#events

If you follow me on Instagram, then you have seen some photos I posted when I attended the 2-day Dove Summit at Sofitel. People have been asking me what went down at the Summit, and today I finally had the time to sort through hundreds of photos and chose the best ones to show you!

A few days before the Summit, I received this invitation and a style guide for the summit, and of course there was only one answer: YES! I confirmed my attendance and started looking for white outfits. Yay! An excuse to shop! Ha!

On the day of the summit, I arrived just in time for check-in. After we got our keys, we were asked to gather at the Dove Pavillion where the main lounge area is. We sat there casually and was welcomed by our two lovely hosts.


Apples Aberin and Lexi Schulze were our beautiful, funny, kalog and at the same time chic hosts for the entire event. They made sure we were all comfortable, and truly, I was. Even though I only knew a handful of people at the event, I was at ease and comfortable.

There was a short welcome speech and a short introduction. Then we were asked to go up to our personal Dove Suites to freshen up and remove all of our makeup and come back to the main pavilion. Of course there were some violent reactions and some groaning but they promised to comply. I was very much OK with it, relieved actually because I myself am not really much of a makeup wearer on a daily basis. I work at shoots and in weddings bare faced, I only wear makeup during events believe it or not.


So we went up to our rooms and when I first entered my room, I was breathless. There were little personal touches everywhere that made me feel right at home. And oh! That canvas bag with the blue nylon handle? That was sent to us the day before the summit by Dove. Our initials are heat stamped on leather too! Talk about personalized right?


We also get our very own Dove-themed white and blue Havaiannas slippers!


This was the view from my balcony. I was at room 359 and I had the room all to myself! At least until that night when hubby was going to join me in my room. I wasn't used to sleeping alone anymore. Tee Hee!


We were also given all Dove products for us to use during our stay (and to keep!), I shouldn't have brought any toiletries because they thought of everything.


Our very own monogramed face towel too! Isn't that just cool?


I have heard so much positive stuff about this hair mask so I was ecstatic to have gotten one!


I love our room. It was so cozy and very cold! I rather enjoyed the 19deg temperature because it was hot those days at the Summit!


We were also given some cookies to enjoy! Talk about spoiled right? We could keep the cookie jar as well. Love it. I wasn't able to taste them though because I am not allowed sugar, but hubby almost finished the entire jar that night!


After we were refreshed and sans makeup, we gathered back to the main pavilion. Everyone was a little bit shy at first because everyone was bared and unmasked off of their makeup. But after a while, everyone started to relax a little bit.



Mian Datu-David, Unilever's Marketing Manager for Dove Skin took the floor and gave a very touching and moving talk about how only 7% of Filipinas think they are beautiful. Just 7%! Can you imagine out of 100%, just 7% think they are pretty. She also tells us that those numbers can change with our help.

Mian Datu-David, Unilever's Marketing Manager for Dove Skin

After the introductory talk about how we should change our outlook in life about what real beauty is, there was a reason why we were asked to unmask our makeup. We were surprised with a photo shoot! Four of Manila's women professional photographers were to photograph us sans makeup! For what we don't know yet. Top photographers composed of Sara Black, Pilar Tuason, G-Nie Arambulo, and Jo Ann Bitagcol.

Here is my friend Shen of www.shensaddiction.com having her beautiful portrait taken by Pilar Tuason. I then headed to where Sara Black was set up so she can take my portrait. Sorry, I don't have behind-the-scene photos of that one! Hehehe...



After the photo shoot, we were asked to get ready for dinner, and come back to the Main Pavilion for dinner at 7:45PM. The dining hall was set up beautifully! Elegant and classy! My friend and blogger Erika of www.shetravelstheworld.com and I were lucky enough to be seated in front too!



While were seated, there in the big screen flashed our faces from the photo shoot. It brought tears to our eyes to see ourselves sans makeup looking radiant and beautiful.


Here are Apples and Lexi again welcoming us to dinner! Everyone was wearing makeup again except me. I didn't feel embarrassed or anything, I actually felt powerful because really, the talk gave me confidence to face other people without makeup. And what do you know, no one judged me.


Unilever's VP for Personal Care then welcomes us and talks more about Dove's campaign. About #RealBeauty and how all of us at the summit were the most influential women in the country to help spread the campaign for real beauty. It was such an honor to be invited to the event.

Gina Lorenzana, Unilever's VP for Personal Care

During the dinner, we were serenaded by Nicole Laurel Asensio singing pop and jazzy music. I love her voice, plus, she was just lovely!

Nicole Laurel Asensio

After dinner, we were surprised by Dove with a special AVP -they interviewed our loved ones answering this question "When is ____ her most beautiful?" and also a special message. It was very touching, imagine the hard work they put into interviewing all those people. I was just stupefied.

Other people stayed and enjoyed good company and music after the AVP, but Erika and I retired early though, it had been a long day!


DAY 2
The next day, there was yoga and swimming or whatever it is you wanted to do. I slept in and saw hubby off to go to work. I had my breakfast buffet at Spiral, and took my time dressing up for the morning activities.