WE puts the spotlight on our well-loved wedding hosts. In the event industry–especially weddings, couples should know how to plan their big day, and a very tedious role is someone who can hold your wedding program together. Couples should hire someone who knows what they are doing, gets every detail right, and is known for doing the job very well –treating each client with special care. They may not be superheroes, but they’re endowed with boundless patience, quick wits and work with a good team to flawlessly execute a flawless program. WE got to ask some of the country’s most sought-after event emcees about their hosting journey and how they see hosting in the “new normal”.
Atom Ungson
WE: How long have you been hosting?
Atom: I’ve been hosting for 18 years. In the first three I was a TV host in ABS-CBN Naga, then on October 2020, I turned 15 in the wedding and events industry. I was supposed to throw another party but Covid happened.
WE: How is hosting different now in the new normal?
Atom: Hosting with a mask on is one of the most notable differences between hosting then and now, and is not as easy as it looks. Since we’re moving around, it’s more difficult to breathe and we need to exert a little more effort to be as audible as we need to be, from start to finish. It can also be a bit more nerve wracking to host these days because we know that all eyes and ears are on us since there are fewer guests and their attention is undivided.
I must admit though that putting the hassles aside, hosting these days requires us hosts to squeeze our creative juices and I’m guilty of finding this quite enjoyable. Just like before, we need to entertain the guests, only this time while maintaining and following safety protocols and with new and innovative ideas. We can’t do things the exact same way we used to. Just like everything else, we need to evolve with the realities around us, and hosts these days have to be imaginative.
My favorite tool now in hosting is technology, which has really come into play, especially with the rise of live streaming. We are able to play games with guests online and more importantly, we are able to bridge the gap between couples and their families who can’t make it to their big day.
WE: What was your best and most challenging event? Tell us what happened.
Atom: (Challenging) My most challenging wedding was at a venue in Intramuros about 10 years ago. The program was going so well and it was a set of guests who knew how to have fun. The mood was lively, and the food and drinks were abundant. And then it rained. Hard. There was no tent so the guests ran to a narrow corridor, which was the only place they could run to. The food was wet. The sound system was wet. I tried to salvage the moment by still having a short program at that narrow corridor but the rain was too strong and the guests were too wet, so the guests just went home drenched and worse, sober.
Lesson learned: A nice garden wedding without a tent is beautiful, until it’s not.
(Best) I have had too many fun weddings to determine which one the best was. Pinpointing one is almost impossible, but I suppose one of my favorite weddings was when I got two strangers who met right there and then during the game for the singles, to kiss on the lips. That’s not something common that Filipinos would do. I’ve made 157 other pairs of strangers kiss on the lips since then. (lol)
WE: What should one look for in a host?
Atom: Every host has his or her own style of hosting. Couples should find a host whose style jives with the kind of vibe and energy they want on their wedding day. There are of course, certain minimums. A good host has to be eloquent enough in whatever dialect or dialects he or she will choose to host with, that they can properly express what they want to say. An effective host must have a good command of the crowd and the only way to achieve that is by having a full grasp of the program and the purpose of each segment. A good host must be quick and witty enough to handle unforeseen events, yet sensitive enough to not say anything that can cause awkwardness. Most importantly, a good host must have a tasteful sense of humor and must know how to have fun.
https://www.instagram.com/atomungson/ | https://www.facebook.com/atom.ungson | [email protected]
Eri Neeman
WE: How long have you been hosting?
Eri: Over 15 years.
WE: How is hosting different now in the new normal?
Eri: It’s honestly the same. If you think about it, wedding programs consist of messages, performances, dances and videos. That’s messages from loved ones, couples dances, dances with their parents, traditions, dinner, performances by the band or a relative/friend and SDEs. Even if you have 30 to 50 people for your guests, the people for these moments are still present. Of course, everyone has to observe safety protocols and wear a mask but it doesn’t get in the way of everyone enjoying the event based on my experience. I was concerned if it would. It didn’t.
WE: What was your best and most challenging event? Tell us what happened.
