The best is yet to come...

I'm back and I hope for good.

2012-01-18T08:56:00.004+08:00

I haven't been blogging for quite sometime (more than a year). I've been busy, yeah right.

But yesterday while spending time with a Tita and her friend, My Tita's friend said something that stuck to my mind. My Tita said, people always says "I don't have time" I know because I always say it too. She said, that shouldn't be because "we shouldn't let time conquer us, we should conquer time" and thinking about it, what she said is quite true, she also said that it we want something done, we can do it and should give the excuse that one doesn't have time.

So there, I hope I will be able to stick to my plan that I should go on and blog again. Initially this journal is about our wedding, then turned into some sort of a travel blog, and now, I am "reviving" it, I am hoping that I can blog more about the experiences I come across as a Mom, as a working Mom with a kid that goes to school. And then I plan to blog about the people I meet, the restos where we eat and the vacations which we're gonna take!

Goodluck to me and I hope I will be able to keep this up!

David Joseph

2010-05-31T15:36:00.005+08:00

I got early to the church as planned, I really don't wanna be late. I can say I was way too early, I arrived an hour before the schedule time but then, it was really my plan because I want to be really ready when the event starts. I want my cameras in "shooting mode" and when I say shooting mode, I want to take shots before the main event starts.

So I took some photos of the facade of the church. It drizzled on my way there thus the clouds overhead looked like this:

and then I might as well take some shots of the facade as well. But I was afraid to stand in the middle of the street since I have no one to watch after me and I was worried that some maniac driver will simply ran over me, so I was contented with this shot:

I guess I was way too early because after a while I was taking shots of the things around me because, I was all by myself and seems like no one is arriving.

I took interest of the clouds;

and then of the other things around me, like the balustrade;

and then of course there's the window....

and then the priest who is about to officiate the christening finally came! And so, I have a new subject:

Father, busied himself watching the on-going construction beside the church.

And when it was almost time, the family came! Yehey! And the baby was fast asleep on his Tita's arms.

More photos will be uploaded at http://www.jhenlao.multiply.com

The little girl can't sleep...

2010-05-28T11:27:00.005+08:00

Hi.

It's been a while since I posted something.

Anyway, yeah I've been busy. There are so much things goin' on.

I'd just like to post some of Anne's photos last night, she can't sleep just yet so I took my camera and took some shots.

I've been trying my hand again on photography.

So I was trying different settings...

While the little girl was so game in posing....

She even changed into her pajamas and was pretending to be asleep...

And then the camera ran out of battery.

The Production

2009-11-12T09:44:00.002+08:00

Our department has undertaken yet again a new project; this is for the school’s marketing AVP. And being in charge of the production one of my concerns as always is the crowd control because a lot of people most specially the young ones (from the basic education department) doesn’t give a care and goes on running and running all over the place and not to mention there are the people who are just so lost in their thoughts (wondering why did they fail?! Haha) who keeps on walking and walking and then suddenly finding their selves in the middle of my shoot! And believe me it ruins the momentum, not just of the models but of the production crew as well.

So as early as we can, as soon as the auxiliary people gives us a go, we barricade the areas where we are about to hold our shoot, this way it will be easier because people will automatically avoid our area. Well this is say if we can barricade the area because we really need the background in the shoot and we can easily conceal it in the post production, but if we need to see the buildings behind to showcase it, then that is another story.

Good thing there is another device for these kind of requirement. And this is when the velvet rope comes in to our rescue, this way we can control the crowd and at the same time, we will still get the natural background of the area we are shooting, not to mention these velvet ropes are so versatile since we can also use it when we have functions such as Employees' Awards Nights and during our parties. And then we also have some stanchions on stand by if we are to shoot the long lines at the cashiers, dean’s offices and IT center during enrolment time, stanchions gives the impression that no matter how long the lines are, it gives the impression of everything is under control.

Business Matters

2009-10-17T22:13:00.003+08:00

Being in an institution that renders services, it is important for us to find ways to render better services to our clients at all times. Good thing we found out about direct TV for business because during enrollment and there are hundreds of people at the lobby of most offices queuing in line to pay fees, get schedules, adjust schedules it is good to have a television to keep the people’s mind off waiting in line for hours!

When one of the administrators called a meeting for us to brain storm on what to do during enrolment season specially, our first and only choice is Direct TV Business because it is a very versatile tool, since our clients are mostly into sports it is like it was tailored to fit our needs!

We noticed that since we had it Directtv business has increased our sales maybe because our clients are recommending us to more people. We are really thankful. So if you are finding ways or innovation in your business go ahead and try Commercial Direct TV surely in no time you will see it’s benefits by experiencing it yourself personally.

Our Home - a work in progress!

2009-07-29T10:53:00.000+08:00

We’d have our home for almost two years now. It’s our first home, it is a home which we can really call ours because each penny we put into building it is hard earned, but of course special mention goes to those people who never gets tired in supporting us in every endeavor we undertake.

The house is already built, painted and moved into, but it doesn’t stop there, a house is a work in progress, it is a constant work, for me it is a therapy when you are out and you see things that will look good in your home, a simple, small décor can do a lot of wonders, in a room really!

Like I requested my helper to put a small garden outside our home, and the small wonder it did in the façade of our house! At first we almost have given up in growing something from that small pile of soil outside our house, but our helper wouldn’t just give up! Every morning and every afternoon, she would water those plants she dug up. And her efforts had paid off! Now my husband has been constantly trimming those plants and I wonder, is he aiming to build hedges from those plants? Well, maybe and I guess those hedges will make a big difference. Pretty soon I expect that my two year old daughter who loves coming out in the morning to pick the small flowers on those plants will want a bird bath on that small garden! His father will be amused, because he hates those small birds, he said that it’s not because he just hates them but what he hates is the thought that those are so small birds that you can crush them in your palm just by merely holding them.

If our small garden is only located inside our yard, it will be a great hang out to entertain family and friends! A barbeque party perhaps or simply hanging out in the swing would be great! Too bad my father didn’t design it that way. For now I will just content myself with what we have, which reminds me, we need a better bed in our room and a couple of new throw pillows and rugs on our receiving area!

No more rainy shows!

2009-07-16T14:32:00.007+08:00

I got tired with our cable service provider.

Thank god there is now Satellite TV or else there won't be too much of a choice but cable television. When I was young there was no cable service provider in our community. We had it when I was already beginning to work, I remember my younger sister was the one who urged my Mom to have one installed since she knows my Dad will be benefiting on it since he watches TV all the time especially on days when he can't sleep. We've had this provider for years now. Now with 2 little kids at home, my daughter and my sister's daughter, we see the benefit of the TV because when we need to accomplish tasks at home, we can simple put the TV in channels for kids and voila! we can leave them already, engrossed in the shows.

Lately, we have been having problems with it. Because it’s been rainy season in here, so it rains frequently, our cable signal has been “rainy” too, specially on days when the rain is non-stop. My Mom whose television is almost always on all day, this is a really big deal. A basic equipment was the solution to our problem!

The solution, Direct TV! The Direct TV system , is really the best choice in TV since it is directly connected and on of the pioneers in this field, it has exclusive programming and they have the most in HD programming, what’s more is you save more money in this they have a really commendable Direct TV Service, you can compare your cable bill, since customer satisfaction is really important to them and they’ve been #1 in customer satisfaction for 9 year now, and still counting. So I guess we did an excellent choice and now my Mom is happier! No more “rainy” shows!

UPCOMING EVENTS

2009-05-29T13:20:00.003+08:00

I belong to an educational institution wherein we have a lot of events throughout the year. In all these events we always come up with an exhibit because we always want to showcase our talents and achievements, we are one of the oldest colleges in the Philippines and we cannot help it, we are not bragging but being one of the oldest we always have achievements and we are proud of it.

Because we are one of the oldest and prestigious college, oftentimes we are invited to join trade show exhibits most specially when the said exhibit features schools and universities. During these exhibit we arrange a reception table to receive people who are inquiring, I always see to it that the table covers are not just clean and well pressed but it should also be attractive and elegant since it will be the first thing that people will see aside from the other things that we usually display during these exhibits. As much as possible we put an interesting table top display to draw the attention of the crowds like we make a really really good AVP (Audio Visual Presentation) and have a television propped up on top of our table which serves as our table top display and I tell you, it never fails us. I guess this is really the reason why we always hit the projected number of students for every school year.

Shoes Galore

2009-04-30T08:40:00.002+08:00

I love shoes ! I have a fetish for them! As much as possible I try to wear the right shoes for the right activity or occassion. Like if I am to go running or playing badminton with my friends, I wear running or badminton shoes respectively, because it’s not just because it is the required shoes but it also serves a your protection, like in playing badminton, they also have a different floor and if you just wear any kind of shoes then you might slip and hurt yourself so wearing the right shoes is a must for protection purposes.

Months before my wedding, the first thing that I bought are my wedding shoes because I know that I will be doing a lot of walking on that day and the fact that I don’t want to create a scene by slipping as I walk down the aisle, remember wearing a gown with the wrong shoes is a major disaster ! Remember, you want people to remember your wedding in a nice way, sure this includes funny, hilarious moments but not at the expense of you sliding your way to the altar because you slipped or you don’t want to remember your wedding day like “Oh yes how can I forget by the time the reception is almost over, my feet were killing me!” In my case since I had the right shoes, I was so comfortable walking from table to table, and I enjoyed posing with friends until all of it ended, I can even dance back at the hotel room!

Having the right shoes for the right, let’s say “occasion” is pretty important to me, so now that the rainy season is in I am contemplating on what to get, maybe a really stylish rain boots will be truly useful!

Wella Hair Color

2009-02-06T09:01:00.000+08:00

I just want to make an entry about this since it took me a few weeks to look for this and I have gone far and wide to be able to find it, I even asked my friend from Laoag, yeah in Ilocos Norte and another friend from Butuan City to ask the parlor around there if it is available since I got answers such as it is already “phased out”, not available, etc.

