My SPOOK-Tacular time as Jungle Queen for SM Makati Halloween!

Welcome to my SPOOK-tacular jungle party! See those arches? These tricky tree branches lead all the way to another awesome Howl-o-ween party! So in my last two events I was a fairy, and then I was a mummy (Queen of the Nile) and now, I am queen of the spooky Jungle right here at SM Makati! Can you spot my other wicked lady friend below, you know her as Maleficent... 

This blog is up today, Friday the 13th and this completes my Halloween Hurrah! A Hallo-WINNER I was indeed this previous season, for I was able to emcee for tons of Halloween events and parties! This one was for SM Makati, where I had tons of fun! But before my crazy photos, let me share my video clip as I gladly did the roar-call as queen of the party jungle scene; just click my video below (Warning: I am wearing long, freaky Halloween lashes so brace yourselves; Graphic Craziness indeed): 

MARYLAINE VIERNES - SM MAKATI VOICE OVER CLIP

And of course I shared the happiness with the kids and the kids-at-heart there too; I guess that there will always be that little kid in me swinging from tree to tree, only this time, it's my microphone that I get to swing around! 

Thank you so much, SM Makati for letting me host your awesome events for the third straight year now! Love being an events host (and I love the treats and fringe benefits that go with my uncanny talking tricks!)

DOH you wanna party with us? We had PLAY-DOH Purple and Blue in the house too! 

Thanks for visiting and this wraps up my Halloween hosting saga for soon, comes the Holiday hosting craze! I am just so excited to 'sleigh' (slay) in my next Christmas hosting jobs! Don't forget to click these links below... 
Marylaine Viernes Website (www.marylaineviernes.com)
Marylaine Viernes Web-Folio (www.marylaineviernes.org)

Of Fairies and Furries: My Furrific and Furtastic Sky Life Halloween!

I am so blessed to meet Ms. Chrissy Caballero of SKY Life who continues to believe in me. And it's been SKY-tacular since I started hosting for some of their events, which have each been nothing short of fairy tales! My last one was the 'Celebrations fair' where I got to lead a dreamy ballroom of princes, princesses, queens, knights and more all in the search to find the most ball-tastic party suppliers and treats! Here I am below soaring at Nuvali! 

Thanks to Ms. Chrissy and her co-marketing head, Sir Delbert, I was once more entrusted to emcee for one of SKY LIFE's biggest events - held at and in partnership with Nuvali: Night Sky Cinema Presents Furry Tales! But first... a Fairy Selfie... wow, this has got to be the biggest event I have emceed for, I heard over 3,000 people came! I am truly so honored! My excitement and glee, you can definitely say that the SKY is the limit!  

 And another Selfie please... you don't get to be a fairy in front of 3,000+ people every day... 

This event was one-of-a-kind for this was a family affair, and by family I meant that this included their paw-some, paw-riffic family members! Yes there were so many adorable furries who came to enjoy, win prizes and of course watch three awesome movies in the endless night sky, curled up in the grass, that even if the sun no longer shone, the warmth of family and friends radiated brighter than ever! 

Can you say a-DORA-ble? Ain't this naughty little lady above so adorable? Here we are chilling backstage in her cute Dora the Explorer get-up with matching devil horns as we waited for the costume parade to begin... 

Ghoul is Cool. This was also a Howl-o-Ween party, so again I had the excuse to be myself, a Fairy (I really am a fairy, I swear) but not just any fairy... but a Furry-loving Fairy! I was Fairy Godmother to the bow-wow-riffic pets and their loving pet owners that day! And I got to pose beside cute characters and even scary ghouls!!! 

 Right after the movie, How to Train your Dragon, I lost my Fairy Wings and grew Dragon ears! Well... okay so they are actually bat ears and wings... so I guess I can still fly! Here we are flying high and rolling with one of the many fun games that night! This game is called FUR or NO FUR? These furry pup and kitten photos are too cute!!!

 We had games for kids - and also for those who like me - are forever kids inside!!! This one is a fun barkada game and you can see we all had a blast!

Thanks again to Ms. Chrissy and Sir Delbert for a memorable opportunity! Looking forward to more events with SKY LIFE! This is really the life: Having fun, doing what you love and sharing your joy with family and friends, and making even more friends!

*****

Marylaine Viernes Website - www.marylaineviernes.com

Marylaine Viernes Portfolio - www.marylaineviernes.org

My PAN-tastic Big Screen Adventure!

