Latest news with #AThousandYears
Irish Examiner
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
My Wedding Day with Niamh Hogan: 'We didn't have any rings, we got matching tattoos instead'
We were married eight years ago in 2017. We got together 12 years before that and had our daughter really quickly, so we just went straight into parenthood. And I suppose marriage was never really something we thought about. But then — and this is in no way romantic — we started thinking that to protect each other and our daughter we should think about getting married. So we booked the registry office for the end of July 2017. It was literally in this lady's office ... she just put a tablecloth over her desk. We didn't have any rings, and with the nature of my job where I was travelling around doing facials and things like that I didn't want to get a ring because I was afraid I would lose it. So we got matching tattoos instead. We both got triangles on our forearms, so when we're holding hands they're right next to each other. In my triangle there are trees and in Paul's there's a wave. We had a lovely day with our two witnesses and our daughter Bella, who was 12 at the time. And then two weeks later, on August 5 — the bank holiday weekend — we said we'd have a party to celebrate getting married. We had the party in The Old Deanery in Ferns, County Wexford. We invited 32 people — 12 of them were children, so essentially our family and their kids. We had our witnesses, and then we had one extra friend each. And we didn't tell anybody else. We were calling the party 'a wedding', because no-one had been to the registry office, and for our parents we thought we should have some kind of event. We decided to have a ceremony: we got our friend to perform a service, but it was a fake ceremony. Niamh Hogan and her husband Paul and daughter Bella participating in a sand ceremony. She wasn't a celebrant or anything, but she wrote the most beautiful ceremony. Secretly she spoke with our families and got quotes from them about us or our relationship and it was so lovely and heartfelt. And then, our daughter Bella has the most beautiful singing voice but had never sung in front of anyone. I convinced her to sing at the ceremony and she sang A Thousand Years and had everyone in tears, it was so beautiful. There was no big planning for the day at all, it was all very relaxed. But there were loads of little moments like Bella singing that made the day so special. We got all the little kids (those who were old enough to read) to come up and tell us their wish for our future and they were so cute. It really was a family celebration. We didn't have any rings so we did a sand pouring ceremony instead — myself, Paul and Bella did it with three different coloured sands, and that was lovely. It was lashing rain on the day, and after the ceremony we all went to the cellar bar in the complex, and because of the weather they had lit the fires and it was so cosy. We had bubbles there and we did the speeches, but the speeches were so chilled, and we all spoke just sitting down. It was intimate and meaningful, and we didn't want that part to end. Then we all went back to the barn area where they had laid out a long table in the middle and we had a buffet meal there. And then we had a band afterwards, and they played all sing-a-long songs, so myself, my sister, and my daughter were all singing half the night. Niamh Hogan and her husband Paul. We didn't do most of the traditional stuff; we didn't have a wedding cake, we didn't have a first dance. I didn't wear a wedding dress. My mom had asked me before the day what was I going to wear and I said I'd find something in my closet. She said: 'No way, I'm buying you a new outfit for your wedding.' So I got a lovely outfit on Folkster that I still wear to nights out — I wore it once to an awards event. The whole day was just a party really, a big party with all the important people in our lives and a real celebration of family and love. And we were all so relaxed and chilled and we had the best time with everyone. Then the funny thing is about three years ago coming up to Christmas, my husband asked me what I wanted and I said: 'Let's just do something nice together instead of gifts'. He surprised me on Christmas Day with a workshop where we went and forged our own wedding rings. I absolutely adore the ring, and I just know that if I'd gotten a ring when we actually got married, I probably would have lost it, or I wouldn't have worn it, because I would have been afraid I'd lose it, whereas now I never take it off my finger. It just means so much more to me. And it has its own story. Niamh is the founder and CEO of award-winning Irish skincare brand Holos Skincare, an active plant-powered skincare that's available on and at selected pharmacies nationwide Read More Discover Ireland's hidden gems with these memorable guided tours
Business Wire
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Wire
New Film '18 MONTHS' Tells True Story of Baby Found in Subway Station 25 Years Ago, Celebrates Foster and Adoptive Families
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Danny Stewart couldn't have imagined how finding a newborn in a New York City subway station — and the media circus that followed — would forever change him and his partner, Pete Mercurio. Now, 25 years later, and in time for Father's Day, the couple's extraordinary journey to parenthood has been brought to life in ' 18 MONTHS,' the animated short from nonprofit Second Nurture that celebrates all paths to family and challenges adoption stigma. '18 MONTHS' unravels as a metaphorical pregnancy, with the monumental personal, societal, and legal hurdles Stewart and Mercurio faced in adopting their now almost-25-year-old son, Kevin, reimagined to mirror the milestones of gestation. Set to Christina Perri's stirring love song A Thousand Years — rerecorded as an emblematic duet that creates a thread between the biological and adoptive storylines, the stop-motion film features backgrounds meticulously crafted from actual pages of old pregnancy books, hand-sculpted puppets, 2D animation, CGI, and shadow projections. The credits include archival news footage and family photos. ''18 MONTHS' is more than just our story — it's a challenge to the way the world views adoption,' said Stewart, a social worker and Second Nurture board member. 'Every family's journey is unique,' added Mercurio, his husband of 13 years. 'And love is what makes a family." 'Like Kevin, all children deserve loving homes and a deep sense of belonging,' said Susan Silverman, Second Nurture's Founder and Executive Director. 'We hope '18 MONTHS' inspires more people to support foster and adoptive families in every way they can.' Tearing Up Outdated Family Archetypes (and Books) Created by Klick Health and animated by Zombie Studio, with music by Jamute, the six-minute film seeks to ignite broader conversations around adoption, especially for LGBTQ+ families still facing outdated perceptions and legal barriers. Andrea Bistany, Klick Health Group Creative Director said, 'The art direction in '18 MONTHS' literally illustrates how outdated the 'traditional' family ideal is. By tearing up and repurposing pregnancy books, like Eastman's Expectant Motherhood, that date back to the 1950s, we're conveying a more inclusive, modern definition of family.' Film co-creator and Group Creative Director Amy Fortunato added, 'There is a lingering belief that biological families are the only 'real' families, so the more we challenge this, the more we empower families to form in all their beautiful, varied forms. Pete and Danny's story is an incredible example of how there is no wrong way to build a family. By partnering with Second Nurture on '18 MONTHS,' we hope to spark stigma-free conversations about adoption and support foster and adoptive families across the country.' To watch '18 MONTHS' and support Second Nurture, visit Second Nurture partners with local communities to weave the love and skills of their members into a real-time support and nurturance for foster families in their city, transforming the experience of fostering from one of isolation and difficulty to a deeply relational endeavor of belonging and shared responsibility.