And I already gave up and was about to write a letter to my Uncle that the hair color he is used with (since it doesn’t burn/itch his scalp) is already phased out in Manila when my husband found the official site of Wella here in manila and the person who answered me referred me to an official dealer and the hair color was delivered to me the next day, just in time since my Aunt who will bring it back is leaving in two days!

So now, I am an official distributor, ha ha. Just get in touch with me when you need such: Wella Hair Color.

Hooked online!

2009-02-02T15:50:00.000+08:00

I got hooked on online shopping when I was pregnant with my daughter Anne. You see it was a great relief for a pregnant woman to be able to shop without the hassle of walking from one store to the other.

In the long run I got good online shopping deals so good that I’d rather shop online these days than go to the mall, it saves up on gas and expenses on food, since when you go to shop in the mall to tend to spend on eating since shopping can get you hungry. With this in mind I can easily save money online. There are also some sites wherein you could earn because they are linked with more stores and if you click the links from their sites you would earn commission on anything you purchase! See what a great deal that is, you can earn by online shopping! And most sites really give you great online shopping deals .

Another great advantage when shopping online is that you can get your money’s worth when you shop online because you could easily do comparison shopping by going from one website to the other.

Last Christmas I had a blast shopping for Christmas gifts by going online. I got great online shopping deals for the gifts we gave to our nieces and nephews.

Biting the apple.

2009-01-30T09:17:00.002+08:00

Letran is ready to take a bite

I am so happy to be part of this.

I will update more on it soon.

Shopping to your hearts content

2009-01-13T11:09:00.001+08:00

Since I discovered that I could shop online, I now seldom go to shopping malls. Shopping online is hassle free, as long as you have a reliable connection and your credit card on hand. Sure, you spend for the shipping but think of it this way, when you go to the mall you will spend for the gas of your car, not to mention parking fee. Then for a woman like me who has a two-year old daughter, I need to bring her with me and of course if I have a child with me, the maid will be on tow, then if we stayed till late at the mall, I have to feed them and that’s an additional expense.

Last Christmas, I was able to experience shopping online to the fullest when I shopped for Christmas gifts for my family, and god children. One of my consideration if giving out gifts is that it will serve a purpose, so in this case I want to give my family something that can be enjoyed by all, something that would bring family entertainment one of my top consideration is the XBOX 360. I love the fact that it has faceplates which comes in different colors and it even comes in different designs! Cool! You can change your XBOX everyday!

Now that my sister-in-law is on the family way, I will introduce her online shopping, this will be very beneficial to her because she will be able to get all she needs without the hassle of going from one place to another, you know how hard it is for a preggy tired woman.

Nadine’s Christening

2008-11-24T09:31:00.000+08:00

It’s been a week, I was supposed to post something about it last week, but last week was just a sooo busy week for me, because of the Alumni Homecoming last Saturday and with it is the launching of the Hymns, Yells and Cheers album, a project spearheaded by our Department Head.

So Nadine’s christening has gone by. It was a success I can say. People came complementing the food, until last week my officemate who attended was saying: “Sarap nang food nung binyag”. So here is a rundown of our suppliers and how would I rate each of them. I am doing this for the reason that someone planning a christening of her son/daughter chances upon this blog.

Here goes:

1. Church – Shrine of Jesus (The truth, The way, The Life)

The baptistery was well kept and spacious. Someone, a staff of the Parish is present to assist during the entire proceedings, candles are provided by the Parish office and it is not just simple candles but spiral ones, the one provided to us was in color pink, they also have this misallettes so you can really follow the baptism, and they also provide the baptismal dress (damit pambinyag) the one with the cross that is worn over the dress of the baby.

Fee is two thousand pesos (Php 2,000) with one pair of sponsors and additional one hundred (Php100) per pair for the additional sponsors. Oh I got to mention that they are quite strict, if you are late by 15 minutes then your reservation is canceled. And we also brought in our own priest, Fr. Orlando Aceron, OP is a priest assigned here at the Convent of St. John Lateran.

2. Invitation and souvenir tags – DIY (Design and Layout) Photoline – Printing

As I always do, I did the design/layout in Photoshop and had it printed at Photoline in SM Manila, I usually prefer/recommend photo invites printed at Photoline because they have the matte paper which has a texture and it adds to the overall look of the invitation.

3. Reception - Huey Ying Restaurant Bldg. 1 San Miguel by the Bay (Behind SMX)
Contact Person – Kleng Yu (klengyiu@yahoo.com)

Our good friend Kleng owns huey ying, they also have a branch along Macapagal. Everytime we have a gathering, we always go to Huey Ying, the food is good and affordable. For the Nadine’s christening the menu was:

Chopsuey
Steamed Lapu-lapu
Fried Chicken
Pansit Guisado
Crab Nido Soup
Tempura
Liempo
Yang Chow fried rice
Bottomless Ice Tea
Choco Fountain

There was some misunderstanding with the time, and when my sister arrived at the resto, the buffet table wasn’t filled up with food yet but they filled it up quite quickly and they served ice tea to the guests to cover the delay. The staff was courteous and answers every “whim” we request. And the food was good and everyone was happy with it, by the way, we reserved food for 50 persons but my sister has so many guests almost 70 persons was able to eat.

Highly recommended and the big plus here is it is very near the church.

4. Photo Coverage – Davy Chioa (http://www.flickr.com/davop/photos)

Davy is my officemate and friend, he is Anne’s Ninong and his and my hubby’s friendship goes way back during their college days. Actually it is really I who encouraged him to learn photography, he bought his Canon 350D because of my prodding, he took up seminar in photography thanks to me also and now, he takes better photos than me. He he. Just kidding, through time he has developed his “eye” on photography and I’ve been encouraging him to take his photography hobby into the next level that is why I often volunteer him to take photos of events such as this one.

I am happy with his photos during Nadine’s christening, he was able to capture the important moments of the ceremony and the best is that his service is for free.

5. Video Coverage – c/o Mang Jay

Same with Davy, Mang Jay is my officemate and he is the official video grapher of our department, he has been a cameraman of RJ TV before he was employed here in Letran and he also does part time job also as a Cameraman at GMA channel 7.

6. Cake – Goldilocks Mall of Asia

Because I don’t want to have problems with “who will get the cake” I advised my sister to just order a cake from Goldilocks at Mall of Asia, she placed her order 2 days ahead, she got a single layer chocolate cake with Minnie Mouse and Daisy baby decoration.

On the morning while the christening was on going my brother offered to drive me at the other side of the mall to pick-up the cake, there was no hassle in getting the cake, I even don’t have the receipt with me because my sister handed me the wrong receipt and they just asked me to sign their copy of the receipt.

The cake was yummy naman and cute too. Costs Php 1,350 not bad.

7. Souvenirs – Mini Bear key chain from Divisoria

My sister and her hubby scouted Divisoria for the souvenir and they were able cute mini bears wearing a pink shirt for Php 15 each, they just bought small lace bags for it and I printed the tags. Voila, guests say the souvenir is cute.

I am happy that everything turned out well, I am the one who took care of all the preparations here, now I can’t wait to plan for Nadine’s first birthday next year, it will be a double celebration since both she and her Mom (my sister) will be having their birthdays on the same day.

The Organized Story

2008-11-19T13:50:00.001+08:00

I am renewed person now. My bag is organized and now I can easily find what I am looking for.

I am helping spread the “organized virus” by being a retailer of this bag organizer. As to date I already sold 43 pieces of bag organizers in assorted sizes and colors! All those who brought from me are very happy, one of them is my Ninang and when she saw the bag organizer and I even demonstrated to her how to use it she was exclaiming “Oh I so need this!” and she ordered 8 pieces in all to give out to friends, it’s one of a kind daw kasi.

The bag organizer in use:

Oh the bag organizer comes in two sizes: small and large and comes in a variety of colors and different linings too. But you have to check the availability since some of the colors are sold really fast like the purple one which is almost out of stock.

The red organizer:

the sample lining inside the bag organizer, shown here is the retro lining:

the orange organizer:

Digital Times

2008-11-18T17:05:00.001+08:00

Part of my task as a graphic artist of our department is to take photos, of activities of people, places and things.

I remember way back in college when we still use film in our Photography class when we use to go to Quiapo to have our black and white films processed into contact prints, oh before it is printed on contact prints the film has to be developed then printed on contact prints, if you want to save some funds choose one to be enlarged and then pray hard that the photo you chose wouldn’t be out of focus or the subject centered, etc.

With the advent of digital cameras, these are now things of the past. Now you can immediately view the photos on the LCD of your camera right after taking it, better yet, you can connect your digicam to a TV monitor better maybe if you are using a LCD TV in your photo studio. By doing this you can immediately see if the photograph you took has some flaws and immediately do remedy on it. In our mini photo studio we have a TV monitor connected to our camera.

When shooting outdoors or on the go, we always take with us our laptop so we can immediately download and view the photographs we took, see the quality high definition photos we took. Because of this very reason that our department see to it that our laptop is readily available to us whenever we have a scheduled photo shoot.

For our Foundation Week celebration this December we are planning to have a mini photo session with the cute little kids from the Elementary Department and we will see to it that our LCD TV will be ready and our laptop too!

Pat on the back

2008-11-14T14:50:00.001+08:00

I deserve a pat on the back. “big” people here are now recognizing some of the projects I made in the school. It inspires me to do more. Hope our other projects will be just as successful as well.

I don’t want yet to divulge these projects but soon, as soon as it’s all out. I will. For now I am just so happy that my efforts are being paid off. Ha ha.

Nadine’s Christening and other projects.

2008-11-13T13:56:00.001+08:00

Well, I consider this one of my major project for this year. I put all my best into the preparation and all the things I wasn’t able to do during my daughter’s christening I did here, he he. Not really all I want of course it is still Nadine’s mommy (my sister) who had the final say.