Eri: The worst turned out to be one of the best. This was for Tyron & Bea back in July 12, 2019. This was a couple’s program who got hit by a typhoon. The entire venue was getting drenched by the winds with rain. The buffet started getting leaked on. The power had to be turned off. But all guests stayed. You felt the love from everyone. All suppliers worked together to still mount it. Our coordinator Jeff Sitchon (La Belle Fete) was even holding his phone playing Spotify tracks for parts of the program that needed music. We all didn’t give up. The guests stayed despite the situation. The wedding cake even fell. But everyone stayed.
The end of the program was euphoric. We all got through it. It is a wedding I will never forget.
WE: What should one look for in a host?
Look for one with experience. This doesn’t just go with the host. This goes with all suppliers. This is the most special day of your life.
So choose suppliers who are seasoned. They have experienced most scenarios and are prepared for unplanned situations because they have gone through them before. That for me is non-negotiable. Once you’ve narrowed down your list of seasoned hosts, go with the one you feel most comfortable with and have the best feeling when talking to him/her.
This person will be carrying the energy and flow of your program. It’s important that you like how you feel when around them. That’s why I always encourage couples to at least do a call when considering their hosts if they are not dead set on one. That way they’ll have a better idea of how they feel after they talk to them. It will be easier to decide who you want to go for after that.
https://www.instagram.com/erineeman/ | https://www.facebook.com/erineemanprivate/posts/10157537930051672 | https://erineeman.com/life-events/ (Photos of Eri courtesy of NQ Modern Photography)
Francis Day
WE: How long have you been hosting?
Francis: Keeping my age undisclosed, I have been a host and a wedding DJ for 19 years to this date. Needless to say, the hundreds of big and small, corporate and social events credited to a host’s belt will not be tantamount to the length in business, without willingly crawling back and forth the ladder and humbly learn to tie the ropes, as great experiences would warrant. A word from this old-timer — maturity in the business isn’t in the numbers.
WE: How is hosting different now in the new normal?
Prior to taking on the stage as an events host, I spent my young adulthood years tirelessly talking inside a small enclosed booth as a radio DJ. Transitioning from a non-visual audience to a sea of critical eyes and ears right in front of me, I have seamlessly crafted my own ride to swiftly switch from one event to a totally different one. This certainly honed my adaptive skill leading to the new normal in social events, making it less complicated on my end to fit in.
What makes events from pre-lockdown to this point different, on a host’s point of view, stems simply in flexibility as following the basic protocols, adjusting from standard to atypical programs and the execution whether in a virtual or small group setting, and carving the norm to fit the new requests and wishes of the clients. But any difficult situation becomes a piece of cake when one is bent on a mission to pull off a similarly successful event, with the same passionate heart and mind as it previously has.
WE: What was your best and most challenging event? Tell us what happened.
Francis: The only challenging event I could think of is when the genset of the hotel where the event took place broke down. What made it worst is that it happened right on the Grand Entrance of the debutante. No fingers pointed, but it could have been prevented at some point.
The best event/s? Everything else. Happy ending is my parameter for a great event, each is incomparable to the rest.
WE: What should one look for in a host?
Francis: A good host is not defined solely by how amazing one carries himself on the microphone. The parameter for a good host is distinctly different from one event to another, but should be the one who would best complement the desire of the clients. To gently and objectively look at it, a good host is the one who is empathic to the needs and plans of the clients, who can process mentally in similar wave lengths— this skill alone will generate toms of other characteristics.
But for the benefit of the readers, I would make a short rundown of what a good host should be in the eyes of a client. Being the entertainer at the center of an event program, a good professional host should be able to work a crowd and drive an event where the clients and the organizers wanted it to go. A great blend of a commanding but gentle voice, a formal but amusing style, an enthusiastic personality, excellent speech delivery, and a quick, smart thinker and listener who will instantaneously flip a program if necessitated to bring forth immeasurable joy and great memories and experiences to everyone on board — the clients, the audience, co-suppliers, and everyone else who will simply hear about how great the event has been.
