Objects of Worship, The Making Of
June 6, 2009 was a very wet day. But that didn’t stop the Mistula crew from driving the slippery highways to Pampanga, a province two hours from Manila, known for its skilled sculptors and religious heritage. We had a deadline to catch. The editor-in-chief of Sense&Style magazine, AA Patawaran, wanted Mistula on the fashion spread for July, and he said the photos had to be in no later than June 10. It was going to be Mistula’s first time to appear on a fashion spread – and the first time for BJDs to be featured in a Philippine fashion magazine. So Joey, our virtual band manager, gathered the crew and had us rushing towards her hometown for a shoot worthy of Sense&Style’s Art issue.
Our interviewer, writer Nicole Limos, was not able to make it. She texted Joey at 6AM to say she had to take care of another shoot that got rained on and hoped we’ll do fine without her. At 8AM, the band hit the road with its usual, reliable entourage: our roadies, Joey and Rey; our favorite photographer, Mike Fallarme; and our new stylist and old friend, Gabie Osorio. Upon the suggestion of her former officemates, Edith Esguerra and Alex Castro, both experts in Campampangan culture, Joey led us to Betis Galleria, where the renown ecclesiastical artist and sculptor, Maestro Willy Layug, carved larger-than-life images of Catholic idols.
Maestro Willy’s workshop was everything Joey and Mike hoped for. It was full of unfinished statues, gothic appurtenances and sweaty craftsman – all covered in fine wood dust. (It also didn’t take very long for us to be covered in fine wood dust.) Maestro Willy was kind enough to let us choose where we wanted to shoot, and Mike chose the dustiest place of all: the stockroom. The place was littered with heavenly body parts, cobwebs thick enough to catch fish with and the occasional dog poop – which made it perfectly alright to exclaim “holy shit!” whenever one took a wrong step.
Like all Mistula shoots, this one was painstaking and inconvenient. There was no proper dressing room; I had to undress in front of a hundred ogling saints and two curious boys from the neighborhood who, for some reason, knew our names. Joey spoke their dialect, and was able to understand perfectly when the younger boy said, “I didn’t expect Uno to look this small in person.”
I guess when you grow up around a 12-foot Jesus, everything will look small.
Gabie, who is no stranger to making doll clothes (she designed the Manikako plushie), did not expect that working with Mistula can be a pain. The night before the shoot, she tore pages from an old missal to sew into haute couture amidst peals of thunder. She was glad not to have used bible pages like she originally planned, or she would’ve unleashed a plague of frogs or worse, brought death upon the firstborn – and she’s a firstborn. Then, she had to wrestle the fragile paper-clothes onto Manx, who instinctively kicked her in the eye.
Manx was uncooperative during the entire shoot, as always. When Gabie called her a bitch, Manx headbutted her – twice. This only proves that rockstars, resin or otherwise, can have an attitude.
The Red Lobo, on the other hand, was surprisingly tame. Gabie confessed she has a crush on him, increasing the member count of the Lobo League to a grand total of 9.
Mike must’ve fallen in love with Lugosi, and obsessively took shots of him in one hundred different angles. He only stopped when Lugosi fainted and fell flat on his face.
Miraculously, he was unharmed. Only the eardrums of humans within the one-mile radius were damaged from Joey’s apocalyptic scream.
The entire crew agreed that I’m inarguably the easiest to work with. My shoot took no more than 10 minutes, so I spent the rest of the afternoon sitting beside dog poop and gathering dust. It’s not easy being indie.
The shoot ended at 8PM, and by that time, Maestro Willy Layug had carved Jesus out of a rock. We were honored to have met him and his people, craftsmen who shape gods and angels out of wood and stone. They make one realize that even a simple man can be a creator; and that each creation, under the skillful hand, can become an object of worship.
Mistula would like to thank these wonderful humans for giving us a chance at being objects of worship:
The fab Sense&Style Staff: AA Patawaran, Hector Reyes and Nicole Limos for giving us six glossy pages on their Art issue; Krizette Laureta Chu for inviting Joey to introduce Mistula to Sense&Style (while feasting on dimsum at Shangri-La), and Itsy Macasaet for telling AA about her “interesting devil daughter”.