Accomplished for the Nadine’s Baptism on Saturday, November 15 are the following:

o Church - Shrine of Jesus (The Truth, The Way, The Life)
o Priest - Fr. Orlando Aceron, OP
o Reception - Huey Ying Restaurant MOA Branch
o Cake - Ordered from Goldilocks, to be pick up Saturday
o Photo and Video –courtesy of officemates Davy and Mang Jay
o Giveaways - from Divi, Nadine’s mom and dad personally went there to buy.
o DIY – Invites, Tags for the giveaways, Tarpaulin

Can’t wait for Saturday! I coordinated almost everything for this event (the priest, the photo and video coverage, the reception) and I pray all turns out fine, now I have to prepare my daughter and my Mom, they have to look good too of course this also their day. The only thing I haven’t done is to buy the candles and drop the tarpaulin at the reception venue so my friend, Kleng who owns the restaurant will be the one to set it up on Saturday and that would be one less thing for me to worry about.

On a side note, our department is “cooking” up a major project for this year. And this is the launching of the school’s Hymns, Yells and Cheers album. The target date of launching is on the alumni homecoming, which will be on November 22. I did the design of the layout of the album’s cover and I am happy with I did. I can’t wait to see the final output.

Oh and by the way, the latest addition to the Lao clan is here, last November 4, Dzune’s cousin’s wife gave birth to a healthy baby boy, Austin. Such a cutie, Albert’s family is really beginning to grow. More of Austin’s photos here

Nadine's Invite

2008-11-07T09:46:00.000+08:00

I am making up through my niece what I never did for Anne’s christening.

My husband and I snatched me the chance of fussing over Anne’s christening. It was January 2007, I was still on maternity leave and Anne then was only a month old, January 12 Friday, husband came home from work with news: “Bibinyagan si Anne sa Sunday” and all I can answer was a yes and ask where? And the husband told me the details, the baptism will take place at the Binondo Chinese Parish wherein Anne’s Ninong, my office mate and Dzune’s friend Davy is an active member and it was he who took care of everything so Anne can be baptized even if I don’t have a copy of her birth certificate yet, reception will be at the nearby Presidents Restaurant and Davy also took the liberty of choosing the menu. Well I trust him so wala akong angal. He he.

So Anne doesn’t have a dress and no souvenirs and invitations and of course my main concern was who will take the photos! Hubby has all the answer to the question: Tomorrow is Saturday we have a day to take care of the dress and maybe buy some souvenir, for the invitation just text everyone you wanted to invite, for now I’ll go home to Nanay (our apartment then was just a stone’s throw away from my in-laws) to let them know.

When Dzune came back that afternoon he was carrying Therese’s (Anne’s cousin) dress when she was baptized three years ago complete with her shoes. The dress was really in a very good condition and the white shoes that go with it is from Italy, a gift from my brother in law’s bosses who works in Jeddah.

The next day, Saturday. Dzune and I left Anne with my Mom and went out to buy myself a thing to wear cause none of my dress fits me. I was able to buy myself a simple white blouse and another white dress for Anne. At the end of the day we were able to buy some cute angel figurines that we wrapped in pink tulle and wrapped in pink ribbons that we gave out as Anne’s souvenir.

Even without the preparation, Anne’s baptism was success. The food was good and the church was nice, the parish priest was accommodating and we personally know him, that is important to me since someday I can tell my daughter that someone we know christened him. The only glitch was that we didn’t prepare candles since we were told by Davy that it’s ready at the parish and there was none, we made do with the mga naiwan na candles got by one of the staff there. And all our closest friends and relatives came so we were really happy.

So now, what I never did for Anne’s christening I am making up now, for my niece’s christening. As a start, the invitations. My sister chose this:

Watch me grow.

2008-11-05T14:21:00.000+08:00

The babies born the same month (November) last year are now celebrating their birthdays. It’s just funny that it’s as if yesterday I was doing the layout of the invitation for their christening and now here am I doing their first birthday invitation layout. After all these years, suki pa din ako sa kasal, binyag, first birthdays, and there was one, my inaanak, AJ, (daughter of I can say one of our closest friend, Kuya Bong and Mareng Nym,) seventh birthday invitation na ginawa ko for her.

Hay, I’m getting old and yet it’s really fun seeing, watching these children grow. Next time it will be my own daughter, Anne’s turn to turn seven. Naku, ngayon pa lang things are buzzing inside my head when I think of my princess turning seven. And I can’t wait. Kung pwede nga lang, I mean if I can only splurge maybe every year I will be throwing a themed birthday for her but that would be too much and her Tatay wouldn’t forgive me if I do that every year. For now I am happy to the highest level (ha ha) that Anne’s first birthday celebration with the theme RED riding hood was a huge success and those we invited still talks about it.

Carl Andrei, son of the head of our department, Carol and Amiel. His christening invite:

and his first birthday invitation:

Big boy na noh? And such a cutie! Parang girl in this photo taken by his dad, his Mom complaining that her in-laws wouldn't allow her to have that hair cut kasi wala pa daw one.

And here naman Jenareign's christening invite:

Jenareign was born premature. Her mom, Marichu is my best friend and former office mate, she was my officemate till she was transferred to the Dean’s office last 2006. I call Jenna her mom’s miracle baby. Chumar as we fondly call her was already married for ten years before her mom got pregnant. Chumar was on bed rest during her entire pregnancy. I guess all those sacrifice of being not able to work was worth the wait especially for a couple that waited ten years to have a child. Jenareign, her name from Jesus of Nazareth reigns, her mom told me that before she got pregnant she said a novena to Jesus of Nazareth, the after a month, she was pregnant. Prayers can really do wonders.

Now look how much she has grown up! The first time we saw her since she was premature nga, she was so small, sabi nga naming parang kuting but from a tiny baby medyo malaki na sya ngayon and we are so happy just seeing her, after all, kadamay kami ng mommy nya in waiting, Chumar and I was in the same department for nine years! I almost cried when she told me she is pregnant.

Now, she is one:

Oh and on a side note, my own niece will be christened on November 15, of course sino pa ba ang gagawa ng invite but her nanay. Here are the studies that I presented her Mommy (my sister) so far:

My first Correlle

2008-10-23T11:01:00.002+08:00

A gift from my husband, I was telling him. An advance anniversary gift.

Yeah, next month on the 23rd to be exact is our third year wedding anniversary. Time surely flies, it’s as if it’s only yesterday when we were planning for our wedding. I can remember vividly the different emotions I have gone through during the wedding preparations. Our wedding, which coincides with two other family activities, Lola Orang’s 90th birthday celebration and Tito Sammy and Tita Lucy’s 25th wedding anniversary and renewal of vows. The preparations for the latter were tasked to no one else but yours truly.

Anyway, back to the topic. Corelle is one of the famous brands when it comes to dinnerware. We really want to have a set of Corelle dinnerware for everyday use so when my husband saw the it is on sale, he decided right then and there to buy me a set! For Php 2,500 it was really a steal!

Photo from www.walmart.com

Actually Dzune grew up in a household where they use no less that Corelle dinnerware for everyday use. My mother in law has several sets of it, and the one they are using for everyday, they’ve had it for years, so long that I don’t know if that kind of pattern is still available, that’s why everytime I had a maid which I brought with us to my in-laws and she has to wash the dishes, I always remind them to be careful for we won’t be able to replace the plates in case one is broken and I tell you, the ones in my in-laws doesn’t have any chips or breakage, it is almost like new.

I am just glad that we bought these. My husband’s words when we used it for the first time: “Feels like I am back home in the house in Balut” and if it makes him happy, then I am happier, of course this is a long time investment since I expect to be using it for a long time. And in this group that I belong to, N@W I read long ago when I was still pregnant with my daughter Anne, one of the tips from one of my N@Wie sisters was to invest in good dinnerware like Corelle when you are starting to teach your child to eat so you don’t have to worry that the plates might break. And I guess it’s true, since my daughter started to eat solids, I never really let her use plastic wares, she uses whatever we use and I guess this encourages her to eat on her own, because now at 1 year and 10 months she does eat on her own, sometimes she doesn’t finish everything and there are times when she plays with her food but my point here is she eats on her own unlike other kids who still needs an adult to assist them so they can eat.

Letran 's Day

2008-10-13T08:38:00.001+08:00

October is not only the month of the rosary for the Letran community. As soon as October begins, together with it is the feast day of Our Lady of La Naval. I used to look forward to what I call “Letran’s Day” and the Procession. Well, I still look forward to it, but I guess not as much as I used to, because unlike before these days are the days when we will be with good friends.

Letran’s day always falls on a Thursday, this is the day during the 9 day novena masses wherein Letran College is the one assigned to participate, I really don’t know what to call it, basta for me I call it Letran day. During this day, we go straight to Sto. Domingo Church to attend the 9am mass, which usually lasts for an hour. During the time when Fr. Joemar was still the head of the Media Center, D’ Gang goes to Dampa in Parañaque to have lunch. It has become a “tradition” so when Fr. Joemar was no longer the head of the department, we see to it that we go out and eat somewhere where we had never gone after the mass, we plan ahead of time, we consult each other. For this year we ate at Amici in Tomas Morato.

Amici, as one of our new companion this year means friends and we enjoyed the food so much maybe because we were with true friends when we had lunch there last October 9.

The procession, the feast day itself of La Naval, always is a Sunday. I mentioned that I used to look forward to this day because it is the day when we get together with friends that we don’t see often. These friends are Jensen, Sonny, Richard and Dad they are Dzune’s tropa and they participate in the procession since their college days, so for them this is a really long on going tradition. The group meets before the procession starts, then we go with Letran’s patron saint, San Vicente Liem Dela Paz. After the procession we usually have dinner somewhere. This is the annual bonding time of the group. Maybe you noticed that I used to look forward to this, used to… well, Miguel, Dad as we fondly call him, passed away two years ago. He is Dzune’s best friend; he was Best Man during our wedding. It happened so sudden; we never thought that he would be gone so early. Now it saddens me when October comes, last year after the my husband and I attended Mass, we didn’t join the Letran Group that year, and the choir was singing Salve Regina, I saw my husband crying, the church, the act of attending the mass, the procession just brings back so much memory Dad, they use to participate in the procession and they started doing it way back during their college days.

Ever since I joined the Letran Community in 1997, I became a devotee of the Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, never did I miss the Letran Day (Thursday Mass) or even the procession, Oh the only time I missed the procession was in October 2006 when I was 7 months pregnant with Anne, and last year because our family went on a vacation to Palawan after my brother Jayson got married.

