Personal experiences led to professional success for this event organizer who eventually found “Sweet Comfort” in his second career.
In 2013, long before he started unfurling red carpets left and right for some of the metro’s most stylish events, Bingo Flores was busy helping his wife’s best friend get married. “I helped them arrange and put together their wedding and it turned out to be a successful event,” begins Bingo, who was working as a manager in a hotel back in the day.
Inspired by the success of said wedding, Bingo and his then-fiancee (and now wife), the former Rizi Vita, began planning their big day. But when the two finally stepped out to tie the knot in 2015, a storm literally rained on their parade. “I realized then that I really have to give my best to all the couples I worked with and make sure I planned all of my events to a tee.”
And so, Sweet Comfort Events was born in 2016.
Today, his company is one of the most respected events planning outfits in the country. And while his list of clients now includes local celebrities, business figures and innumerable couples who have tied the knot à la Sweet Comfort, Bingo says that his first “big wedding” for the owner of a leading rotisserie brand remains one of the most memorable.
“For me, it was so successful because the guests were a mix of people from politics and showbiz. There were many big names in the crowd. From there, I was able to build my network and work with other people from both worlds. It was game-changing,” he adds.
Hotelier at heart
While he has shifted gears, Bingo admits that his success is influenced heavily by his background in hospitality. In fact, he trains his staff with the same level of professionalism and attention to detail ingrained in him when he was still working in a hotel.
He also makes sure that they go together with their clients every step of the way, especially when it comes to weddings. “It is important to remember that couples are always excited to plan their weddings although they do not exactly know how. That’s why it’s important to engage in detailed conversations to set the expectations early on.”
To turn vision into reality, Bingo divides the entire process into three parts: brainstorming, selection of suppliers and execution. Through it all, there is a string of honesty and commitment that holds every project together — from the moment the team first meets with the clients, up until the last guest steps out of the venue.
It’s a collaborative approach, too. “Stylists are focused on the decorations and details. But from the organizers’ point of view, we have a broad scope, from the legal documents to the lights and permits, all of the details are covered by the planner. So, it is truly a mix of both management skills and understanding the vision of the client.”
With more than 10 years of experience to his name, Bingo gives sound advice to young event planners who also want to make a name in the industry. “Focus on every project at hand and not always the money. You need to be motivated by passion because it leads you to grow and learn more and more about the business. That is the key. The rest will follow,” he concludes. — By Amanda Masigan / Photography by Jar Concengco / Grooming by Floe Tapayan