In the end, a good host isn’t described by how I would like myself to be seen. The host should be the one to whom the client has the standard set for. A great host, like beauty, is in the eyes of the beholder.
https://www.instagram.com/francisdayemceedj/ | https://www.facebook.com/francis.day.16 | [email protected]
JC Alelis
WE: How long have you been hosting?
JC: The first time I hosted was when I was in Kindergarten so I guess, almost all my life! I was always being asked to host events, whether in school or at work. My first professional hosting job was back in 2014, when an officemate of mine asked me to host her wedding. After that first job, I decided to pursue hosting as a career.
WE: How is hosting different now in the new normal?
JC: Not much has changed, though in some ways the job is more challenging. Like most emcees I enjoy interacting with people and the ongoing pandemic means it’s necessary for us to limit these interactions. And because we know that everyone is going through their own struggles, we have to exert more effort to make them feel at ease and entertained—all while half of our faces are covered. You could say our job is more essential now because people need to be uplifted, they need to feel joyful. Hosting weddings, the focus is the same: help make the couple’s day more memorable and beautiful through our talents. When we’re able to do that in spite of the challenges, it feels more rewarding.
WE: What was your best and most challenging event? Tell us what happened.
JC: In general, events are great when people just let go and have fun without seeking attention. The most challenging experiences I’ve had while hosting were when some individuals behaved selfishly, putting themselves above the celebrants and the other guests. On one occasion, a groom threw a tantrum and hid in the holding area halfway through the program and didn’t come out again. On another, a scene-stealing friend got too intoxicated and delivered a speech that was embarrassing to himself and to the couple. On both these instances and on similar ones, I made sure to move on gracefully and bring the focus back to what was important.
WE: What should one look for in a host?
JC: Hosting social gatherings, especially these days, is not easy. You need a host who can stand in front of your guests and instantly convey confidence and competence, compelling them to pay attention through sheer presence. You need a host who can communicate clearly and effectively, someone who can use words and body language to convince, comfort, tease, and entertain. You need a host who can connect with your guests, someone who makes them feel seen, heard, and appreciated. You need a host who’s not only the life of the party, but makes everyone else feel like they are the life of the party too!
[email protected] | https://www.facebook.com/jcalelis | https://www.instagram.com/jcalelis/
Jerome Go
WE: How long have you been hosting?
Jerome: I have been hosting for 16 years now, not including those years back when I was in elementary and high school, when I would eagerly volunteer to host all sorts of events within the school. That was really where everything started.
WE: How is hosting different now in the new normal?
Jerome: Personally I don’t see much change in my hosting style now that we are experiencing a pandemic. I just notice more change in the program – as couples and guests now prefer a more straightforward presentation of details. This also holds true for venues, given the curfew set forth by IATF. But as a host, regardless however the program is long or short, my hosting style remains to be fun, heartfelt, pleasant.
WE: What was your best and most challenging event? Tell us what happened.
Jerome: After being in the industry for over a decade, I can recall a lot of great events that I have hosted, and really singling out one is tough. There were so many events that combined all the elements you would hope to have in a successful show – good team of suppliers, cool couple, friends and families, awesome venue, music and decor, delicious food. Its the overall experience that makes so many events stand out on their own. I cannot recall of any event I can consider as “challenging”. Maybe I have just been lucky to have such wonderful clients!
WE: What should one look for in a host?
Jerome: In searching for a wedding host, look beyond what’s written on the net, or what you may just hear from others. The choice for host is something personal, and experiential. Sit down with your choices, set meetings to discuss, feel his passion and listen to him talk, as though he is already hosting the biggest event of your life. And once you can imagine him on stage for you, then he is the one.
https://www.facebook.com/go.jerome.56 | https://www.instagram.com/jeromegomd/ | [email protected]
Kevin Lapena
WE: How long have you been hosting?
Kevin: I’ve been hosting for over 15 years already, surprisingly! It may seem relatively long for someone my age, but I started quite early.