This year’s procession was so different from the past years. I can say that the tropa wasn’t nowhere to be found, the only ones present was Davy and us (Dzune and I). Jensen and his family is now based in Butuan City and Richard and his family in Zamboanga, they just won’t be able to make it. Sonny and Portia are here in Manila, but when we sent an SMS to Sonny, he told us that he couldn’t make it because they already have plans for that day, for all I know, the procession just reminds him too much of Dad thus the reason for making excuses, I guess he just isn’t too brave to face it like us, we are sad and yet in our hearts of hearts we will continue doing this as long as we could, so that Dad, Miguel’s memory lives on. After the procession, once we are back inside Sto. Domingo Church waving our hankies as Our Lady of La Naval glides back to her place in the altar, as we sing the “Adios” we could almost feel dad’s presence in our midst, and my husband and I agrees, that as soon as Anne is a little bit bigger, we will also introduce her to our Lady of La Naval.

And oh I used to be one of the official photographers of the procession but these days we can only get limited pass, so Davy does the photography. You can view more of the pictures taken here

Our Home

2008-10-09T15:22:00.003+08:00

It’s been a year and a half since we moved in into a house that we can call our own. For a year before we’ve had our daughter Anne, we used to rent in a pretty little yellow apartment just a stone throw away from my in-laws.

When we started with the construction of our house, since my husband is very hands-on with it, the first tool that he bought was a power grinder since he said that it will really come handy since there was a lot of tiles to be installed in the new house and in the long run, I believed him since we were also be able to use the grinder with the stairs of our bedroom which is made out of wood. These days the grinder comes in handy whenever our kitchen knives needs sharpening and I tell you, my knives do sharpen really nicely!

Now that our home is almost complete, the only thing needed is a painting job we know that the choice of color is very important here because it will make wonders to the part of the house which is in need of a painting job, in this case it our bedroom that’s why it is really important since this is where we rest and play with our daughter. Whenever we are at home, we stay in our room most of the time. So until we finalize everything we are not buying any house painting supplies yet. Wish us luck with our project!

Our unfinished home

The 08 Project

2008-08-14T13:55:00.001+08:00

08 Friday Project

This wedding truly tested our friendship as Ben said, the long travel we went through to get to Caleruega, on a weekday. Truly maybe others would say that it is a hassle just for a wedding, but for us (Ben, Miel and Dzune) we passed the test!

It was truly a funny, beautiful wedding! And we are happy that we were a part of it all, the 08 Project was truly a success. Congratulations and we really wish all the best to Rickleng and Phonam! The wedding was truly a memory to cherish! It was so nice to spend so much time with these friends of mine, we were inseparable way back during our college days when we were still at UST and I wish we could do something like this again, maybe…I hope so…

A truly memorable indeed.It is not the first time that I set foot at Caleruega but, this is my first time to attend a wedding at Caleruega at the Chapel of Transfiguration at that, and I almost didn’t recognize Veritas Hall if not for the Crucifix which cannot be removed from the wall. What I am truly happy about is that Phonam and Richard tying the knot in a Dominican place and having a Dominican Priest officiate their wedding.

Congratulations to the newlyweds!

“In the neighborhood”

2008-07-14T08:38:00.002+08:00

Way back in college I have a classmate from India. I never really got the chance to talk to her what she did there; all I know is that she lived there with her family. I’ve always wonder what it is like in India, in San Andres Manila, where my father’s family is from, and where my father’s ancestral house is, lived a Hindu family. I know they are there, in that house, they keep to themselves, and the neighbors don’t bother them I believe since I never see their door open or them receiving any guests, I never see them on the streets either like the other neighbors who are in the streets as soon as the sun sets, chatting with other neighbors.

I was so young then, and even tough I would like to, I never dared spoke with them since I wouldn’t know the India translation to the words they might be speaking since I am pretty sure that they would know only a few English words since I can sometimes overhear them speaking to each other in their own language, now that I don’t go to my grandmother’s house that often I wonder how is that family now, did they get back to India? Maybe I can look up some Hindi translation so in case I see them I can at least greet them in their native tongue and I guess this can be the start of a good friendship.

Fixing a broken heart

2008-06-19T13:20:00.002+08:00

Nothing-new here.

I take a short break here. To remember my father, I pause.

It’s been almost four (4) years since we lost him. But still, the pain, the emptiness is still here. I wonder how do you really get over a loss? When my friend Me-ann lost his father months ago, she told me when I went to see her on her father’s wake: “Mama, Jhen kailangan turuan mo ako” (Mama Jhen, you need to teach me) and I ponder, how can I teach someone when I myself haven’t learned anything. Many people said time will heal the pain. But the pain doesn’t go away, it’s still here. I maybe laughing outside but there are still nights when I find myself crying over losing my father. This most specially triggers when I look at my little girl at night, it reminds me of how much my father loves little kids, and if he was here I know he will be bowled over with his first “apo”, i believe they will be inseparable and my Papa would have spoiled her rotten! If only he was here….

Shameless plug...

2008-05-14T16:43:00.001+08:00

I deal with computer graphic designs for eleven (11) years now.

It all started when I was employed with Letran. And I remember when I was just starting, my first software to use is Photoshop version 5.5. Looking back, I can say that I have come a long long way. The latest version of Photoshop now is CS3.

The first person who really gave me a break is Fr. Ed Alaurin, in 1998. Fr. Ed was the head of the Athletics department of the Colegio then and that year, Letran is the host for the NCAA season. Fr. Ed, asked me to design the cover of the souvenir program then. I remember I used Coreldraw, and there were times when I had to go to a computer shop to do the design, and there are times when I have to "harass" my friend, Phonam. She really helped me a lot during those times and then I can say that she is really the one who encouraged me to learn the tool.

Fast forward. After that event I became "known" in the campus. Some would approach me to design this and that for the school, and until came a time when the head of the HR department, whom then became a really good friend, approached me to ask if I can design their wedding invitation. Which I did. After that she soon gave birth and soon she was asking me to design her daughter's christening invitation. From then on people would approach me. Funny thing is that when it came to my daughter's christening, my husband and Davy, Anne's ninong and my officemate didn't give me the opportunity to design an invitation for her. Our preparation for Anne's christening is two days. Well, I make up to it during her first birthday naman.

So then, people would almost always approach me asking me to design almost everything. There are times when people I don't know would call asking if I could design their souvenir program and when I asked how did they know about me, they say the printing press who printed my previous work, referred me to them. So I guess, there is something in my work.

I am a minimalist when I do designs. The simpler, the better. Lately, I realized, why am I being modest about it, I might as well, earn from this so called skill I have in design. So here I go, since it always boils down to one thing, people asking me to design something for them, why don't I officially make this my "raket". So I'm turning my multiply to my "raket" site.

Feel free to come and see, maybe I can do something for you.

http://jennifermorente.multiply.com

Thank You for Mom's!

2008-05-13T10:58:00.003+08:00

This poem is oh so true, but you can never really tell until you become a Mom. This is the second year I am part of the Mother's Day celebration, three years if you count the year when Baby Anne was still in my tummy. Not until you become a Mom, you can never really understand what does "Mahirap na masarap" REALLY means. Being a Mom is the best feeling I ever felt, one of my friend said that being a mom makes you "softer" and I guess it is oh so true, it is as if something pulls your heart. What I can really relate to in this poem is that part where I never get at night every ten minute or so to check on the baby, this is so true with Anne, it all began on the second night Anne was home, I was like looking at her every minute to check that she is breathing, she was so tiny then...and now she is almost all grown up, my baby girl.

Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind
and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom.

I have a lot to be thankful for, this mother's day. First thank you for giving me my Mommy, to whom I owe what I became now, I am thankful that she took care of me and my siblings, she is a SAHM all her life because of us, and now she is the one who looks after her apo (granddaughter), my daughter J'Anne, because of this I have less worries leaving my daughter at home when I go to work during the day. And thank you for my mom-in-law. Nanay,lately I realized, she brings out the best in me, and I am thankful to her because if not for her I know my husband Dzune wouldn't be the GREAT person he is now. And most of all I am thankful this year because I am sharing mother's day with a good friend Marichu, it took her nine (9) years before she became a Mom. I remember thinking of her when I gave birth, sabi ko, I wish maramdaman din nya how it is to be a Mom, and three months after I gave birth, she told me, she is pregnant, her pregnancy is not as smooth sailing as mine, she was on bed rest the nine months she is pregnant, the she had to undergo emergency C-section a month before her due date and her little angel was left at the hospital for a month, they are both doing perfectly well now, her daughter is now six months old. Pretty soon two more persons really dear to me, Shane and my sister Juliet will truly be sharing motherhood with me.

The best mother's day to all!

Summer Getaway @ Ilocos Norte

2008-04-22T15:01:00.007+08:00

For this outing, I did a lot of research and planning and truly I was glad that in one way or the other the trip was successful.

Actually I wanted to go back to take more pictures and visit more places, like the Bangui Windmills, which we only saw from a far the, the Kabigan Falls, eat at Papa Nards, and go to Vigan in Ilocos Sur. Sadly we weren’t able to visit these places when we were there, with twenty (20) people on tow, we were like moving underwater with the current against us.

Anyway, still I am thankful because we were able to visit some of the must see places in Ilocos Norte.

Here is our Pagudpud story. I am writing this in hope that when other people plan their Pagudpud getaway, they will chance upon this blog and may they find something useful here.

ON GETTING THERE

As I’ve said, a lot of time and research and planning were spent in putting together this trip. A few days before our departure, we braved the heat and went to see all the buses, which goes straight to Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.

We decided to go with Florida Bus since the bus, which goes straight to Pagudpud, is a de luxe bus, comfort is the key here, and my officemates prefers to be comfortable so the de luxe bus it is.

How would I rate the bus, I’ll give it a 7 in a scale of 1-10 with 10 as the highest. Seats were comfortable, air-condition ok. But the bus stopped several times as opposed to the sign in front saying there will only be one stopover during the trip. All right these stops weren’t really that long but still it consumes time and in this trip, time is of the most important essence!

