An intimate wedding for Yeng

MANILA, Philippines - “I just want to be beautiful on my wedding day,” says Yeng Constantino of her planned 2015 first-quarter wedding with fiancé Victor “Yan” Asuncion. Yeng and Victor are into mainstream and worship music, respectively. “I don’t want to stress myself about it (wedding preparation). I’ve left everything to my wedding planner.”

From the time Yeng announced her engagement to Victor on Instagram through a picture showing two hands clasped together, Yeng and Victor have attended meetings for their wedding. Yeng has given her ideas and waits for the final details and execution of the matrimony. “Sobrang masaya,” she says. “I’m more excited than nervous.”

Yeng should fret not because she is surrounded by people who are willing to help the couple with their wedding. You can’t blame the singer-songwriter because planning a wedding is not Yeng and Victor’s turf. “We don’t know anything about it,” she says. “We’re both musicians. Creating music is what we only know to do. Then, from out of nowhere I said, ‘Lord, we need a wedding planner.”’

Then, wish was granted, her prayer was answered when a wedding planner whom Yeng met in an engagement called up and said, “I wanna help you. If you need help, just message me.” From then on, Yeng had exchanged concepts with the wedding planner and checked out possible themes (from formal, elegant to rustic) on the Internet. “Kapag tumibok ang heart ko dun, yon na yon,” Yeng recalls. Her “peg” for the wedding is the one using paper as the main element. “I found it so cool and that is so me. It feels like you’ve watched the Pag-ibig music video, with cute stuff,” she says.

The Asuncion and Constantino wedding will be an intimate “or not too big” event, to be attended by 250 people “who have been involved in our love life and who have helped our relationship,” Yeng says.

For now, Yeng is enjoying her single blessedness and fulfilling other commitments such as out-of-town and out-of-the-country shows before she finally ties the knot.

Yeng recently graced Nuvali’s “summer-to-remember” Summerscape along with performers Barbie Almalbis and Jay-R. Although the gig was work for her, Yeng found happiness in treating the crowd with her original hits. By the way, Nuvali offers Camp N and Rain Garden as its latest attractions. In Camp N, families and friends can do outdoor camping and the obstacle courses (such as climbing through zip pole and ropes and aerial walk). Rain Garden, on the other hand, is a space for fitness and wellness activities like chi jogging, yoga and capoeira. Nuvali is a perfect summer, and why not honeymoon, getaway for the romantic and the adventurous.     

Asked what is her idea of “summer escape,” Yeng replies that it is something everyone, who works so hard, can relate to. “You feel to be somewhere where no one will find you. You want to enjoy yourself. You can be alone or you can be with your barkada. It doesn’t matter who you are with, for as long as you’re enjoying yourself.”

How does the latest development in her personal life affect her professional life? “I think wala namang magbabago,” Yeng answers. “I’m just gonna be me. I will continue to create music and I will not stop singing. (Victor) is very supportive of me. Sabi niya, ‘Ayokong alisin ka sa platform na binigay sa’yo ni God.’”

Yeng also admits that sometimes she has difficulty composing songs. This is true because when one is in love, everything appears bright and beautiful. “It’s easier to write songs when you’re sad,” she says. “You lock up yourself in the room and cry with the pillow. Get the guitar. Then, begin writing.”

The ASAP and Star Records talent is now working on her sixth album which will feature love songs that Yeng can understand better now and see the stories behind the tunes in a more realistic, romantic way.

“I’m with the right team,” says Yeng of her recording success after Pinoy Dream Academy. “It’s not all about me or because of me. I’m surrounded by the right people. And in everything I do, I always ask God (for guidance and help). When you’re surrounded by the people who believe in you, you feel you can conquer everything.”