Seconds with Val | Celebrating New Chances

The house isn’t empty. 🙂

My friend Val, escaped the fire that broke into their home a few months back. Had she not, I would have been shooting walls. Only walls filled with faint memories of her, and me being left clueless about what she was last thinking, or feeling, or doing.

When I met her, a few days after the incident, she said, “Buhay Ako!”. And I think I replied something like … You don’t know how happy I am to hear that.  And no matter how cinematic it might have looked and sounded, we did hug like we have never hugged before. ( Insert tears here). 😛

I still couldn’t comprehend the gravity of her escape. I know her as a very strong and passionate person. I assumed, she was likely to beat and survive just about anything thrown her way.

Yet. She’s human. Like many. Like all.

With a split-second decision to continue being afraid and lose grip on her own life, or brave the flames and have hope despite uncertainty, she chose the later.

It takes courage to see things differently.

In celebration of her second life, we did a shoot at their home. There’s nothing romantic about what she went through. And in the middle of takes, I would see her eyes still water. But her spirit has been renewed, and we know that by God’s grace, and in time she too will be completely restored, just like their house and their whole family.

Today, Val has turned her life experience into a source of inspiration. Just months after the fire, she has decided to shine brightly not only for herself but for others through song and through “Buhay Movement” ,  the brainchild and advocacy of the founders of ALABPH ( Vins Miranda) and Fennel Design Agency). Find out more about how they are making waves at fb.me/buhayph. Instagram: @buhaymovement, @alabphevents

Meanwhile, Meet Val. 🙂
Singer/Songwriter, Teacher.

Valene would also like to thank:

Terence Buenaventura, Hair and Make-up Artist

P.S Valene really looks up to Lea Salonga 🙂

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Valene also serves as part of the music ministry at The Feast Ortigas Galleria. Every Sessions, she gets to use her talent to bless more people, through song.