The trip going to Pagudpud took twelve (12) hours. We left at 9:00pm and arrived between 8:30am to 9:00 am.

The fare is Php 650.

GOING TO THE BEACH

A tricycle ride is all it needs to get to the beaches. A tricycle ride costs Php 50 and a tricycle can carry up to 3 persons each. Due to bulky bags and all some of us opted to ride the tricycle by two’s.

It’s really a short ride going to the beaches/resorts.

RESORTS/WHERE TO STAY

Summer time and sure beaches are jam-packed.

Our original choice of a place to stay is at Polaris Beach House. Because I have read good reviews about the place, and the first time I asked, they are affordable, at Php 750 per person per night. But when I called to reserve, the place is already fully booked, and so I was referred to Jun and Carol.

When I inquired with Jun and Carol and was told that they have available accommodation, I immediately booked us and the next day went to the bank to make a deposit.

We got seven (7) rooms all air-conditioned, each with their own bathroom for a total of Php 19,600. Take note though that rates, varies.

Albert, the JC staff informed me that check-in time is at 12noon. But if upon arrival the rooms are already available, we can immediately occupy it.

Thankfully when we arrived all the rooms assigned to us was already ready for occupancy except for one (1) room, the staff who accommodated us was Marvin and he was nice to show us to our rooms.

The rooms were clean, air-condition running, bathrooms clean. For a place to stay for a night it was worth the amount we paid for.

JUN AND CAROL BEACH COTTAGES

Burayoc Point, Pagudpud Ilocos Norte

Website:http://juncarolbeachresort.com

Contact Person: Albert-09214847746

POLARIS BEACH RESORT

Contact Number: (0919)3078803/(0919)457-2046

WHERE TO EAT

Prior to this summer get away; we were already warned that food around the restos of Saud Beach is expensive. Most of our companions bought their food rations and where we stay, they accept “paluto” for a fee of course, and fishes, fresh catch can be bought along the shores of Saud Beach.

We were starved when we arrived, and we didn’t have a choice but to eat at Jun and Carol. But I warn you, meals are expensive, a breakfast meal good for one person costs a whooping Php130! Since time is running we had our breakfast there with a promise that we will look for a better place to eat for lunch.

And so for lunch we ate at Sarabo. You can tell the tricycle driver and they will bring you there. Food at Sarabo is great! We ordered Sinigang na Isda, Bagnet, Adobo, Chopsuey, Tinola. And their meals are affordable too! An order can serve two (2) persons. We spent around Php600 for 6 persons.

We wanted to bring the entire brood to Sarabo but the server there told us that their stock of pork is low and they wouldn’t be able to serve twenty (20) persons.

So on that night we were again on a hunt of where to eat. And so discovered Emohruos Beach Resto Bar, just right along the beach, in front of Apo Idon Hotel. We find the food here good and just right within the budget. Their Spaghetti in tomatoes is good, and costs Php 98.

We also took our breakfast here the next day, prices starts at Php 75. And the food and presentation is yummy. Too bad I forgot to take photos of the breakfast that was served to us.

SWIMMING AT THE BEACH

Pressed for time, we immediately went to the beach after breakfast. The sand is almost white, and the water blue. There were strong waves when we were there but quite tolerable, we were still able to enjoy the waters of Saud beach.

PLACES TO SEE

We had a late start. The sun will be setting soon. And so instead of not being able to go around town. We agreed to just make out the most of the time left.

The mode of transport around Pagudpud is tricycles. So if we want to see the must see sites, we negotiated with the tricycle drivers. They agreed to take us to four (4) of the must see places in Pagudpud: (1) Bantay Abot (2) Blue Lagoon (3) Patapat (4) the Falls (not Kabigan) for a fee of Php 400 per three persons.

I must warn you though; going around Pagudpud in a tricycle was an adventure. And for us it became a part of our adventure. But it is frightening! My officemates says we traveled about more or less 30 kms. And on a tricycle at that! Just imagine that. Having your own transport will be much better and you will also be able to visit more places. Like the Bangui Windmills, the tricycle driver was asking Php600 if you will include the windmills in the tour since they say Bangui is in another town. When we got off the bus from Manila, a van was parked at the terminal offering it's services, the man says that they charge Php 1,700 for the tour. I just don't know if they are always there.

LAOAG CITY

Part of this trip is to visit Laoag City. So the next day, we scheduled suppose to be an early departure for Laoag, travel time is approximately one and a half to two hours via regular bus. Fare is Php 70 per person. We left Pagudpud between 9:30 am to 10:00 am arriving at Laoag City at 12:00 noon, through a long time friend, I arranged for two vans to pick us up from the bus terminal and to take us around the city.

Our first stop is to grab a bite. And my friend directed us to Pamulinawen Restaurant. Food was great and affordable too! We had baby back, pinakbet, and other Ilocano dishes.

With our stomachs filled, we are now ready to go around Laoag City.

We were able to go to: (1)Sarrat, Marcos’ birthplace,(2)Batac, where we saw Ferdinand Marcos' wax figure and the Batac Church which is built in 1587 same year the Dominican Order was founded, (3)the majestic Paoay Churh, which is now open to tourists like us, before the church only opens on Sundays for masses, you can now also climb the bell tower, if you are afraid of heights this is not for you but the climb is I guess worth it if your goal is to take photos of the bell (4) Malacanang of the North where we have to content ourselves with photo ops outside because a wedding reception was on-going when we arrived so we couldn't go in (5) Fort Ilocandia Resort, where we had good shots of the sunset at the Suba beach, it's been really years since I have been here and a lot has changed in Fort Ilocandia, they call it a resort now because it is like a one-stop shop, they have a mini zoo, an olympic sized swimming pool and the beach.

Of course we won't leave Ilocos without eating the Ilocos empanada. We had ours in Batac, there are several stalls that sells empanada, the drivers of the van we rented tipped us to buy from gloomy's stall. I am surprised to see that there are several varieties of the Ilocos empanada, there is the "plain" (without egg I think), the "doble-doble" (double longanisa or egg), "special" (with hotdog) among others. I remember about ten (10) years ago it was just empanada period.

Right across Paoay Church is the Herencia de Paoay which is the home of the famous Pinakbet pizza, we weren't able to have a taste of it though because we were still so full of the empanada we ate. Their mami (noodles) is a must try too, it tastes good and it is different from the mami that you eat in Manila.

Then it was already dark and it was time to board the bus going back to Manila.

We took the Super De Luxe bus of Florida this time, fee is Php 750. The bus was good, with television, the rest room better, the seats and space wider. But I find it was more tiring riding the super de luxe bus, for one the ride was as if you are traveling in a bumpy road all throughout the ride. They say this is because the capacity of this bus is less than the ordinary bus therefore it has an effect with the buses’ suspension making the ride “bumpy”.

MUST BRING

Oh don't forget to bring your sun-block and bandanas so you can wear it so your hair wouldn't fly to all directions during the pictorials at the beach.

This is better...

compared to this...

Over all I can say that the trip is a success. And if I will be asked if I’d go back there definitely I will!

This is a budget trip since we were given a budget of Php 2,200 per person, we just added an additional Php 400 to total Php 2,600 for our over all expenses, this covers the fare from Manila to Pagudpud, Laoag to Pagudpud, the overnight accommodation at Jun and Carol, the fare for the bus ride from Pagudpud to Laoag.

For more photos, you can view my flickr site here and Davy’s photostream here. And a lot more photos can be seen at the Letran website.

If you have any more queries I’d love to help, you can email me at jhenlao23@gmail.com or just leave a comment here, be sure to leave me you contact details though so I can get back to you.

And I must acknowledge the people who took the photos of trip, Davy, Jay, Dzune and myself. And to Rocks and to Anton's blog whose Pagudpud travelogue has been my constant companion during the time I was planning this trip!

The Pagudpud Summer Getaway.. a sneak peak

2008-04-21T16:23:00.004+08:00

No post yet about the trip to Pagudpud Ilocos Norte.

With 3 digital cameras ( Canon 10D, Canon 40D and Canon 400D) aside from the point and shoot cameras brought by the librarians. Imagine how many photos we took of the trip.

A blank DVD is needed to back-up all the photos in case you wanted to keep a copy of it all.

My hubby, Dzune, has been keeping busy making slides of the photos.

Here is one of my favorites.

By the way, the lady in the photos is the chief librarian of Letran Manila, Carol Rulona-De Jesus. A 230+ solo photos of her were taken during this trip.

Kids Meme

2008-04-21T08:37:00.000+08:00

Thank you Rocks for the tag.
Copy here:
1. Answer the Kid’s Question by Gregory Stock, PH.D. Remember: Don’t respond as you think others want you to. Respond the way you actually feel!
2. Add your name (linked to your blog)
3. Tag everybody else!

Kid’s Question #1 If you were the ruler of the world and you could have anything you wanted as well as have people do anything you wanted, do you think you would get greedy and mean or would you be a good and fair ruler?

> If I become the ruler of the world that can have anything I wanted, I will be a good and fair ruler and will want everybody to be happy. This is because I believe with the upbringing I got, I can never be a mean/greedy ruler of the world. But I guess I would be bias since my priority would be my family.

Jhong, Alpha, Women Xplore, Em, Something Purple, Our Journey to Life, My Planet Purple, Princess Bela, Here & Now, God’s gift, Through the Rain, dzunejennadd your link here

Now I'm tagging

The Bus and the Best.

2008-04-04T15:26:00.005+08:00

The institution where we belong to, deviated from the usual tradition of company outing. For this year, it’ll be divisional instead of the usual institutional outing, our department, the library and media services belonging to Academic Affairs Division agreed to go on our own and our destination: Pagudpud Ilocos Norte!

I have been to the Ilocos several times on several occasions. The last trip there that I took was in 1998, with my high school friend Ethelyn. Ilocos is their home town and the first time she invited me to go there was on November 1992. Since then I got hooked. It’s been 10 years since I’ve been there which makes me excited about this trip.

