Spring Fling

Can I tell you about...my Spring fling. Every season for the past several years I've been shooting my campaigns in New York with the very talented Micaela Rossato. However, last year when I was headed to Manila to be the finale judge of Project Runway Philippines, it became a scheduling nightmare to still do the shoot in New York. So I decided to take a risk and do everything in Manila since I was already going to be there. Why not hit two birds with one stone.

I asked my friends, the dynamic husband and wife team Neil and Claudine Lucente to visualize the campaign for me. Claudine and I go way back when we used to be roommates in New York. In fact she shot many of my earlier campaigns. I love her sensibility, her editorial eye and attention to detail. Together, she and Neil have amassed an amazing body of work and I've always wanted to work with her again.

We came up with the concept of shooting everything around or inside a fabulous vintage car. The story line would revolve around a girl either waiting for, about to see or just having been with her lover. I wanted to convey a feeling of anticipation or afterglow a woman gets when she is in love. Love is something I want to be associated with because after all, I want everyone to LOVE Rafe.

I asked my girlfriend, Teresa Herrera to model for me. Not only is she a gorgeous woman, a famous TV host, she's also a professional model and an accomplished actress. I wanted to someone who can speak with her eyes, not just move her body and pose for the camera. I thought Teresa would be perfect.



My friend, Marie Claire editor in chief Myrza Sison suggested Preview fashion editor and super stylist Liz Uy and through Liz, we snagged make up wiz Denise Go Ochoa. I was all set with my team, now I just need the perfect car.


Through my girlfriend Celine Lopez, who called furniture designer and vintage car collector Kenneth Cobonpue, who then called his buddy and fellow vintage car collector Jorge See, I found the perfect car! A vintage 1953 XK-120 Jaguar Roadster convertible in Old English White with red leather interiors! It is one sexy machine and exactly what I envisioned for the shoot.

We decided to shoot in a studio because going on location with such a delicate vintage was going to pose some risks I wasn't willing to take. It was just as well because it rained that day.


One of my favorite moments during the shoot was lunch. We had Bacolod style chicken inasal courtesty of Joel Torre. Omg, I was estatic. You'd have to taste it to know why I digress. Getting that chicken and garlic fried rice combination is no easy feat and I've tried several versions in Manila and they just don't quite live up to it. Only another Ilonggo can taste the difference.




As you can see from the results, the campaign was a success. Liz pulled out all the stops and even had extra clothes made in a matter of days just for the shoot. She kept fussing and fixing until Claudine was ready to shoot.

It was long day but it was worth it because as you can see from the results, it was a smashing success. Teresa looks gorgeous, sexy, confident and in love. The product looks fresh and covetable. What more can I ask for?
I'm so happy I did this shoot in Manila and I'm so proud of my team. It was a fling worth doing. They did an awesome job, don't you agree? Now go ahead and have your own Spring fling...with Rafe!