ABS-CBN Publishing Launches Limited Edition "Vantage," Mark Nicdao's Elite Photography Magazine.

ABS-CBN Publishing Inc. (API) proudly launched VANTAGE, a premiere photography magazine featuring the celebrity photographs of Philippines’ renowned “master of shutters” Mark Nicdao, with an exquisite grand launch, book signing and exhibit last March 6, Sunday at the Fashion Walk of Greenbelt 5, Makati City.

VANTAGE is the first ever API title that comes with eight collector’s edition cover, showcasing photographs of the fashion and entertainment industry’s crème de la crème from 2003 to present. The eight covers flaunt radiant poses of Kris Aquino; Sarah Geronimo; John Lloyd Cruz; Jericho Rosales; Bea Alonzo, Anne Curtis, KC Concepcion and Angel Locsin; Solenn Heusaff, Marian Rivera and Cristine Reyes.

“In 2003, when Mark was beginning his career, I first heard of this young new photographer and I saw some of his works. One of our first collaborations was the 20-page special supplement of Metro Magazine. It was very coherent. It was something very beautiful and there’s magic on it. For a long time we’ve been wanting to showcase Mark’s work in a more permanent platform,” said ABS-CBN Publishing’s Carlo Tadiar, who’s also the Content Unit Head of VANTAGE.

“There are so many people to thank for this project. I wanna thank first the one who gave me this luck—having to work with the most talented, the most beautiful, the most honest and the most real people here in Manila. I wanna thank everyone. Well, I just got out of the hospital due to stress. I had a huge migraine and now, I feel better that I see everyone here. This is my medicine,” said Mark after he was introduced.

Hosted by acclaimed events specialists Tim Yap and Mega daughter KC Concepcion, Mark Nicdao’s VANTAGE was attended by other most sought after celebrities – Georgina Wilson, Michelle Madrigal, Ruffa, Richard and Raymond Gutierrez, Kim Chiu, Angel Locsin, Anne Curtis, Jericho Rosales, Bea Alonso, Bianca King, Lovi Poe, Carla Humphries, Liz Uy and Kris Aquino. Other VIPs were also there like Wil Stein.

A walk through of Nicdao’s favorite works was offered for the guests, where he shared the inspirations and stories behind the photographs. A chronicle of Nicdao’s colorful life was also presented, followed by a silent auction and an autograph signing by the master of photography himself. Party music was brought by DJ Jujiin Samonte.

The collector’s edition of Vantage will have a limited run—only 150 numbered copies printed per cover—and will be exclusively available in all Fully Booked outlets. The regular newsstand edition will be available in leading newsstands and bookstores nationwide on March 20.

(Check out photos from the launch on next page)