I cannot bring Anne along at this time, she is too young and her Tatay wouldn’t allow it, maybe soon but Dzune will be joining me on this trip.

Long before, even before I planned to get married it is my office mate, Albeth's ultimate dream that we be able to visit Pagudpud. And this is putting that dream into reality (finally!). Our reservation for 7 rooms at Jun and Carol’s Beach Resort has been paid for. Originally our plan is to stay at Polaris Beach House because in the course of my search for best places to stay in Pagudpud, I’ve been reading raves about Polaris Beach Resort. Too bad that when I called up the place is fully booked but he was kind enough to have referred me to JC instead. I’ve read positive reviews too about JC so no problem. And we are staying for a night only hoping we would be able to capture a good view of the sunrise and the sunset along the coastline of Saud Beach.

So part of the planning is to choose a bus line to take us there. Yesterday, 3 of us braved the hot sun and went along Espana to look at buses and inquire on their schedules and fees.

There are four (4) transport corporations that I know of that travels to the province of Ilocos Norte, but only three (3) of them go straight to Pagudpud. These are:

RCJ Transit
1558 España, Sampaloc, Manila 
Telephone (632) 7412994
Fare: Php 550 for a regular air-conditioned bus
Schedule: Departure Time 9:00 PM

Florida Bus Line
Lacson St (Gov. Forbes) corner Espana (near UST) in Manila
Telephone (632)7314473
Fare: Php 650 for a de luxe air-conditioned bus
Schedule: Departure Time 9:30 PM

Maria de Leon Bus Line
Corner Gelinos and Dapitan Streets, Sampaloc, Manila
Telephone Numbers: (632) 731 4907
Fare: Php 500 for a regular air-conditioned bus
Schedule: Departure Time 7:00 pm

Though Farinas buses goes to Ilocos, their trips are up to Laoag City only and we prefer to go straight to Pagudpud so we could maximize the day.

So the final verdict is that we will take the Florida De Luxe bus. It is comfortable especially in our case where 2 of our companions, Davy and Albeth are 6 feet tall and super sized. It’ll be a pity to see them sitting in a regular sized seat for 12 hours.

We will pay our reservation on Tuesday since according to the person who mans the booth, reservations are done a day before the scheduled trip but since we are a large group (21 persons) we will reserve a day before the day before of our trip and hopefully they will allow this since our reason is valid (we are a large group traveling). We tried to ask if the Super De Luxe bus could go all the way to Pagudpud since we are already 21 persons (the super de luxe bus sits 29 persons) but the dispatcher said that it would be more expensive (Php 950) so we content our selves with the de luxe bus instead.

By the way, on the course of our search we stumbled upon the authentic ilocos empanada! Right here in Manila! The booth is located right in front of Farinas Bus Line along Lacson Street. It costs Php35 for a special empanada! Imagine we don’t have to travel all the way to Ilocos at all to get a bite of this tasty Ilocos delicacy. And though it is sold at Taco Ilocano booths in Glorietta Food Court and Market2x. The one at the bus station tastes better. Nothing really beats the original! I remember years ago, when we want to eat empanada, we have to ask whomever is coming from Ilocos to bring us one, what they will do is buy the empanada before boarding the bus and put it inside a container, then Ethel and I will reheat it and savor each bite because we don’t know when we can taste it again. How glad am I that it is available in Manila now.

I got a lot of help in preparing for this trip. And I really pray that everything will pay off. Because as one of my office mates tells me, he will kill me if not. I have put a lot of time in this and though I still don’t know if the trip will be a success. I’d like to thank Rocks, she and her friends just had a recent trip to Pagudpud and her journal about this trip was my constant companion in my preparation and her photos too are the reason I convinced my office mates to come. And then I am really lucky to have stumbled upon the blog of the famous (I’ve seen him on TV several times but it is only recently that I got a glimpse of his blog) Anton Diaz, his Pagudpud Travel Blog which contains really informative information about Pagudpud was helpful and most of the information I know came from his site. I really haven’t left a note on his site because I wanted to do it after the trip hoping that I be able to share some tips to the readers.

The countdown, 6 days to go and Pagudpud, here we come!!!

Wrappin' up the month of March

2008-04-01T11:58:00.004+08:00

How time flies.

March is ending and our baby Anne will be 16 months soon.

Oftentimes I find myself asking where did the time go. As if it is only yesterday when I gave birth to this tiny baby girl who looks so fragile her Tatay wouldn’t carry her. And there was I also, having a baby sleeping beside me is too foreign, I find myself so careful I might crush my angel. I became a light sleeper every since I gave birth.

But now, at 15 months Anne flails, kicks, goes round and round and round while asleep. Oh well, she is so hyper even when asleep I wonder if that’s normal with babies her age. Well anyway, as most people would say that it’s healthier.

To cap off the month of March, let me look back to all the happenings on this month.

March 7, was the service awards for employees who rendered 5,10, 15, 20 years of service to the Colegio . This includes myself, ten years awardee and hubby, five years awardee.

Then on March 10 and 11, Jayson and Cha-Cha, Jayson is my brother celebrated their birthdays. But unlike last year there wasn’t any celebration for this year. Last year we agreed to to the pamamanhikan. This is the occasion wherein the family of the groom goes to the family of the girl and formally asks for the hand of their daughter for marriage. We celebrated the occasion with dinner at our friend, Kleng’s Huey Ying Restaurant at Seaside Macapagal.

On March 16, which is Sunday Tatay and Nanay, my in-laws celebrated their 39th wedding anniversary. Most of the Adriano family members were present. But I believe our most special guest of all was Julius and her GF Tin-Tin. Julius is my husband, Dzune’s childhood friend and I am glad he is able to come on this special occasion.

On March 23, Easter Sunday we attended our first wedding for the year, Paul and Shane’s at San Agustin Church. The event was a total success and I am very happy about it since most of the suppliers Shane got from me. Who also was our supplier for our wedding. I am really glad that all of them delivered well and as Shane said it, everything paid off.

More weddings to come for this year. Sonny and Portia on July 19 and Phonam and Richard's on August 8. Not to mention Dzune's cousin Pam and Jason's wedding on May.

I capped off the month of March with a date with my girlfriend, Shane yesterday. We went to Chito to get the cd of the photos taken during their wedding and a dinner at Pancake House. Shane says we should do it often. I mean havin’ a girls night out.

As a new month begins, I am looking forward to a fun filled month! Watch out for what we are cookin' up for this month!

SPh@Nuel 03.23.08

2008-03-26T11:53:00.004+08:00

This is our first wedding attendance for the year of 2008 and indeed it was special. Shane had been my friend for years now. She was my MBA buddy.

The bride was radiant in her Inno Sotto gown. It was indeed a day of celebration. The Lord has risen! Paul and Shane decided to start their new life as a married couple on this especial day.

I am glad that these two were able to pull off their wedding! I remember not long before their engagement here was Shane via text message telling me that the wedding is off, and I was laughing while reading her message, because I have been there and I know how the wedding preparations can put strains in the relationship. Same with us, we almost called off our wedding plans!

Paul was all smiles when I saw him at San Agustin Church, he was telling me “Dapat maganda yan (referring to Shane) kung hindi isosoli ko yan! Ang tagal ko naghintay!” (She must look really good or else I will return her, I have been waiting for too long!) They have been on the BF-GF mode for seven (7) years. And indeed Shane, the bride was stunning when she got off from the bridal car and did her bridal walk! And believe it or not, it was Paul, the groom in tears! I hardly see men cry and when I do, my heart melts! Ha Ha!

The ceremony was quick and direct to the point, meaning the priest immediately jumped in the marriage rites. I mean maybe it is really like this when you don’t know the priest personally, maybe because they don’t know what to say in the homily. The wedding ceremony soon over in an hour, Paul and Shane finally married! Hoorah!!!

Reception was at the Maynila Ballroom of the Manila Hotel and it was beautiful! The dress up was fit for the occasion! Cocktails were served in the adjacent hall and my friends and I had a good time in the FabPhoto booth! We kept coming back for more!

The food was real good and free flowing! And we were full to the max! The lechon from Elar’s melts in your mouth!

Seeing the photos presented during the reception program taken by no less than Chito Cleofas himself brought back memories of my own wedding almost three (3) years ago and there were almost tears in my eyes seeing Paul and Shane’s photos. Chito is really good and for me he even got better! Oh well, Chito is the best!

The on-site video by threelogy was something to look forward too since I really wanted to see what went on before the wedding. And if only I don’t have Anne and I am not a busy mom I would have gone ahead at the hotel to be with Shane during her preparations, just like what I do to when my friends gets married.

My husband Dzune could not believe that a video can be edited that fast! Oh well I told him that it is indeed possible and if only we had enough budget during our wedding we could have gotten threelogy also and an on-site video at that. But during our wedding I scrimped on the budget for the video because photographs were more important to me.

Oh and at the last minute I was asked by Shane to deliver the speech for them during the reception. Thanks to HRH (his royal highness) Jjun Bana who helped me prepare my message. I was confident with my message because it was exactly what I wanted to tell Shane and Paul, but as I hear the host, Mallory call my name, I got nervous.

My message to Paul and Shane, which I know by heart, says:

“I met the bride, Shane in Graduate School, and hit it off quite quickly especially out of the classroom. We’ve been friends since then. With her friendship, the demands of graduate studies were made doubly fun and challenging. I’m happy to see you married my friend! Seven (7) years it worth the wait, I’m sure! I wish you both good health and happiness, as I believe that all else follows when you are healthy, you are happy. Congratulations and best wishes!”

Truly, I continued graduate studies because of the friends I gained there. And if there is really one thing that I am truly happy with, I gained friends in graduate studies.

All in all I can say that the wedding was a huge success. Everything paid off as Shane has said it. I can’t wait to see more of the photos; I told Shane that when she goes to Chito’s office I would go with her so I can finally get our wedding album.

