me , and March is So, what do you do?

The first speaker was Ambassador of the Philippines to New Zealand, Virginia Benavides who shared with us the struggles, the highs and lows, and how the unshakable Filipino spirit of  bayanihan, faith and love for her country has enriched and carried her through her diplomatic life.  Her personal story of being assigned to Brunei was her most difficult and rewarding posting due to the strict compliance of the Muslim laws  prohibiting her from practicing her faith publicly.  Despite this hindrance, her faith became stronger as it challenged her to live it out and put it into practice which validated her and her job as a diplomat.

Ambassador to New Zealand, Virginia Benavidez
Ambassador to New Zealand, Virginia Benavidez

One of her tasks is to see to it that the welfare of the Filipino community is protected and looked after by them when they are oppressed, abused and taken advantage of.  She dreams (I certainly agree with her on this one), that one day the Philippine government will no longer rely on our people to look for better opportunities abroad to support their families.   Filipinos who work abroad are highly treasured and in demand by employers mainly because they give and serve to the best of their abilities. Values of family, respect, hard work and our faith makes us resilient in the face of adversity inspite of the difficult social, physical and economic circumstances they endure being in a strange land.

The second speaker was Pastor Benjamin Cruz, National Director of Living Waters Ministry who shared his story of personal struggle between his sexuality and serving the Lord.   His inner conflict stems from his suppression so he can live his life according to the dictates and norms of society.  Now married to his wife Hazel,   his epiphany came when he was shifting ministries to avoid being caught in his secret and that he cannot practice his faith due to this hindrance that was preventing him to be his truthful self.  He found his truth in the humblest of ways in the eyes of children in a game of ping pong.    The Lord always presents himself in the most simplest manner, this time Life Lesson 101 mirroring himself and speaking from the heart with love.

Pastor Benji Cruz fielding questions from the ladies.
Pastor Benji Cruz fielding questions from the ladies.

 

IMG_6322

 

Captured audience.
Captured audience.

 

IMG_6312

Pastor Cruz became my Aha moment.  As a wife, mother, sister and friend   the different hats we wear in our lives is the layer that makes us beautifully flawed and complicated, resilient and vulnerable, simple and complicated, to become the best in what we need to do in the situation or to do what is expected of us.  Isnt this the virtue of being human?  We are shaped by our circumstances, childhood and environment, “We are all broken, we just play it differently”, well said by Pastor Cruz.

The afternoon mood was artistically complemented by Marilen Espiritu, one of the founding members of the group whose creative genius raised my bar in the hosting aspect.  Coming into her sprawling home, the scene captured the essence of what a woman is, a  life fulfilled and expressed in her art form which is entertaining.  God is truly in the details, Here’s why.

Feeling regal at the head of the table.  So festive!
Feeling regal at the head of the table. So festive!

 

Table setting, Filipino shabby chic style
Table setting, Filipino shabby chic style

 

Its always Christmas in this home.
Its always Christmas in this home.

 

Filipino Merienda fare.  It was such a hot day, I wanted to swim in this sago and gulaman Jar.
Filipino Merienda Fare. It was such a hot day, I wanted to swim in this sago and gulaman Jar.

 

Old Milk Bottles repurposed as drinking Glasses.
Old Milk Bottles repurposed as drinking Glasses.

 

Colorful napkins waiting to be passed around.
Colorful napkins waiting to be passed around.

 

Rosal leaves as napkin rings.  Tin plates glammed up with white doilies.
Rosal leaves as napkin rings. Tin plates glammed up with white doilies.

 

Centerpiece de resistance
Centerpiece de resistance

 

Aba Aba si saging na saba may bulaklak pa.
Aba Aba si saging na saba may bulaklak pa.

 

Pregnancy Cravings anyone?
Pregnancy Cravings anyone?

 

 

Yellow Corn with individual salt cones ready for the picking.
Yellow Corn with individual salt cones ready for the picking.

 

Yellow mangoes preserved before the taking.
Yellow mangoes preserved before the taking.

 

Silver Linings
Silver Linings

 

Peanut gallery waiting for their salt cone pairing.
Peanut gallery waiting for their salt cone pairing.

Truly a sight for all the senses, the beautiful spread laid out for us made the afternoon very special despite the unforgiving heat.  It was a meaningful afternoon, I left with the feeling like I came from a spiritual retreat, your mind is clear, your spirit refreshed and invigorated, you gained a new perspective.  Gratitude in my heart.

You may follow B. I. G. in Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/groups/936541133106195/  Meetings are held once a month and is by invitation only.