I started back in high school and college, hosting school events and debuts, but only really started earning from it when I entered showbiz back in 2008. I was an actor in a teen-drama series that lasted for over 4 seasons, but simultaneously, I would get invited to host on different television programs, and live events. This was where I discovered that hosting really was my passion.
I moved on to host for Myx, then hosted several travel shows after that, some of which I produced myself.
And it was only in 2015 when I first got introduced to hosting weddings – an industry that has turned out to be the focus of most of my hosting work for the better part of the past 5 years.
WE: How is hosting different now in the new normal?
It’s definitely been a pivot, to say the least, especially after getting used to working with a live crowd. However, my experience doing TV work (shooting in studios, hosting in front of cameras), was a huge factor in helping me transition into hosting virtual events.
As for hosting intimate weddings, it’s pretty much the same as far as quality of work is concerned. Only difference is that sometimes, I just have to be more mindful about adjusting how I speak or how I move, depending on how small a space I have to work with. Can’t be too loud or animated in a small place! Ha ha.
Although I’d have to say, some of these smaller gatherings turned out as being even more fun than the ‘grander’ ones that we’ve gotten accustomed to! Probably since guests are compressed to those who are much closer to the couple, or to the celebrant.
WE: What was your best and most challenging event?
There isn’t one particular event that I’d consider to be the best, but the best ones are usually the ones where EVERYONE really takes an active part in the celebration. And it isn’t just in having loud reactions, but more of everyone taking initiative to engage and interact, not just with the couple or the host, but also with one another, all through out the program. It’s when the whole room just seems to be in sync with one another, and where everyone just wants to have a good time!
As for the worst, I’ve been fortunate not to have experienced anything I’d consider to be the worst. Although there definitely have been some ‘challenging’ ones, especially when technical difficulties are involved, like when the sound/AV systems just stop working. But instances like these always cut both ways. Despite the technical set backs, those were the times that I’d get to intimately know and interact with the crowd a bit more.
WE: What should one look for in a host?
In a nutshell, I would recommend to look for a host that best fits your personality, or the vision you have for your event. There are so many equally talented hosts with varying styles, that can undoubtedly cover the basics, like making your event fun and engaging your guests. So it really just boils down to who is the best fit for you and your event.
Fundamentally speaking, a good host should be able to command and manage a program autonomously, while at the same time, is also who is able to work hand-in-hand with coordinators and clients; can make adjustments on the fly, and of course, is capable of making your event as fun and engaging as possible.
[email protected] | https://www.facebook.com/kevin.m.lapena | https://www.instagram.com/kevinlapena/
Max Tiu
WE: How long have you been hosting?
Max: I will be on my 24th year in the events industry by February 09, 2021.
WE: How is hosting different now in the new normal?
Max: For me nothing much has changed, aside from observing the safety protocols like wearing my face shield and face mask; keeping myself 1 to 2 meters away from the crowd; and making sure that my program doesn’t require any close physical contact.
I never believed that the program for the new normal should be less fun than how we used to do it. It doesn’t matter if I am faced with a crowd of 1,000 or 100 or even 10, everything should still be classy, meaningful and fun.
WE: What was your best and most challenging event? Tell us what happened.
Max: The best for me is every time I am able to get a group of uptight crowd to participate in the program and to interact with me.
The most challenging is when a client insists on a concept or a time table that I know will not work from the get-go. Although it is my job to explain to them the pros and cons, there are times when they will still insist on what they want. When that happens, I just go with what they desire and work my magic on the day to make things work.
WE: What should one look for in a host?
Max: When searching for a host, you need someone who is accommodating, flexible, and most importantly, knowledgeable. It is not enough to have a person who just speaks well. Of course, as in any field, experience is always a plus!
www.maxtiu.com | https://www.instagram.com/max_tiu/ | https://www.facebook.com/maxtiu
Nic Lizardo
WE: How long have you been hosting?