A friend flatteringly remarked on my birthday that I don’t seem to be ageing to which I retorted that it was because "I ate fairy dust for breakfast..." (although I cannot say the same now as I am becoming stouter by the day and so I need to get my diet and exercise act straight). And just imagine my excitement upon learning that fairy dust was actually the secret of Captain Blackbeard’s might, strength and youth, in the movie, PAN! I still cannot get over the thrill after watching PAN last night, thanks to Warner Brothers and 20th Century Fox Philippines, who invited us to the premier night screening of this delightful film, which was truly special to me, for it had the two essential elements that for me make a memorable film: Spirit and Heart. This truly stirred awake the child in me who believes that someday, I will be able to fly!

First of all, the baby Peter was just so adorable and as this lad grew into Peter, he was absolutely a lovely boy who was perfect for the part! His lovely eyes are like the mermaid lagoon which can drown you in its brightness, beauty and depth! And I can definitely say the same for the rest of the cast, especially Tiger Lily (Rooney Mara), the mermaid (Cara Delevigne) and Blackbeard (Hugh Jackman). And while I agree that even Captain Hook (Garett Hedlund) was definitely not how I had expected him to be, he was well cast and endearing, getting me hooked! This movie mounted this classic villainous character into a whole new light that I actually appreciate and admire Hook now! And… I totally need to be Tiger Lily this Halloween!

Best of all, I absolutely loved the Christian undertones as I am a sucker for everything relatable to the Catholic faith. Apart from the classic religious subjects such as “true love,” “sacrifice,” or “free will and its consequences”, I was gripped with themes like how Peter Pan was the prophesied boy who shall return to free his people when the time is right… how he grew up in poverty and hardship… that he was half man, half fairy… and most of all, that he was the son of Mary… I am sure that there is no explanation needed there!

 ***

I enlist all of you to catch this high-flying, ship-sailing magical journey before they sail back to Neverland and Never return! It will most certainly awaken that part within us – the little boys (or girls) – who, like Peter Pan will remain young, hopeful and faithful. All you have to do is to fly to the theaters (by thinking of happy things) and it doesn’t get any happier than this movie! Believe me when I say that every bit of this movie is magical! Take the family along because this adventure is so much PAN! I mean, fun!

- Marylaine Louise Viernes (Click Me) 

Marylaine Viernes and Peppa Pig in the most pig-tastic party ever!

Welcome to the second day of Peppa Pig's amazing Meet & Greet Party with Toys R Us! Yesterday, I had my hair in pigtails, and I wore a warm pink outfit, but for today, I opted to have my hair in bright pink curls, just like Peppa's curly tail, while I chose to wear a hot pink dress. I am truly so humbled and honored to host this event as I had fun with Peppa and the Peppa Pigsters, too!  

Peppa says Hi to everyone! Thank you all for coming out to play with Peppa Pig on this lovely Sunday! Peppa Pig is the world's most beloved little hog, who just loves giving out big, big hugs!

Please check out my video on Youtube, for Day 2 of the fun meet & greet: 

Marylaine Viernes Peppa Pig Event Host Video - Day 2 

And please click below to watch my video hosting for Day 1, too: 

Marylaine Viernes Peppa Pig Event Host Video - Day 1

Oh, and here's a quick glimpse of the awesome event hall before the fun piggy-party started: 

And I didn't forget to do the ceremonial photo op in front of the backdrop with Peppa's invitation to come out and play! So glad that many of you came!

Lastly, here's the hard-working team behind this successful event! 

Thanks everyone; always remember that you are Peppa-rrific! 

- Marylaine Louise Viernes

Pig Pig, Hooray! Peppa Pig's Meet & Greet (First Day)

It's a dream come true for me to meet and bond with the world's most adorable piggy, Peppa, and more so land my first hosting gig with my new friends from Bankee (Melissa, Richard), and Ms. Gina Pena too for leading me as host of this Pig-tastic Peppa Pig Meet & Greet Party! Until now I am oinking with excitement; just like all the kids who will always cherish such a memorable experience with Peppa. Below are my Peppa-riffic event photos, for the first of the two-day activity:  

 'Tis a perfect day to play games with Peppa and all these Peppa Pigsters, or maybe Peppa Peeps!!! 

 We had a fun show and tell where these cute Peppa Pigsters shared why they love Peppa toys!

 Peppa is also very excited to meet you all!

Thank you so much, Peppa for such a memorable, exciting and Pig-tastic time! We cannot get enough of you, so for now we will keep watching your shows (and we love your English accent, too!)

We love Peppa and George so much, we get to cuddle with them all the time! You too can grab your own Peppa and George toys, over at Toys 'R Us, the world's greatest toy store! 