8 Facts About Myself

2008-03-24T14:12:00.003+08:00

8 Weird Facts

This is a tag from Rocks. It’s called “8 FACTS ABOUT MYSELF”. Here it goes:
********************************
In 8 facts about yourself, you share 8 things that your readers don’t know about you. Then at the end you tag at least 8 other bloggers to keep the fun going. Here are the rules:

RULES:* Each blogger must post these rules first.* Each blogger starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.* Bloggers that are tagged need to write on their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.* At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.* Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.
**********************************
This tag is hard from me, I can't think of anything weird about me, I asked my husband if he finds anything weird about me and his answer was none, wow I don't know if that's a compliment. Anyway, here goes. Pardon me if I cannot complete the 8.

1. The guys (boyfriends) that I had a serious relationship with were all born on July. Former bf Joel's birthday is July 19 (I think) then Erwin (may he rest in peace) July 18 and then hubby's is July 24.
2. Two of these guys (Erwin and Hubby) were Letranites. I don't know why I am attracted to them.
3. A few months before our wedding in 2005, I got hooked in the Korean Telenovela "Full House" I cannot sleep in peace without watching it.
4. I am with the same educational institution for 10 years now. And with the same department at that.
5. I finished all the academic requirements for my graduate studies but I don't want to continue with the thesis part.
6. I design, do layout as part of my work but the layout of our wedding album is not even in my to-do list yet.
7. I almost always do the layout and production of my friends, office mates baptismal invitation but I didn't have a baptismal invitation for my baby when she was christened.
8. When I gave birth, the first night our baby was home, I cannot sleep, all I want was to stare at the baby because I was afraid she might stop breathing!

Sorry if this is becoming an excuse, I don't know whom to tag since it has been long since I was tagged. Sorry.

MannaFromHeaven,LenaTeacher’, CornerJuliana Pinay Wahm, Roselle’s Sweet Escape, Roselle’s Blog,Life In The Blogger Lane,My PreciousMy Voyage,Berryblitz - Berry Blog, Happy ,
Rocks' Through the Rain, God's Gift, DzuneJenn

The Best is Yet to Come!

2008-03-18T11:54:00.003+08:00

Like the author of this article, I want to share this with the world because I myself is a believer, thanks to my husband, Dzune who never gives up in telling me that the best is yet to come.

The Best Is Yet To Come!

A Wife Of A Jobless Husband Shares Her Story of Waiting…

I met Yane Pe Benito when I gave a talk at her company. Yane is a lovely woman with such an amazing story to tell, I decided to share it to the world.

Two years ago, Yane’s husband, Beni, without warning, lost his job. It was doubly painful because it was a great job. For 6 years, Beni enjoyed working in a multinational distribution company for skincare products. But because of a reorganization that happened in the company (which is happening in many companies nowadays), he was “redundated”.

Yane decided to tell her two small children, Gabriel (then age 6), and Marga (then age 4) about the sad news, carefully choosing the words she’d use to put it to them. “Kids, we have to take better care of our things… and not waste our money because …Daddy doesn’t have a job anymore.”

Little Gabriel said, “You mean Daddy was fired?” Yane was surprised at the bluntness of his words. “Now where did you learn that word?!” Her son said matter-of-factly, “From Peter Parker - Spiderman.”

But yes, redundated was just a fancy word for “Get out, we don’t need you here anymore.” Losing a job is always painful, even if it goes with a “separation pay” or a “redundancy package”. While Yane was thankful for the windfall, part of her was anxious, wondering how long their family was going to have to live off the separation package.

The first few months were OK; Beni got an average of two invitations per week to come for interview. But as the months stretched to a year — and then more, the invitations got fewer and far between.

During the almost two years of her husband’s joblessness, Yane was going through her own anxiety. As a mother to two growing schoolchildren, she saw their savings getting smaller. (As a contingency measure, she moved out of her 8-yr old job to accept a higher-paying one.)

But aside from the dwindling funds, she was also worried about Beni’s self-esteem. It wasn’t that he wasn’t trying; it was apparent thatthere just weren’t enough job opportunities for middle-aged men with his background and experience. There were actually two jobs that he accepted, but both were short-lived. Call it a conflict of personalities or a clash of styles, but he couldn’t see himself working there long-term. Anguished, Beni would walk out the door again.

And their marriage started to suffer too, since she was the one who was now earning for the family. “Will my husband’s ego take this for long?” she asked herself many, many times. As each month passed, she was getting more and more worried for Beni.

Yane began questioning God, “Lord, I don’t understand what else you’re trying to teach us! How else should we pray? What else should we pray for?”

That was when Yane realized that their prayer had to be more specific.

So she gathered her two kids around her and said, “Let’s pray for Daddy, that he would find a good job with a good boss – someone like his first boss in his former company.”

And so that became the family’s specific prayer. “Lord, please help Daddy get a boss that is as good and kind as his first boss in his old company, in Jesus name.”

One day, about a year ago from today, Yane came home from work and saw the kids and her husband in a huddle. “What’s all this about?” she asked.

She heard her kids whisper excitedly, “Show it to her now!”

Beni handed her a brown envelop.

Yane thought it was something from the kids’ school.

But no. As she slowly pulled out the paper from the envelope, she read the name of a company…then her husband’s job title… then his salary… At these, she merely nodded in satisfaction.

But when she got to the bottom of the paper, she was shocked. For there was a signature. It was that of Beni’s favourite boss!

To her kids’ astonishment, Yane began to cry and laugh at the same time. She could hardly believe it! Like a child, she jumped up and down with joy, much to the kids’ amusement who jumped and laughed along with her.

Gabriel asked his mother, “Mom, why are you crying and laughing at the same time?”

Yane saw a great opportunity to explain, “I’m crying because I’m so happy, son. Remember how you prayed for a good boss for Daddy? Look at this name,” she pointed to the paper she was holding. “We were merely asking for a boss that would be like Daddy’s old boss. But no, God gave your Daddy exactly the same boss! He answered our prayers!”

That was when Gabriel began to sob.

“Why are you crying?” Yane asked.

“Because I’m so happy too,” the little boy said, as the entire family embraced each other.

When Yane shared me this story, I knew I had to share it with you.

Because all of us go through many hardships and losses.

We lose our jobs, we lose our loved ones, we lose our money, we lose our friends… And sometimes, we wait and wait for the pain to go away, for the loss to be recovered. Sometimes, we wait for a long time. (Yane and Beni had to wait for two long years.)

But in the end, I believe that God has prepared the very best blessing for you.

Have faith. Trust. The best is yet to come!

I remain your friend,

Bo Sanchez

Anne and her love for kamatis (tomato)

2008-03-17T11:21:00.004+08:00

I don’t know how it developed and when. All I remember is that one day I came home with a bag of tomatoes then Anne kept pointing to it which I cannot understand, I tried to ignore her until my Mom told me to wash one and give it to Anne and we will see if she eats it. And she did!

From then on she eats tomatoes whenever she sees one on the table or wherever she sees it. I don’t know if its in the genes, her father tells me that he was fond of eating tomatoes when he was a kid and so as Anne’s Ninang Lyra. Oh well, if eating tomatoes will make her grow up to be as pretty as her Ninang Lyra, then I don’t have a reason from stopping her eat/like tomatoes!

Anyway, I did a research and what I learned is that it really doesn’t have much nutrients like the other fruits but it is really rich in Vitamin C. A medium tomato (120 g) contains about 23 mg of vitamin C and it enhances iron absorption. But tomatoes is poor in calories that’s why it is often included in diet since you need not worry about excess kilos when you eat it. In addition, tomatoes has lycopene which is the responsible in the red color of the tomato and which is known to a phytochemical, which means that it fights some cancer.

When buying tomatoes, pick the ones with really smooth skin, avoid the ones with bruises and the soft ones or refrigerated, since the cold damages them. When exposed to cold, crakes will create on the skin opening it to bacteria, so never store tomatoes that has been washed. Just wash them on warm water before eating it but not before storing it. Tomatoes must be stored in room temperature but not for too long for it will ripe.

Tomatoes can be added to anything since it goes well with any food. A trick I learned is that if a recipe calls for peeled tomatoes you don’t use a peeler for this, drop the tomatoes in boiling water for a minute or two then place it under running water and the skin will easily fall off. Isn’t this Interesting, guess I’ll try it one of these days.

Tagged! Message in a Bottle

2008-03-13T16:59:00.004+08:00

Got this tag from Jan ages ago. He he. Well, I took a break from blogging because I got sick. Anyway, I want to do the tag because from the time I read about it on Jan's blog, I know what my message in a bottle will be.

Here are the rules:

You are about to send a virtual Message In a Bottle across the Blog Ocean. Leave a message in the sand or on the bottle. Write anything you wish. Be a pirate or a poet. Serious or silly. Anonymous or not. What message would you like to send out to the universe?

1. Compose a message to place in your virtual bottle.

2. Right click and SAVE the blank graphic below.

3. Use a graphics program of your choice to place the message on the picture.

4. Post the Message In a Bottle meme and your creation on your blog along with these rules.

5. Tag a minimum of 5 bloggers - or your entire blogroll - to do the same. Notify them of the tag.Your virtual bottle will remain afloat in the blogosphere ocean for all blogernity (That’s a Mimism for blog + eternity.)

And my message in a bottle reads:

Now I need to tag someone. But am clueless whom to tag...

Then I need to go over Mimi's Site since I got this tag from Jan and add my blog's name on the master list I guess.

We are sick

2008-03-11T15:26:00.002+08:00

I guess it's the weather.

I've been sick for a week now. Not to mention Baby Anne is sick too. She is better now I guess, been giving her cough meds. I hope she continues to recuperate. It's hard when a baby is sick. Yesterday she turned 15 months. But because I've been sick and let's say I've been taking things easy at home, I didn't cook her the usual pansit (noodles) I guess I will have to make up to her but we have plans for the weekend.

We will be going over to my in-laws, they will be celebrating I think their 37th wedding anniversary. Wow! I really admire them for that! Imagine being married for 37 years and counting. I wish they will have more anniversaries to celebrate. I bet they are also looking forward to seeing Anne on that day. It's been months since we went home to the house in Balut. We are having a busy schedule. Dzune is enrolled in Graduate School and he has classes all day Saturday, (as in until 9pm) and we only get to spend the day together on Sundays, and I cannot travel alone with Anne. She is a handful. So I cannot bring her to my in-laws on my own. I guess, we will just make it up to them on the days that we don't work, like this coming Holy Week.

