Dear friends,
I cannot thank you enough for being at Travel+Fashion Takeover: Manila Wednesday night. My heart is so full seeing everyone’s happy faces and hearing the laughter and the chatter! Your responses and notes on Facebook and Instagram had me floating all day at work all day (that, and the sleep deprivation, but mostly you).
I am so grateful to you and would like to ask for your patience as I acknowledge and give some love to the people who made this happen:
1. Alex Jimenez / Travel Fashion Girl: For saying YES to a complete stranger who asked her to speak to more strangers in a strange land. Thank you for helping us learn how to choose pieces well for travel. It will be a process and a journey for all of us serial over-packers. The next time we pack that extra “what if” shirt or dress, we’ll hear her voice in our head saying “Do you really need it? Is it lightweight? Does it go with other items?”
*** By the way, that talk Alex gave is just the tip of the iceberg. Make sure you you check out her packing lists for more packing wisdom.
2. Lois Yasay Ribeiro / We Are Sole Sisters: For agreeing to co-present with a newbie blogger and for introducing Viajera Filipina to her coolest friends, some of whom turned out to be the most amazingly generous sponsors.
If you still want to get a copy of Lois’ ebook and don’t have a credit card or Paypal account, email me and let’s figure out a way. If you do have a credit card, here’s where you can get it: http://letsgosea.launchrock.com/.
3. Anton Diaz / Our Awesome Planet: For taking time out of his super-busy schedule to become a bridge that lead us to having the fantastic venue that is A_Space. If you see him around town or at one of his Mercato Centrale markets, please go up to him, shake his hand and tell him how much we all appreciate what he’s done for our little tribe of travelers.
4. Aleah Taboclaon / Solitary Wanderer: For graciously giving her time to join us and share her travel wisdom, even when she’s busy preparing for her trip to upcoming South America. Make sure you follow her adventures on her blog! You never know, you might end up meeting up with her there (I know I’m making plans …).
5. Our phenomenal sponsors: For generously sharing their products and for supporting this fledgling blog’s first event. I almost entered the raffle with a fake name so I could win one of those insane prizes.
Charisse / Agoda
Maica / Second Wind BBB
Park Inn by Radisson Davao
Four Points by Sheraton Bangkok
The Picasso Boutique Serviced Residences
Micah / A_Space
Cathy / Flight 001
Dale / Regatta
Mariel / Sewn Sandals
Nikki / Retablo Manila
Annick / Anma Lifestyle
Bianca / Wanderskye
Noelle / Brown Belly
Jen / Tala Luna
Jackie / Cilla & Co.
*** Watch the Viajera Filipina blog, Facebook page and Instagram account for a few more giveaways.
6. My awesome family and friends: For being my hands and feet in Manila. There is no way I could have pulled off that event without them.
Lea (host), Micki (prize pickup), Jamie (tech support), Judith/Mommy (food), Awie (reg), Yanna (reg), Yoran and Kay (hospitality), Rupert (photography), Dom (video).
7. You: For your time, your energy, and your support. It would not have been the same without you.
I know it was bitin. I could have gone on all night watching you all talk and chat (in a non-creepy stalker kind of way). I asked if you wanted to be in a community where we can continue sharing travel plans and dreams in a safe, supportive and nurturing (read: non-nega) environment. And you said YES.
So if you want to continue what we started, join this closed Facebook Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ViajeraFilipinaTravelersTribe/
It will be our own little space where we could share tips, ask questions, get recommendations, make kwento and talk each other out of taking that cute but extra heavy pair of shoes that doesn’t go with more than 1 outfit.
I hope to see you one day in person 🙂
With so much gratitude I could burst,
Tessa
PS: PLEASE! Tag Viajera Filipina in your photos and social media posts! I would love see more of them! 🙂
My view of the room from Atlanta:
Thank you, Tough Wardrobe MNL for the beautiful calligraphy.
Oooh thank you so much Ms Tessa for featuring my work! :)))
Thank you for your lovely calligraphy 🙂
You rock! Thanks for inviting me to be part of it!
Lady, you rock! 🙂 I’ve got my sights set on South America to meet you there 🙂