Nic: My first hosting gig was back in 2009 when my colleagues in the company I was working with asked me if I could host our year-end party. Being an emcee was something I honestly never thought of doing in my life as I was quite introvert, but because they badly needed someone who can write a good script for the program and can speak well at the same time, I took the job and luckily it went very well! I’d say that my love for speaking in front of a crowd ignited in that moment and my hosting experiences continued further as I transferred to different companies and industries since I was always being tapped to host our company events until I started getting formal invitations (which happened around 2016) from different event organizers to do corporate event hosting and voice-over projects. Fast forward to 2018, that was when I started hosting for weddings and it made me realize that this is something I want to do for a living because there is nothing like the feeling of meeting up with couples who are about to get married, their families and friends, and co-suppliers who all share the same love and excitement of something that you will all do to make that “Big Day” truly memorable.
It takes a lot for me to feel passionate about things, but through hosting events, I really felt that I started to grow as an individual and it always gives me so much joy every time I do my job.
WE: How is hosting different now in the new normal?
Nic: 2020 was a wild year and caught everyone off-guard to say the least, and due to circumstances outside my control, I needed to adapt quickly to the new normal and even change the programs I’ve already set with some of my clients since we all wanted to ensure that we would never overlook the health security protocols for everyone’s safety. I remember during the first half of 2020, I virtually hosted a few wedding reception programs via Zoom, then on the second half I decided to purchase my own microphone as I can already be in the venue to host simple and intimate wedding reception programs, and not to mention, hosting with a face mask/face shield! Despite all of these things, however, this pandemic gave us a fresh perspective. Everyone realized what is completely important and magical at this point — an intimate wedding day can still be a “meaningful and emotional celebration” together with family and close friends, and it’s all that really matters.
WE: What was your best and most challenging event? Tell us what happened.
Nic: (Best) I hosted a wedding recently and it was completely different than the weddings I’ve hosted so far, being really small and intimate. Quite honestly I never would have known that their grand wedding plans got postponed if I was not part of their team of wedding suppliers. All throughout the celebration, the couple just couldn’t contain their happiness and excitement to start their journey together and not for a single moment did they express being downhearted over “what should’ve been.”
It was so beautiful and honestly I’m getting teary-eyed just thinking about it again. We did everything that a wedding day was supposed to be, just on a smaller and more intimate set-up. Their wedding day may not have looked like what we all originally planned and pictured, but it still turned out absolutely beautiful!
(Challenging) There was this tech conference I hosted way back 2016 wherein almost half of the audience were Indians and the key speakers were Filipinos. At first, all of the key speakers’ segments were going really smooth until the Question and Answer part came in. As most of us know, Indians are very competitive and knowledgeable when it comes to the field of technology so there were several instances that a couple of Indian app developers were not agreeing with the answers of the key speakers to a point where their specialties were being brought up and questioned. As an event moderator, I needed to do something to ensure that the heated discussion would not further escalate into something worse so I immediately suggested to hear everything out from both sides and just explain their main points and suggestions in a better and professional way. Fortunately at the latter part of the conference, they were able to bridge the gap and even noted several things how they can further improve the tech systems, solutions, and protocols for their respective businesses.
I was drained after that event just by listening to all of them talk about tech stuff but one of the key speakers commended me for staying calm and collected despite such issues as I was totally able to control the situation for the sake of the clients, audience, and the program.
WE: What should one look for in a host?
Nic: We all know that a talented emcee has the capacity to make the person sitting in the last row as connected and involved as the guy in the front row. But mind you, getting a host is more than just looking for someone who has excellent public speaking skills and sense of humor. Whether you are an event organizer or a couple who’s planning for your “Big Day”, it’s always best to really get to know a few emcees by asking about their style of hosting and just evaluate how comfortable he/she will make you feel during the conversation before booking one of them since you need to make sure that everyone of you at the event will find pleasure in listening to him/her. It is also good to consider someone who gives high importance in doing a thorough program conceptualization and works closely with the couple or event planner/organizer as it is a very good indication of one’s commitment in ensuring a flawless event.