 - Marylaine Louise Viernes

It's a Jungle (and an Adventure) out there!

So many takeaways indeed from my recent hosting gig from Friso Four, the highly-anticipated and well-attended, Friso Fun Raiders activity, held at the Podium Mall! Here are my brief learnings from this exciting Mommy & Kid adventure: 

1. The world is a magnificent, yet dangerous place. Thus, it is always important to stick close to the pack. And by this, I mean your family - the people who truly love and care for you - who will be by your side no matter what. It is important for kids to know that they are backed by a loving - though imperfect pack - who will be there to support them always. And for moms and dads, it's awesome to know too that we can also have our packs outside of our homes, like-minded moms and dads who can be the community that helps build our little kids. I love my family and small group of friends - this small pack that I belong to. The world is totally a scary place, but you will need your family's support to get you through. And I pray that my son will always find himself secure with us. 

2. To lead the pack, you gotta learn how to listen. I think this tenet applies not just to parents who need to learn to decipher their kids' needs, but also everywhere else - at the workplace, day-to-day living and most especially among our country's leaders. It can't just always be roaring about your might - you must also know what your pack (your family) needs, to arrive at the proper solution. Just like me as an event host, while I keep talking on stage with my energy up, I must also learn how to be sensitive to the needs of my audience, the client, the production team and of course, my new-found friends - the moms and dads who came there to enjoy and learn more. Oh, and let's not forget my little boy who likes to tag along to my events. I have to learn how to balance my work as a professional events host, while making sure that he is always safe, and happy. And that leads us back to having people in our pack, who we can rely on and momentarily entrust our little ones to. 

3. Just be happy, and give it your all. I am really so fortunate to be able to host events - to do what I love to do - while fulfilling my obligations as a manager in my day job, and of course being a mom as well. I have finally learned to live in the moment, to appreciate what I have now. I have grown out of my terrible habit of looking back or sometimes wishing to be somewhere else or leading another person's life - when I have my own imperfect yet still so blessed, wonderful life to take care of, and appreciate. 

- Marylaine Louise Viernes 

Love and Passion come alive at 'The Longest Ride'

I am so blessed to attend the press night of Warner Bros. and Fox Philippines’ latest box office hit, “The Longest Ride,” and was pretty much everything you’d love in a movie – superb, breathtaking, heartwarming, inspiring – except that I found its title very ironic for it wasn’t a long ride at all; in fact you won’t get enough of this gripping story of life and love, it will leave you applauding with tears in your eyes, asking for more! Those hours were just short yet sweet and mesmerising. The movie unraveled the beautiful foundational layers of love, such as respect, humility and sacrifice.

PHOTO ABOVE PROPERTY OF WARNER BROTHERS

“The Longest Ride” is adapted from the novel of the same title but Nicolas Sparks – who never failed to make me cry since I met him (through his books) during my college days – really produced a winner in this one. This movie is so delectable with a zesty twist you never expected! It resonates the truth of how love is a seed that grows love really starts with just the seed of pure, simple intentions, and definitely, as it grows, it leads you to something beyond your wildest imaginations.

The characters were powerfully given life in the movie. The beauty and charm of Sofia (played by Britt Robertson) simply grows on you. Shy yet spunky, she unwittingly finds her prince without looking for him, only because she is destined for him (and she shows how destiny is synonymous to sacrifice and selflessness). And you can’t help but take a second, luke her bull-riding prince, Luke (played by Scott Eastwood). With his Clint Eastwood-solid-faced good looks, laced with gentlemanliness, you can’t help but gush every time they share the screen!

Everything about the movie was simply spellbinding, the generations of love in the film, and the different forms that Love takes. Beyond the romantic love between Sofia and Luke, they also meet Ira after they save his life but it turns out that it was he who saved their love as he walked the young couple through consummate love and solidarity. I loved how the story spoke of how simplicity – of simply loving and sacrificing without demanding the same, of simply helping without expecting praises or monetary rewards, of simply listening without expecting any gratification in exchange, of simply letting go for the simple reason that you love the person and you want her to be happy. Indeed, the story tells of how Love and Life should never be complicated. That all it takes to find lasting greatness is a pure, selfless heart. This movie is the epitome of subtle perfection and as I do not yearn to spoil the plot for you, to excite you let me quote a line from the movie that simply summarises this beautiful tale: “A story like so many others, except Ruth happened to have an eye for art while I had eyes only for her and somehow this was enough for us to create a collection that became priceless to both of us.” 

- MARYLAINE LOUISE VIERNES