Family values and a little circular fashion
“The older I get, the smarter my father seems to get.” – Tim Russert
Happy Father’s Day to all dads who constantly support their kids no matter what age! After an annulment, Father’s Day gets complicated, especially when you’re protecting your peace and your kids. The real goal is for the kids to feel loved by both sides. Energy is neutral with zero drama.
Love and light
A real parent legacy is showing kids what safe love looks like with protection, presence, and peace. Witnessing the 35th wedding anniversary of Buddy’s Pancit Lucban owners Zaldy and Nova Veluz was an example of the kind of family life that is centered on God, understanding, and endless love.
On June 14, 2026, surrounded by family and lifelong friends, the couple renewed their wedding vows in a beautiful sunset chic ceremony at The Garden at Buddy’s Commissary. The joyful celebration was officiated by 15 priests who are also close to the family and are grateful to the Veluz generosity.
Back on June 15, 1991, Zaldy and Nova stood at the altar to promise their lives to one another. On that exact day, Mt. Pinatubo shook the country with its historic eruption. The blast resulted in an unexpected total brownout, casting their wedding day into darkness. Yet, where others might have seen chaos, they saw a spark. They exchanged vows in the dim light, proving from day one that no obstacle could dim their love.
Over the next three and a half decades, that resilience became the foundation of this family. They weathered life’s storms with the same grace, humor, and unwavering commitment that carried them through their wedding day.
Their renewal ceremony was a beautiful contrast to the darkness of 1991. It was also a testament to the power of prayers as the storm cleared just hours before the celebration. Bathed in the warm, golden hues of the setting sun, the venue provided the perfect backdrop for a love that has only grown more radiant with time.
Sustainability matters more than ever
To keep in the proper wedding color theme, I called my trusted gown rental shop My Closet Manager and owner’s daughter Geneve Ramos quickly sent me options to wear. My Closet Manager is a trailblazer in the fashion industry as the first integrated sustainable fashion solutions platform. This shop is the brainchild of Genevieve Yalung who makes sure her shop has the most beautiful gowns to wear. They promote responsible consumption by offering innovative services that include clothes, bags, watches, and jewelries through smart storage, renting, reselling, and overall management.
My Closet Manager has become a community united by a shared commitment to sustainability. They have brought together respected personalities and advocates such as Joey Mead King, Stephanie Zubiri, Cristalle Belo, Priscilla Meirelles, and Cat Arambulo-Antonio alongside designers, business leaders, influencers, and conscious consumers who know the importance of circular fashion. Their support reflects a growing movement that recognizes the need for change in how fashion is produced, consumed, and valued. They are conveniently located at Proscenium, Rockwell.
A toast to fashion and film
For the Mega Ball: Fashion + Film at Makati Shangri-La Hotel, My Closet Manager provided stunning gowns for Joey Mead King and her wife Angie Mead King. We entered the Grand Ballroom together and they told me they are so happy wearing their circular fashion gowns.
The Mega June 2026 issue celebrates the women whose artistry shaped Philippine film across decades. Fronting this special issue is Charo Santos-Concio, whose extraordinary career as an actress, producer, media executive, and cultural leader has left an indelible mark on Philippine entertainment. Other esteemed talents like Maricel Soriano, Jodi Sta. Maria, Dawn Zulueta, and Maris Racal are also featured and applauded for their brilliant work in cinema.
Through intimate profiles, striking editorials, and thoughtful conversations, Mega presents a portrait of an industry continually transformed by the women at its forefront.
Screen icons such as Heart Evangelista, Piolo Pascual, Bela Padilla, Alden Richards, Sarah Lahbati, and Dolly de Leon were joined by a new generation of rising talents and fashion designers like Mark Bumgarner and Rajo Laurel, whose visionary work continues to shape the landscape of Filipino design.
Mega Ball co-chair Iza Calzado recognized Charo Santos-Concio with the Mega Ball Icon Award. I was delighted to take photos with Piolo and Alden and invited them for our Red Charity Gala (RCG) on Oct. 3 at The Peninsula Manila. My vintage Rajo Laurel gown was one of the pieces of RCG. Beautiful Sarah Lahbati wore a RCG designer Dennis Lustico gown from his collection.
Sweet homecoming
This Father’s Day weekend, I am spending it in Iloilo with some of my Assumption HS 81 classmates. We are here to support our next batch of 45 Sapphire Scholars at Assumption Passi, one of the mission schools funded by Assumption Old Girls.
For the past seven years, we have been supporting these learners to witness firsthand the transformative power of an Assumption education. Our now-alumni scholars are set to embark on university studies in nursing, education, engineering, and criminology.
Education is a growing gift for the future of these scholars. We are happy to sponsor them together with Assumption HS Batch 1956 whose batch includes my mother Marixi Prieto.
We are slowly starting to prepare for our Velada with Class of 1956 and 1981 with Silver Batch-Assumption HS 2001. Happening in October, this brings together the past alumni students as they celebrate a homecoming highlighting our Assumption education.
Even if I am heavily supported by all these inspiring women, I am always grateful for my father’s protective love. My dad Alex Prieto gave me roots of kindness and generosity and wings of gratitude and compassion so I could be grounded and adventurous at the same time.
In his final years on Earth, he guided me through my toughest challenges that broke me completely. I could not have survived without his unconditional love. I didn’t know how to navigate the end of a marriage or how to exit a toxic relationship but Poplex never gave up on me and he held my hand and heart until I was okay again. Happy Father’s Day in heaven Poplex!
