A
day at the Candy Headquarters
Marla Miniano, Candy’s Deputy Editor in Chief, described a typical day in Candy as this: the editors check proofs
and print-outs, edit articles, research, answer e-mails, and respond to readers'
feedback. Life at Candy is different
from what readers see on the magazine’s official website, Candymag.com, where
behind the scenes videos of photo shoots as well as the editors’ blog entries of
events they have attended are posted. For most of the Candy staff, working in a magazine is not all about photo shoots
and events. Rather, a typical day is spent behind the desk except for fashion
and beauty editors who have a more varied daily routine. “Sometimes they do pull-outs
(a term used in publishing for borrowing of clothes, accessories, and shoes
from different stores for shoots), source for products, shoots, and go to a lot
of events because I think that’s really where the events people concentrate—fashion
and beauty,” said Marla.
Behind the glossy pages
The Candy editors start working on an issue
three months prior to the release of the magazine in the market. The editors do
important things in the initial process. They research and brainstorm for the
contents of the magazine. As soon as they have decided on what products and
topics to feature, the actual work follows. This consists of assigning the articles
to staff and contributing writers, contacting of models who will pose for the
magazine, coordinating with store and boutique owners for pull-outs of clothes
and accessories to be worn by models, and finally, doing photo shoots.
Following the actual
work is the editing process. The print outs, which are used for editing text, goes
through all the editors for review and preparation for publication. The edited articles/stories are then sent to the production team which
does necessary last minute changes, if any, to the imagery, touching, and text. For the final
step, the editors check the print outs again before sending them to the
printers. Every new issue of Candy
comes out on the last week of the prior month. This year’s October issue was
released on the 22nd of September, 2012.
When asked how
long the Candy team finish working on
an issue, Marla replied, “The actual shoots, articles, and laying out the
magazine takes more than a month.”
Big and Fresh Ideas
Readers responded very well to Candy’s themed issues. In its previous issues,
the magazine carried themes for its different sections or for a special issue
only. Today, Candy has one featured theme
for the entire monthly issue. The team believed that this strategy would make all
the articles more cohesive and more connected with one another. Readers would
readily understand and appreciate the main subject because they are focused in
one particular issue. This requires a longer time of preparation. “We really
want to present one big idea per issue so we plan on the themes a year before.
Like now, we already have the line-up for next year which is exciting,” said
Marla. Aside from the team’s own research and ideas, it solicits suggestions
from readers and the Council of Cool, a group of selected young students who
write for the magazine. The editors make it a point to find out what are the
concerns, passions, and interests of their readers.
Recently, Candy’s majority readers wanted to read
more about indie bands and upcoming actors and actresses from the United States.
“For the longest time, I think our mindset was we just want to give them what
they love but now we’ve been discovering that it’s also a good thing to give
them something they haven’t discovered yet.” With this thought, the editors treat
the readers, not only with today’s popular demands like the British-Irish boy
band One Direction and singer Justin Bieber but more importantly, giving
readers something new.
It’s A Tough World
Working in a magazine entails a lot of
hard work, dedication, and teamwork. For Marla, the main challenge in the
publishing industry is working with different types of people every day. She
emphasized, “When putting together a shoot or an article, things don’t always
go strictly according to plan. You can’t really plan every little thing down to
the littlest detail. You have to be open to a lot of changes along the way and
you have to make things work despite all the changes.”
Marla shared that Candy is fortunate to have members of the team who are young and
young at heart because it makes generating ideas for the magazine “magical” for them. Since Candy is aimed at teenage girls, their
passion and fondness for pop culture and anything teen-related make them click.
“I think we’re at our most creative when we’re all together. We inspire one
another so in coming up with ideas, I don’t think we have a difficult time
which is very fortunate for us. ”
A
Balancing Act
Apart from its eye-catching covers and
fun, colorful, and glossy pages, Candy
is also known for its enlightening and inspiring feature stories, delightful entertainment
articles, and most especially, its dazzling fashion and beauty spreads.
As the editors go through daily
activities in putting up the magazine, “smart” and “stylish” are the words they
live by. They try to balance those two words which they think best describe Candy girls (the readers). “We want to
present articles that will make them think and of course the stylish sides with
fashion and beauty”, added Marla.
Sweet
Inspiration
Candy is a huge part
in Marla’s life. She was a reader since her high school and college days. Later,
she became a member of the Council of Cool and eventually joined the publishing
company as a staff member. “I don’t think I really expected things to go this
way. It’s fulfilling to give back to the magazine and to see how much it has
evolved through the years. We feel like we’re part of all the changes and we’ve
grown with Candy, it’s already a huge
achievement for all of us,” she said. Marla’s personal story has encouraged
many readers to pursue their dreams and never stop believing that their dreams will
come true someday.
Through the years, Candy has spread its sweetness by being every girl’s bible to
teenage life and infinite possibilities. Not only does the magazine keep young
girls updated on the latest fashion and beauty trends, celebrities, books,
movies, music, and hotspots. True-to-life experiences which are accounted and
written by some readers themselves inspire teenage girls to improve their
family and social relationships and to discover their passions and true selves.
Candy has touched the
life of many of its readers. Leslie Lipa, a member of the Council of Cool 10
(meaning tenth batch) started reading Candy
when she was in grade school. She was influenced by one of her best friends but
it was Leslie who grew to appreciate the magazine more. Because Candy believes in talent and potential, it
provides a lot of opportunities for young people to mature and develop as better
individuals. Teenage years is indeed a vulnerable stage in one’s life but for
Leslie her journey was made easier because the magazine offered tips on how to
handle the challenges that she met along the way. Candy influences its readers to be an inspiration to teens by being
the best version of themselves. “It gave me an avenue to believe in myself and
encouraged me to become a better person,” said Leslie.
Mika Chiong, another true-blue Candy girl, has been a reader since July
2002. Because of Candy, Mika realized
her passion for writing. She said, “Looking back, I thought I’ve been “writing”
already but when I became a Council of Cool member, that’s when I realized that
I really enjoy writing. And whether or not I make a living out of it, I know
that I’ll always enjoy writing.”
Once
a Candy girl, always a Candy girl
Being a Candy girl doesn’t end when one has graduated from her teen years.
This is another surprising truth. In fact, a lot of girls like Leslie and Mika
who are already in their twenties read the magazine up to this day. Candy transforms every reader into a
well-rounded individual—smart, stylish, realistic, confident, and optimistic. And
because readers grew up with this amazing magazine, it’s difficult for them to let go of
something that has enriched, inspired, and made their lives any sweeter.
Photo Shoot Magic
Summit Studio
Make-up artist Tatin Yang and Hairstylist Ronie Misa working their magic on model Pam Bama
These clothes are "pulled out" or borrowed from different stores
Shoes of every style and color
Bangles
More accessories such as necklaces and bracelets
Candy Council of Cool member Jaz Reyes steaming clothes
Alekx Toyhacao (also a Council of Cool member) helps Jaz in choosing clothes
for the models
Radio DJ and model Jessica Mendoza being styled by Ronie Misa
Candy's Deputy Editor in Chief Marla Miniano helps Jaz and Alekx in styling
Jessica's outfit
Jessica poses for the camera
Model Pam Bama being styled by Candy's Managing Editor, Mimi Tiu
Pam smiles for the camera
Model Tricia Gosingtian in a jumping pose
Candy Cuties Nico Ibaviosa and Albie Casino
Nico and Albie are both actors in local television shows
Q & A with Nico and Albie for a feature article about them
The Candy website
The homepage
Featured accounts on Candy Faces
The Teen Talk forums
Games and Quizzes
The Candy and Council of Cool (COC) blogs