The Mistula Crew, what will we be without you: Mike Fallarme for outdoing himself at every shoot; Gabie Osorio for putting up with Manx and the lack of food; Lala Criss and Daddy Gadget for helping us with the wardrobe.
The people of Betis Galleria, Maestro Willy Layug and his son, Jelo, for letting us bother them on a busy Saturday.
And we wouldn’t have met them if not for Edith Esguerra and Alex Castro, who pointed us to the right direction. Dacal a salamat!
And last but not the least, the people who bought the July issue of Sense&Style because of Mistula. Thank you, forever and ever.
The July 2009 Issue of Sense&Style is still out in major bookstores and magazine shops.
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July 18th, 2009 - 21:14
uno and lobo is handsome…..*faint of excitement*
July 19th, 2009 - 01:58
Thank you, Anime Girl! Welcome to Fully Articulated!
July 18th, 2009 - 22:14
Uno, you make me laugh. Thanks for sharing your adventures with us. I can’t help but think you have a more interesting life than most of us humans!
I can’t help but worry about Lugosi… Is he really alright?
July 19th, 2009 - 02:03
Always a pleasure, Amber.
Ah, don’t worry about Lugosi! I’m sure he’s just being dramatic. Too bad he’s not as fragile as he thought he is! Hmph!
July 18th, 2009 - 22:15
At last! I just got my copy(July issue) a while ago and I’m enjoying it
It’s very nice <3
July 19th, 2009 - 02:03
Awesome! Thank you very much for buying a copy!
July 19th, 2009 - 00:13
I have Sense&Style! I have Sense&Style! Oh I remember these photos… ^_^ Joey showed us a few weeks ago.
No less than 10 minutes! Uno, you are fab. 8Db
July 19th, 2009 - 02:09
Why, thank you, neighbor!
I’ve practically lived my entire life in front of the lens, so I’m pretty used to this. Manx and Lugosi are just being difficult, as usual.
Ah, you’re lucky to see all of the photos! Joey forbade me to post some of the more interesting ones.
July 19th, 2009 - 11:46
All of you at FA are made of awesome.
Make it ten? Lobo is ♥
July 26th, 2009 - 00:07
And FA guests are made of awesome, too. Thank you very much. I’m sure Lobo will be absobloodylutely delighted.
July 19th, 2009 - 13:37
Oh, what a fun behind-the-scenes sneak peek. Thanks for sharing, Uno!
Those sculptures are beautiful…and the Mistula eye candy doesn’t hurt either. (and now, on to amazon.com and such to try to find a copy.)
July 26th, 2009 - 00:12
Always a pleasure, Pix.
I don’t think the magazine is sold on Amazon. If you want a copy, email us at webmessiah(at)mistula(dot)com and we’ll try to ship one out to you.
July 19th, 2009 - 18:13
Ah, a very amusing behind-the-scenes peak! A thousand and one thank you’s your way, Uno.
Maestro Willy’s sculptures are so fascinating! Well, he IS called MAESTRO after all…
I can’t believe Lugosi actually fainted, and he actually calls you pathetic, Uno. Perhaps he was far too overwhelmed of being surrounded by Catholic idols he just couldn’t help it. After seeing Lobo look so friggin’ hot, I’ve been so tempted to join the Lobo League. I want to, but I just can’t leave the aborkable Uno’s side.
I almost forgot to tell you, you looked fantabulous in that hot Missal couture!
July 22nd, 2009 - 17:47
Oops, I mean adorkable. Stupid keyboard…>.>
July 26th, 2009 - 00:17
I believe Maestro Layug is the best this country’s got. We’re very proud of him.
Thanks for your praise – and beware Lugosi’s Army of Darkness. You never know when they’re going to pounce on you.
July 27th, 2009 - 15:15
Thanks for the warning…I guess…=_=;
July 28th, 2009 - 01:52
Permission to pounce and punish?
Be strong, Lord Lugosi. Pain is only prelude to pleasure.
July 31st, 2009 - 15:47
Er, I’m not sure she would like to be inducted into your fascinating cult, Hemlock. Spare the child, please.
But I’m glad to know the Army of Darkness still lurks around my blog – waiting, I’m quite sure, for the next batch of Lugosi’s photos in leather and hot pants.
July 19th, 2009 - 21:55
whoah. Is it Mike Fallarme who conceptualized the shoot? Lord Uno? or was it Miss Joey?
