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From Manila to L.A.: How Teena Barretto Built a Global Language of Celebration

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<div><em>After two decades shaping some of the Philippines’ most unforgettable celebrations, <strong>Teena Barretto</strong> is taking her artistry to the world. Now based in <strong>Los Angeles </strong>and recently named one of the <strong>Top 50 Power Players in the Global Events Industry by the Event Planner Expo </strong>in <strong>New York</strong>, she sits down with <strong>Metro.Style</strong> to talk about her win, her creative philosophy, and the Filipino spirit that shapes her work worldwide.</em></div><div><br/></div><p>In a ballroom in Manhattan, surrounded by the biggest names in international event design, Teena Barretto’s name was announced as one of the Top 50 Power Players in the Global Events Industry. She wasn’t in the room when it happened; she watched the moment unfold online from Los Angeles. But even through the screen, it carried the weight of years spent crafting stories through celebrations, and a quiet pride in representing Filipino creativity on a world stage.</p><p>“I started my journey in the Philippines with a dream to elevate how we celebrate love and milestones,” she says. “To now be recognized globally feels both humbling and affirming.”</p><p>The recognition from the Event Planner Expo, one of the world’s most influential gatherings for event professionals, highlights leaders shaping the future of global celebrations. For Teena, it isn’t just a personal achievement; it’s a symbol of how far Filipino artistry has come.</p><p>“Creativity knows no borders,” she adds. “This honor reminds me that when we create with heart, our work can resonate anywhere.”</p><p>In this exclusive sit-down with Metro.Style, she shares how this milestone has shaped her vision, her growing global footprint, and why purpose remains at the center of her work.</p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1761629539457event planner teena barretto named one of the top 50 power players in the global events industry by the event planner expo in new york 1.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>A new chapter in Los Angeles</strong></div><p>After building her name in Manila’s wedding and events industry, Teena has since made Los Angeles her base, bringing with her the same intentionality and emotional storytelling that defined her early work in Asia.</p><p>“Being in L.A. allows me to reach couples and brands across different cultures,” she shares. “But I’ve never seen this as starting over. It’s more of an expansion and taking everything I’ve learned in the Philippines and translating it for a wider, global audience.”</p><p>Her team continues to produce celebrations around the world, from Bali to California, each one anchored in what she calls “the art of feeling.” “I’ve always believed that events should move people,” she says. “It’s never just about how beautiful they look; it’s about how they make you feel.”</p><p>A “Teena Barretto” celebration is instantly recognizable: modern yet soulful, cinematic but never cold. It’s in the way she balances design and story, how she choreographs a moment without losing its spontaneity.</p><p>“My goal is to make beauty feel effortless,” she explains. “You can plan every cue, but the most memorable moments are the ones that happen naturally.”</p><p>It’s this ability to merge structure and emotion that has made her one of the few Filipino event designers whose work seamlessly travels between cultures. Her portfolio now spans luxury weddings, destination celebrations, and corporate experiences across continents, each one blending artistry with authenticity.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1761629728800teena barretto event planner 3.JPG" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1761629711999teena barretto event planner 1.JPG" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1761629757540teena barretto event planner 2.JPG" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>Redefining what it means to celebrate</strong></div><p>For Teena, global success is rooted in representation. “Filipino creativity has always been world-class,” she says. “Our warmth, our eye for detail, our ability to tell stories that connect people. Those are our strengths.”</p><p>Her recognition in New York also carries a message for younger creatives back home. “I hope this shows that you can start in the Philippines and build something that reaches the world,” she says. “You don’t have to leave your roots behind to create globally.”</p><p>With the award comes a renewed sense of purpose. “After this milestone, I feel an even deeper drive to keep expanding what’s possible, both creatively and globally,” Teena shares.</p><p>Beyond producing destination weddings and large-scale events, she’s also developing mentorship programs, masterclasses, and online courses for planners who want to grow internationally.</p><p>“It’s not just about the events anymore,” she says. “It’s about sharing what we’ve learned and helping others find their own voice and build careers that can travel.”</p><p>The recognition, she adds, didn’t change her vision; it clarified it. “It reminded me why I started: to create without borders, and to bring others along in that journey.”</p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1761629818999teena barretto event planner 4.JPG" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1761629836859teena barretto event planner 5.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1761629856179teena barretto event planner 6.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>The heart of it all</strong></div><p>Even with a career that now spans continents, Teena’s philosophy remains unchanged. “The best events are the ones that feel real,” she says. “They remind people why they came together in the first place.”</p><p>Her definition of success, too, has evolved. “When I was starting out, it was about how grand the setup looked,” she reflects. “Now, it’s about how deeply it moves people—the joy, the connection, the memory that stays.”</p><p>From Manila to Tuscany, and now Los Angeles, Teena Barretto’s journey mirrors the evolution of an industry she helped shape. One that’s more global, more personal, and more meaningful than ever.</p><p>Her story isn’t just about crossing borders. It’s about proving that the language of celebration, when spoken with heart, can be understood anywhere in the world.</p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1761629930579event planner teena barretto named one of the top 50 power players in the global events industry by the event planner expo in new york 2.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><p>Photos courtesy of <strong>Teena Barretto</strong></p>

<p><i>Now based in </i><i><b>Los Angeles </b></i><i>and recently named one of the </i><i><b>Top 50 Power Players in the Global Events Industry by the Event Planner Expo </b></i><i>in </i><i><b>New York</b></i><i>, Teena Barretto sits down with </i><i><b>Metro.Style</b></i><i> to talk about her win, her creative philosophy, and the Filipino spirit that shapes her work worldwide.</i></p>

Now based in Los Angeles and recently named one of the Top 50 Power Players in the Global Events Industry by the Event Planner Expo in New York , Teena Barretto sits down with Metro.Style to talk about her win, her creative philosophy, and the Filipino spirit that shapes her work worldwide.

From Manila to L.A.: How Teena Barretto Built a Global Language of Celebration

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From Manila to L.A.: How Teena Barretto Built a Global Language of Celebration

Marbee Shing-Go

Published Oct 28, 2025 01:45 PM PHT

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