A few weeks ago I had a lovely Jazz gig for Cartier, as the official sponsor of Art Dubai they hosted an intimate dinner. It was a beautiful event. Here are a few pictures from the performance, featuring Stoyan Stoyanov on piano and accordion.
Special thanks to The Fridge and Cartier 
“TAAS NO FILIPINO!” goes the slogan for Illustrado Magazine, a Gulf Dubai base lifestyle magazine, whose vision is to “help the Filipino flourish”. So when they approached me for am interview, I was really honored. Since I’ve come to Dubai the support from fellow Kabayans working in the industry has been really amazing, TAAS NO FILIPINO, indeed! :)
Here are a few pictures from a recent performance for Banana Republic with Stoyan Stoyanov.
Thank-you to The Fridge & Al Tayer for this one.
A great event, showcasing some fab pieces from the label’s new collection!
Featuring another cute dress by the lovely Daze Aliman!
A baby parrot made my day today
bright flash of green and red
calling my attention.
We chilled for a while
he posed for a photo
Then flew off on his way.
Baby Peach- Faced Lovebird, passing through Al Quoz, Dubai.
An escapee I suppose
Now free to fly!
It made me smile.
I thought,
‘Imagine having the gift of flight
and not being free to fly?’
So
I decided today
I need not return to the cage-
the one I built for rainy days
The one that keeps out the sunshine;
And the rain. And the clouds. And the rainbows.
They tell you you’re playing it safe,
when really you’re living in fear.
They say ‘hey bird, show us you can fly!’
So, you step out of the cage and flutter to one side of the room
They’re hardly impressed, but satisfied more or less
They clap anyway. Happy to see a bird.
But…. you can never truly soar in a room like that.
And my if they could only see!
My, if I could only feel the true taste of freedom and the wind upon my face
Let it consume me and take me beyond the sand dunes and out into the wilderness
But there I went,
returned to the cage before it was out of my sight.
Well, if a baby parrot can do it, so can I.
So not anymore.
It is time.
To fly…
Last month I was asked to feature in Grazia for Gucci at the Grand Prix Show jumping event in Al Forsan Internationl sports resort in Abu Dhabi. Of course, I gladly accepted the exciting offer of being dressed up in the label loved by the likes of Salma Hayek, Jessica Biel and Li Bing Bing.
Before the day I was taken to the Gucci store in Mall of the Emirates where I tried on a few outfits from the latest collection. I chose to wear a beautiful floaty floral one sided dress, with cute nude suede shoes, a floppy hat and matching bag.
On the day we were picked up ‘Gucci style’ and escorted to the event. Here are some pics from behind the scenes…
All made up, dressed up and ready to shoot…
And here is the article itself..
Many thanks to Gucci and Grazia for the fabulous feature, pampering and lovely day out!
Reminded once again the reason we are put on this earth. To reach that perfect moment of blissful peace within ourselves, the world and the people around us. To live life, create, be inspired and to inspire others. To feel connected to the soil (or sand 
), to lose our ‘selves’ and find unity with the universe inside and out.
Suddenly in that moment of realisation I feel happy and content once again and back onto the path of simply being and not worrying about every little or seemingly big thing.
Happiness is not about reaching any particular goal or status it is right here within you to be experienced right now. There is nothing at all that can take you away from the happiness that stems from your connection to each and every thing.
This beautiful picture is where my sister is right now- living life, connecting with others and appreciating what is within and all around us. I feel slightly envious I admit, which is not a good feeling to have (!) but more than that I feel so happy that she is doing what we were all put on earth to do- to experience and enjoy! and that potential is there for everyone. There is always a way =)
<3
Brooke Shaden and I after a successful day at her FotoWeekend 2012 workshop!
Even though I’m not a photographer, I was really inspired by her ability to think outside of the box and plan and conceptualize every image. It was so interesting to learn about the creation of her spectacular images, and gain insight into her approach.
The photographers taking part in the workshop were also very creative and had amazing ideas!
They had me wearing vintage wedding dresses, wrapped in farm rope, levitating up spiral staircases and ascending to heaven (!) You’ll soon see what I mean…!
Can’t wait to see the images!
Brooke Shaden is a photographer based in New York, with a magical and ethereal style of fine art photography. Her photographs look like paintings and they draw you into a fantasy world; sometimes dark, sometimes strange, but always beautiful.
This week Brooke is in Dubai hosting workshops with Gulf Photo Plus, as part of Fotoweekend 2012. On a search for petit models to partake- I was called up for the opportunity, and of course agreed! (How often do they request 5ft 2 models?! )
Should be a great experience- photos to follow soon!
Check out –>
Last month my producer Adam Nicholas passed through Dubai for a few days on his way to Afghanistan (to see his sister who is doing some amazing NGO work, and to work on some music projects in Kabul.)
The timing happened to be perfect- just as I was asked to do a live acoustic preview for the new Online channel- ‘The Flex’ for the ‘FleXessions’.
So we performed an acoustic rendition of my upcoming single ‘Unite”..
Here it is, hope you enjoy
Peace & #Unity!
A few months ago The Fridge Dubai & The First Group Theatre gave me the opportunity to feature in a stage performance called ‘KALUBELA”, at the beautiful Madinat Theatre.
It’s been years since I did a play or a musical, but as a child and as a teen, that’s really how I started performing. In fact a funny trivia fact for you –> my first live singing performance was in Mary Poppins at school when I was 7 years old, and I was given the role of ‘Michael’! Yes- a boy! I was certain it was because the teacher choosing the parts hated me! (And I in turn hated her for giving me a boys role (!) haha!)
Anyway, things have moved upwards and onwards since then, and I haven’t been a boy since
‘Kalubela’ is a word used commonly in Turkish poetry and alludes to the very beginning of first love. In Arabic it refers to a moment before the beginning of time. A meeting of souls.
The show ran on a burlesque theme, with strong- Diva- tongue in cheek performances.
We had a full big band, incredible dancers with choreography, aerial performers, 8 vocalists and spoken word poets. Aside from one surprise International guest, all the cast and crew were locally based. This was the first time ever such a big group of locally based artists had pulled together to put on a musical performance, so it was wonderful to be making history and hopefully opening up the doors to more shows like it in the future.
We were kindly lent costumes from my fellow pinoy, outrageously talented Fashion Designers ‘Michael Cinco’ and ‘Ezra Santos’. It was a dream to wear their stunning dresses!
Without further ado, here are the photos which speak for themselves, hopefully I can post some video clips soon too!
…My biggest Diva moment yet
Photography by Pia Torelli
Dress by Ezra Santos
Candyman
Photography by Xavier Ansart
A beautiful moment
Photography by Pia Torelli
Diva-licious! Or “Pushing the boundaries”
Photography by Pia Torelli
‘I want to be evil’- Fabulous performance by Esmeralda!
Photography by Pia Torelli
‘Bathboy’ our International feature
Photography by Xavier Ansart
http://www.david-omer.com
‘Apres Moi’
Photography by Pia Torelli
Dress by Michael Cinco
The hoop!
Photography by Xavier Ansart