Truly an amazing concept.
July 26th, 2009 - 00:20
Definitely not me. If I were to decide, I’d go somewhere with a resort and room service, preferably outside the country. This is Joey’s, with Mike and Rey’s approval.
July 19th, 2009 - 22:01
I bought a copy! yehey!!
and..It was really worth it!
More power to mistula!!!
July 26th, 2009 - 00:21
Thanks very much for getting a copy, Inah!
July 20th, 2009 - 00:42
I have a copy now too. <3! Haha… My mom was asking why I was suddenly into magazines (’cause I usually don’t buy magazines) when I showed her your photos then she said, “Oh.”
July 26th, 2009 - 00:23
Thanks very much, Bernadette! I’m sure your Mom understands all your doll-related quirks by now, being a SENIOR doll owner and all.
Joey wants to talk to you about your new doll. She’ll get in touch with you soon.
July 20th, 2009 - 11:21
haha…
Uno, dont worry, Your not alone. atleast not when your with Joey…^^
manx looks cute while wearing that towel over her body…
and lobo…well…hehe….he’s handsome…
and Lugosi…he’s…..(sigh of admiration) such a wonderful man…. need i say more??
oh…. yes….they all look great…
July 26th, 2009 - 00:28
Thanks for the happy thoughts, Killeia!
July 20th, 2009 - 11:25
..can’t wait for that mag to come out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(i just hope they sell it here in Bacolod though..
gotta check those bookstores first thing after Bartending Class)
July 26th, 2009 - 00:31
It’s already out! And you only have 5 days ’til it’s considered a back issue, so grab one quick!
July 20th, 2009 - 13:24
That is so cool! You are all such an amazingly talented group and its so exciting for you to meet other talented groups~ Congrats, Mistula~
July 26th, 2009 - 00:32
Thank you so much, Teru! I hope you managed to get yourself a copy of the magazine!
July 20th, 2009 - 15:37
We (that’s me and my keeper) love to read your blog.
I couldn’t agree more when you said that rockstars, resin… can have an attitude.
This was a good photoshoot though. All of you looked great. I am sure it was such a wonderful experience.
Manx, is really hot! Well… you look good too, Uno. *blushes*
July 26th, 2009 - 00:45
Welcome to Fully Articulated, Hyde! It’s great to see you and Tin here.
It’s not the easiest of shoots, which makes it quite unforgettable. I’m glad the photos were worth the pain.
Manx said she’s been on a magazine cover with Hyde! So I guess you’ve sort of met, you just don’t know it yet.
July 22nd, 2009 - 13:48
Miss Manx headbutted someone!!!!!!!!!! 0_0
*cringes*
She and Lobo-sama really do suit each other ^_^
July 26th, 2009 - 00:50
i don’t like working with girls! why can’t my stylist be male?
i only like lobo when he’s red. i’ll toss the tame one to the lobo league.
July 23rd, 2009 - 19:01
Ohhhhhhh, the heart stopping face-plant!!!
Glad the Dark Lugosi is still perfect.
And lol, the Lishe kick/head butt, oh but should one expect less?
July 26th, 2009 - 13:21
“Only the eardrums of humans within the one-mile radius were damaged from Joey’s apocalyptic scream.”
As much as I want to cringe while picturing the moment, this really got me rolling in laughter XDXDXDXD. Greetings from Dallas Texas, by the way! X3
July 26th, 2009 - 20:59
You’re in Dallas? Yee-haw! I hope you took Reiaiah with you!
July 31st, 2009 - 20:42
YOU’RE IN DALLAS!?
July 27th, 2009 - 21:06
Congrats!
Can’t think of a more appropriate location for this shoot.
August 4th, 2009 - 01:23
Thanks very much.
July 31st, 2009 - 20:44
AWESOME LOCATION IS AWESOME XD
I gotta say that anecdotes involving Manx and her attitude during shoots never cease to amuse me. I guess she’s really awesome that way XD
August 4th, 2009 - 01:30
Thank you, Krishna! And we decided to spare you roadies from this agony. Which is probably why Manx is acting up; there are not enough roadies at her disposal. Augh.
August 4th, 2009 - 08:45
Lugosi fell flat on his face! Eeeep! :-O
July 6th, 2010 - 19:39
The coifs for the dolls say more than best!