[email protected] | www.facebook.com/niclizardo | www.instagram.com/niclizardo
RJ Ledesma
WE: How long have you been hosting?
RJ: If you consider hosting for a children’s tv show (The Children’s Hour with June Keithley for all you trivia addicts) along with hosting television shows and news shows as part of my resume, I have been hosting for a good thirty-eight years. If it is for professional hosting in events, that would be about 20 years. And if it’s professional hosting for wedding receptions, that would be about 16 years.
WE: How is hosting different now in the new normal?
RJ: From the wedding receptions that I’ve hosted in the “new normal”, these are what I have noticed:
a. More intimate wedding celebrations with lesser number of guests (but surprisingly, the intimacy lends to the meaningfulness of the celebration).
b. More wedding receptions are being held in outdoor (backyard gardens) and out-of-town venues (especially with the restrictions for most hotels regarding the use of their ballrooms)
c. The couple hires a video team to do livestreaming so that guests can participate in the event virtually.
d. Of course, heightened health and safety protocols followed by the guests and the suppliers. Aside from the socially distanced seating arrangements and all the guests wearing face masks (and with suppliers wearing face masks and sometimes even PPEs), some couples give complimentary ‘safety kits’ to the guests. Some wedding receptions even have antigen guests for all the guests and suppliers to ensure that everyone in the venue is Covid-Free.
But, even with these changes, I think that when you hire experienced wedding suppliers to stage your wedding, they will have the creativity, the tenacity and the ability to recreate a wedding reception in the New Normal that will be just as magical (and sometimes even more magical) as it would have been in the ‘Old Normal’.
WE: What was your best and most challenging event? Tell us what happened.
RJ: (Challenging) The wedding planner neglected to inform me that the groom did not carry the same last name as his dad. So when I made the grand announcement to welcome the newlyweds inside the ballroom for their entrance march, I was met with a resounding howl by the guests who immediately corrected my mistake. So we had to do a retake of what was supposed to be a magical moment in the lives of the newlyweds.
(Best) The best wedding I ever hosted? My own. Hahaha! I asked my good friends and fellow hosts JM Rodriguez and Issa Litton to host my wedding reception. And, true to form, they did an excellent job of hosting the reception! But when it came to the couples game during the wedding reception program, they turned the microphone over to me and laughingly remarked that this was my ‘signature’ game and that nobody else could host it better than me. So I ended up hosting in my own wedding reception! (And when I celebrated my tenth year wedding anniversary which was hosted by my daughter Fortune, I ended up hosting the couples game again)
WE: What should one look for in a host?
RJ: When you are looking for a host for your wedding reception, I think it’s important that the couple find someone whose wedding hosting style fits their personality and the ‘vibe’ that they want to create for their wedding reception. There is always a perfect host for your perfect wedding reception.
If you’re trying to narrow down your choices and need to see the hosts in action, many professional wedding hosts already have video compilations of their wedding hosting highlights online. I think couples should take time to watch these videos to see if his or her hosting style fits into the overall ‘feel’ that they want to create for the wedding reception. There are also several sites, blogs and wedding-related platforms where they can get feedback or comments on the hosts whom they are interested to get for their reception.
You might also have a criteria for the type of host you are looking for. Here are few things you can keep in mind: I often say that what makes a wedding reception memorable is that it is equal parts solemn, dramatic and humorous. So, is your host able to bring in gravitas and showmanship and humor into your reception? Does your wedding host have great rapport with an audience? Can he easily put guests at ease? Can he make them laugh? Is your wedding host able to think on his or her feet? If there are unexpected changes to the program, can he or she easily adjust? What is the value added of your host to the reception? Does he or she just host or can he or she help you craft the wedding reception program? Lastly, ask them how they have adjusted their programs for the New Normal. These are just a few things that you can keep in mind when looking for a host.
[email protected] | https://www.instagram.com/rj_ledesma/ | https://www.facebook.com/rj.ledesma.77
#WEOnTheSpot is a section in Wedding Essentials that features wedding suppliers who have grown or evolved in this thriving industry.
