Thank You Letter Senders

Ever since Stressed Partyphile sent me a letter a couple of weeks back, and ever since i have moved from http://confessionsofapartyphile.blogspot.com to http://party.i.ph; I have been getting more and more questions about throwing parties and gimmick nights. And because I want to give my readers equal opportunity, I would like to take time to reply to some more of the messages I have received through my blog.

Dear Partyphile,

I plan to throw a big party in two weeks and I'm currently having a problem with inviting people to go to my party. What can I do or say to encourage them to go to my party? What must I do? Please help. Thanks a lot. :)

Cheers,

Wee

Hey Wee!

Thank you for writing in. I know how you feel. You are probably stressed out about people not showing up to your party.

First of all, I don’t understand what is up with people not wanting to go to parties. I mean, it’s a venue to have free food, and more importantly, free drinks. Right? Right.

Seriously, my first advice would be: invite close friends; friends who love you and support you. Forget the popular crowd, forget whoever else. Just invite the people whom you love, and love you back. I am sure they would all want to come.

You could also check if your dress code is too much of a hassle. If you are going for a theme on your party, maybe you could change it or make it a little less cotume-y. Go with colors instead of a whole theme; like an all-blue party, a black party, or a pink party; whatever it is you feel like having. I hope that helps, and please update me about the party. You could even send me some fabulous pictures to post on my blog.

Davao’s Ultimate Partyphile,

Zhaun Ortega

Dear Zhaun,

I really enjoy your articles. Though I am based in Manila, I get to read
all your articles through your blog and all I can say is they are all informative.

I am planning to invite my friends to a small party in my pad. I am targetting more or less 20
friends to be invited. since this is the first time to host a party, I'd like to ask you
few questions about organizing one.

1. what are the factors do I need to consider when hosting a party?
2. What food and drinks do I need to prepare/cook for them (particularly those which are easy to prepare)?

Ed

Dear Ed,

First of all, quit being a liar. My articles are NOT all informative, sometimes, they are just full of fluff; but than k you anyway for giving me such nice compliments.

Alright, a party has several elements. Start with the Theme of the party and try to make the venue look uniform with the theme. Go crazy on decors. They really help set the mood of the party. You would also want to check the music. A party is never complete without music, and you have to choose your music wisely. If you want a hot-bangin’ party, make sure to hire a really good DJ, or burn your own mixes and play them at a volume that would be conducive for your party. If you want less talk and more dancing, turn the volume up. If you think your guests want to talk more, play something more relaxing and soothing and turn the volume at a barely audible volume. You do not want guests trying to talk over the music.

I could go on and on about the food and drinks, so maybe I would have to write an article just for that purpose. Expect it really soon. However, last week’s article, entitled “9 Ingredients, 20 Cocktails” should serve as a great guide for a novice mixologist (read: bartender). And maybe you could serve some street food on your next party, call it a “Street Party” and serve those cheap siomais they sell on the street, or maybe some fried or barbequed isaw (chicken intestines), Kwek-kwek ( hard-boiled eggs, battered and fried), and Balot (fertilized duck egg with a nearly-developed embryo inside). Or just serve chips and dips, fries, burgers, nachos, tacos or throw a Pizza Party. These are all easy to make (easier to order), and are all fun food to eat.

However, if you plan on throwing a party for a crowd of around 40 people or more, I suggest you hire a caterer. Most caterers adjust their price and their menu according to your budget. You can get a caterer for as low as 100 pesos per head. And trust me when I say it soooo worth it. Imagine not having to stress out before the party. Plus you have a lot less to clean up afterwards.

Just make sure to stay away from common party food like Spaghetti and sweet-style Filipino sauce, Hotdogs and Marshmallows on sticks, Pancit and Kaldereta. Trust me, people are tired of those food, no matter how many times you insist that your recipe is special and has been passed down from your Grandmother’s Grandmother.

Good luck with that party,

Davao’s Ultimate Partyphile,

Zhaun Ortega

Dear Partyphile,

I want to throw house parties but my neighbors keep on complaining about the noise. What do I do?