GMA Network
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
Cristopher Diwata, aka 'What hafen Vella' guy, starts taping for 'Mga Batang Riles'
Cristopher Diwata, the guy behind the viral "What hafen Vella?" trend, has started taping for his guest appearance in "Mga Batang Riles." On Instagram, GMA Network gave a sneak peek at his behind-the-scenes for the series, where he joined Miguel Tanfelix, Kokoy De Santos, Anton Vinzon, Zephanie, and Ynes Veneracion for some scenes. He was shown practicing his lines and also singing "Twilight" soundtrack "A Thousand Years" on set. "Hello mga Kapuso, nandito na ko ngayon sa Mga Batang Riles. Yo what hafen to me? Kinakabahan na naman ako dahil ito na, artista na po tayo," he said. Cristopher joined the "It's Showtime" segment Kalokalike 12 years ago. A video of his performance as Taylor Lautner, the Jacob Black of the "Twilight" films, recently resurfaced and went viral on social media. He has since collaborated with brands, artists, content creators who joined the trend started by his iconic lines, "What hafen, Vella? Why you cryin' again? I know, vampire, right? Vampire will feyt to me." "Mga Batang Riles" is nearing its finale. The series, which also stars Raheel Bhyria, Bruce Roeland, Diana Zubiri, Jay Manalo, and more, airs weeknights on GMA Prime at 8:50 p.m. after "Lolong." —MGP, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
Barbie Forteza joins Cristopher Diwata in 'What hafen, Vella?' trend
What hafen, Barbie Forteza? The Kapuso Primetime Princess is the latest celebrity to hop on to Cristopher Diwata's viral "What hafen, Vella?" lines! On TikTok, Cristopher shared a short clip of himself with the Kapuso actress doing his iconic lines. "Iba ka talaga miss [Barbie Forteza]," he wrote. It looks like Barbie isn't the only one who can't get over this trend. In a separate video, Cristopher shared a clip of Barbie's "Beauty Empire" co-star Kyline Alcantara, joining in—adding a special twist by singing a few lines from Christina Perri's "A Thousand Years," famously featured on the Twilight soundtrack, which originally inspired the iconic lines. This isn't the first time Cristopher doubled-down on the "Twilight" references. He previously sang the song with Ben&Ben, who is just one of the many celebrities riding on his trend, among them Abi Marquez a.k.a Lumpia Queen, Michael Sager, Anjo Petierra, and SB19. He's landed several endorsements as well, which he said helps him to pay off debts and support his family. "Kahit maliit man 'yan, tatanggapin ko 'yan. Iga-grab ko 'yan kahit maliit. Sana sa mga nag-aalala sa akin, huwag n'yong intindihin 'yun at mas maganda 'yung meron kaysa sa wala," Cristopher told GMA News Online in an interview. Cristopher is also going to appear on "Mga Batang Riles."
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GMA Network
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
Christopher Diwata takes his 'What hafen Vella?' trend up a notch on Abi Marquez's TikTok
Just when you thought the "What hafen Vella?" trend couldn't get any bigger, here comes the man himself Christopher Diwata to turn it up a notch. In Abi Marquez's TikTok video, Christopher not only made an appearance, he also proceeded to sing lines from Christina Perri's "A Thousand Years," which was used as the official soundtrack of the films. Even better: The guy was having fun and enjoying himself. This isn't the first time Christopher doubled-down on the Twilight references. He previously sang the song with Ben&Ben, who is just one of the many celebrities riding on his trend, among them Michael Sager, Anjo Petierra, and SB19. He's landed several endorsements as well, which he said is allowing him to pay off debts and support his family. "Kahit maliit man 'yan, tatanggapin ko 'yan. Iga-grab ko 'yan kahit maliit. Sana sa mga nag-aalala sa akin, huwag niyong intindihin 'yun at mas maganda 'yung meron kaysa sa wala," Christopher told GMA News Online in an interview. Christopher is also going to appear on "Mga Batang Riles." We're happy for him and we're glad to see he's having fun himself! — LA, GMA Integrated News