Anna

Dear Anna,

Im just going to quote the wise words of Franklin P. Jones for this one:

“Nothing makes you more tolerant of a neighbor's noisy party than being there.”

I’m sure that says it all.

Davao’s Ultimate Partyphile,

Zhaun Ortega

For comments, suggestions, queries, and more confessions from this partyphile log on to http://party.i.ph

Please send in your pictures through that site as well.

Thank you for listening to Confessions of a Partyphile (the Radio Show) every Wednesday nights, 6 to 9 PM on 105.9 Mix FM.

Last Night A DJ Saved My Life

I love this song..especially now that im a DJ. And i love all three versions. i can not imagine how they danced to the 80s version in the hottt clubs before, but hey, a good song is a good song.

meanwhile here is the controversial mariah carey version which was not released any where since it was too provocative and was supposed to be released during mariah carey's nervous breakdown. and yes, mariah is actually singing the rapper's part in the original version.

There is also a hed kandi verison but i cant find it on youtube.if ypu find a copy please send me the link

Why You Should Go On Vacation With Your Kids: A Fusion of PAst and Present

Vacations are always a treat for everybody. For somebody who goes on a vacation alone, it is a time to discover new things and to re-discover one’s self; for a couple it is a time to get to know the other better; for a group of friends it often means a crazy and carefree time; and for families, it means spending more than usual time with each other, creating memories, having fun and blocking the rest of society out.

It is in these times that family members discover sides of the rest of the family that they have yet to encounter, even though they see each other everyday. Ironically, it is in these rare times, when everybody is relaxed and optimistic that family members get to know the real people behind their Dads, Moms, Brothers and Sisters.

I remember my vacations with my own family. Much like the protagonist in the passage “Once More to the Lake”, those vacations have been stamped in my mind. It did not matter whether it was the start of a sunny summer, or if it was during a rainy day, but the feel of those exciting yet lazy vacations are still very vivid to me, like they had happened yesterday.

And it made me realize how much good a simple vacation could do to a family who is under so much stress, and is caught up in their everyday routines. Although we do not realize it, vacations link us to our fun-filled pasts. They bring us back to our childhood where everything was easy, and everything was pure and good.

I think vacations are to be encouraged to everyone who has growing children, because they not only make for great memories, relieve the stress brought about by everyday life, and give a chance for family members to bond; but they also give you a place to find your inner child, which is one of the best gifts a parent could ever give their children.

Anonymous quote

I was reading an article about vacations, and i started remembering mine, back when i was a child. I stood up to think some more. I lighted a cig, and thought about how great my childhood vacations were.

And then i thought about how i finally landed a job on the internet, doing what i have always wanted to do: write for money. And i thought about life. My active sex life. How i was going to host a radio show (my other great love) in a couple of hours.

And as i was standing there, inhaling that poisonous smoke, i saw through our fence a Coke tarpaulin that said: Sarap Ng Buhay.

I smiled. It definitely was.

Always Be My Baby Mr Dupri Remix

If you think the original version of always be my baby was nice, wait 'tiol you hear this...

I must say, for a song released during 1995, this sounds really advanced for that time. It can fit-in in today's music.

Confessions @ the Metro :Lounge: Are You A Sinner or a Saint? (2)

Here are the rest of the pictures at Confessions@ the Metro Lounge: Are You A Sinner or A Saint?

The people behind Small Fish Productions: Michael Sy, Marie Braganza, Bevs Lim and Jeremiah Braganza

Soc, Baker, Vernice,Marla, Elbert and Mairene

DJ Torch, DJ Wacky (from Mix FM) and a friend

Wesley Yap and K Brosas (i think)

Anna V, MArie And I

DJ Torch and DJ Zhaun

Props to Wacky Masbad and Kenneth Ong for the Photos

Confessions @ the Metro :ounge: Are You A Sinner or a Saint? (1)

Here are some pictures of me and the rest of the Davawenyo Partyphiles at Small Fish Productions' second event: Confessions @ the Metro. Are You A Sinner or A Saint?