A course on blogging

2008-03-07T12:09:00.000+08:00

I'm evaluating a multi-media course on blogging from the folks at Simpleology. For a while, they're letting you snag it for free if you post about it on your blog.

It covers:

The best blogging techniques.
How to get traffic to your blog.
How to turn your blog into money.

I'll let you know what I think once I've had a chance to check it out. Meanwhile, go grab yours while it's still free.

An award for me!

2008-03-04T11:57:00.012+08:00

Hey Anna thanks for sharing with me this tag/award! This is the first award I ever got!

All I have to do is copy/paste my tagger's thingy then tag 5 other people after. So here goes.

Rule: Copy the entire list and add your name at the bottom. And tag at least 5 friends. (But you can tag as many as you like)

Thea, my scrappy side, Childstar, abie, aggie, alpha, apple , apols, jacqui, jane, jody, joy, mike, kelly, mich, peachy, dorxie, Butchay, lena, anna,jhen

i really don't know whom to tag...let me pass for now, i will think first whom to tag.

I have been tagged! (first time ever!)

2008-02-28T09:31:00.006+08:00

Hi Sujee! Thanks for the tag.

Rule #1 Copy all the links below and replace a single link under the appropriate alphabet. If your domain name, or even the title of your blog, starts with an ”A,” you’d replace the link under that alphabet and put the replaced link at the bottom. Also, don’t forget to credit the tagger, or where you got the list from, at the end of the list with a full URL of the post so that a pingback gets generated.

A alwaysbcmom.com

B because life is fun

C caffeine-overload.com

D dzunejenn.blogspot.com

E enjoyingtheride-jenn.blogspot.com

F forumfinder.net

G gotic-peach.net

H happykeg.com

I ipentimento.com

J juliesjournal.com

K kabalyero.com

L leahjoseph.com <

M michmagbag.com

N notjustmama.net

O originalmx5.net

P patrickdevivo.com

Q qweddings.com

R rantingsofawoman.blogspot.com

S sujeesarmiento.blogspot.com

T the-working-mom.blogspot.com

U utada-online.net

V valmg.com

W wickedbabylon.com

X xaviermedia.com

Y yimto.com

Z zbudapest.com

Replaced Link:delusionsofgrandeur.com

Previous Tagger: http://www.sujeesarmiento.blogspot.com

Rule #2 You now have to “tag” at least five people and encourage them to participate so that this thing spreads like a virus. Remember, though, that not everyone’s into these kinds of things, so don’t be upset if they don’t participate. Just simply replace your tag. Remember to tag blogs only and no pornographic ones as we do want to keep the integrity as a blogging community. TIP: Tag your frequent EntreCard droppers via its messaging system.

I am tagging:

1. Abi

2. Anna

3. Rocks

4. Mec

5. Jessie/Dyes

Anne's Red Riding Hood Potrait

2008-02-27T09:06:00.004+08:00

This still has some sort of connection to Anne’s birthday party.

I was thinking, how Anne’s is growing up fast and I know in a few months she will outgrow her Red Riding Hood costume. During her birthday celebration, she really didn’t have a portrait in it. So I know I need to have her portrait taken, the question was where? And how?

Though part of my work is taking photos, I don’t want to be the one to take her portrait, because I don’t want to take chances he he. But I ended up, with hubby’s nudging, asking why don’t I take Anne’s portrait.

With Anne’s gear and stuff, we head on to my office on the day of my birthday. My birthday last year (December 20) fell on a weekday and I took the day off though I know that it is one of the busiest day in school, December is Foundation month celebration for Letran so on my birthday, several activities were on schedule, the Bingo Socials and the Arriba Fest. So as soon as I arrived, I prepared Anne, changed into her costume and then, there was my boss, calling me for something that needs my immediate attention (I guess it was to design something, a presentation for the Christmas party which will be the next day)

Good thing that ninong Davy was around. He ended up taking Anne’s portrait. I was so happy with the output! I never thought that Davy has such patience with little kids! The only regret I have here is that when I returned the photo session was finished and we were not able to have some family photos taken.

Anne’s photos can be seen here.

Anne's Red Birthday

2008-02-18T09:45:00.016+08:00

I started preparing for Anne’s birthday about six (6) months before. Actually, on and off in planning because I was too busy with other stuff.

At first I was eyeing a Christmas themed party for Anne, I consulted this with n@wie sisters and a lot has shared their ideas and experiences on a Christmas themed party. Since Anne’s birthday is on the Christmas month I was really sold out with the idea. Among the ones who was really a big help; sharing her ideas and all is Jhoanne Paris Henson-Alon . She is really one creative person!

I was thinking of a Santa costume for Anne. When I mentioned this to my Tita who will sew Anne’s Santa costume. She suggested why not Little Red Riding Hood instead. So when I mentioned this to Jhoanne she said that it’ll be a very good idea.

My reference and ideas I got from the Internet and ofcourse from n@w.

Here goes our rating. In a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest rating.

INVITATIONS, GIFT TAGS. NAMETAGS, GUEST SHEETS, TARPAULIN: DIY
RATE: 10 (Do I need to rate myself? He he syempre )

Preferably, I want invitations to be made by someone else. I feel like it’s always myself who makes it when it comes to things like this. But due to time and budget constraints I have to contend myself with my DIY stuff.

I did it on Adobe Photoshop using photos of Anne, which Dzune and I took over the months. Have it printed at Photoline at Robinsons Place.

Guests say it was beautiful and they love it that they say that they are keeping it because of Anne’s photos. Some of our guests to whom I just sent the invites via email kept requesting I give them the actual copy on the day of the party.

For the guest sheets I did this last minute, as in on the morning of the party. I remembered that I wanted to have some messages from the guests like what we did during our wedding so I can show it to Anne when she grows up. My mistake is that I had it printed at Kodak and the paper that they use is glossy so guests had hard time writing on it.

BALLOONS: Jhoanne Paris Henson-Alon
RATE: 10

Jhoanne is such a dynamic woman which lots of really creative ideas in her head! The moment I mentioned Anne’s theme for the party she immediately had in mind an idea of what to use for the balloons, which is red and gold stars. The result was really really creative. Everyone was asking if they can take home the centerpieces and I don’t really care if you call me “madamot” but I don’t want to allow it! He he I want it all for myself to display around the house since it’s Christmas time and balloons were shaped into a Christmas tree! Really unique!

CAKE: Quintbelle’s
RATE: 10

The cake was truly a work of art! Quintbelles really know the craft of cake making and they sure know what they are doing and they do it good!!

I came to know about Quintbelle’s through the n@wies Elaine and I communicated via email and then I told Elaine what I wanted about Anne’s cake. At first Elaine was hesitant in accepting my cake order since they already had another client for December 15, but she told me that if it will be just a simple cake they might accept my order so I went over their multiply site and the “Isabelle cake” caught my attention. It has a girl sitting on top of a painted cake. I just asked Elaine to make a hood for the girl since the theme for the party is Red Riding Hood.

I am very thankful to Elaine because she accommodated my order though they already have another booking for that day.

Everyone was asking where did I have the cake made since they don’t often see such cakes at birthdays! My family really enjoyed the cake; it was chocolate and really moist. I love the cupcakes maybe because of the icing; I should have gotten the bigger ones.

I am really happy with Anne’s cake the only problem we realized was when it was time to blow the candle, there was no candle with the cake. I really wasn’t able to ask Elaine about it, if it was included or not, but it was a minor problem and we were able to solve it by buying one at Robinsons. Though because it was Christmas time, Christmas rush I had to fall in a long line to buy the candle, Goldilocks was not selling candles not unless you buy a cake from them.

VENUE: Don Henricos Ermita (across Robinsons Place Manila)
RATING:
PLACE: 7
FOOD: 10

We decided on Don Henricos mainly because of two things: - it was conveniently located beside a mall. Parking won’t be a problem since you can park at the mall and valet parking is available I believe at Don Henricos and the second reason is the food. We want our guests to enjoy the food since some of them will be traveling really far.

I rate the place 7 because though the place is good, the ambiance good, I don’t know if we just have too many guests (about 50 adults and 20 kids) but the place is quite small, and the air conditioning was poor. My mom kept saying “mainit” (hot) and it was. By the way, the resto was still accepting walk-in costumers while the party is going on so some of the places were closed, they have these wood panels which they put as dividers between the party area and the places for their walk-in clients.

But all the guests kept raving how good the food was! We chose the special buffet package. As the manager suggested to me, I didn’t order plated food for the kids, they can just get from the buffet and it was ok I guess, we ordered for about 60 persons.

Don Henricos wasn’t that strict at all, when I told them that I have a puppet show and I’d be bringing in my own loot bags they allowed it, in other venues they are quite strict that you avail from them the party amenities.

PUPPET SHOW: c/o Jhoanne Paris Henson-Alon
RATE: 10

The puppet show was a sure hit to everyone!

I guess it’s been a long time since the guests had seen a puppet show that’s why they loved it.

It was Jhoanne who suggested we do the puppet show instead of the magician since there is a red riding hood show. I chose 3 shows, alphabet, red riding hood and Christmas wish.

HOST: c/o Jhoanne Paris Henson-Alon
RATE: 8

Sorry but I forgot the name of the host. Well, her diction was good and she was able to deliver the games I wanted but I don’t know if it was the sound system of Don Henricos or something else, she lacks the energy that I was expecting from a host.

COSTUME: Mama Cora
RATE: 10

I got the style from the Internet, I just printed it and given it to my Tita and she was able to copy it exactly the way I wanted it.

LOOTBAGS AND CONTENTS: Bought everything from DIVI

I bought some translucent bags in colors red and green with gold designs from Divi and then bought candies, yoyos, pencils, erasers, and crayons and assembled it all.

The coloring books I got the idea from fellow n@wie Vima it is from her I got the inspiration to prepare for Anne’s party I got the coloring book idea from her. I got the pages from the Internet then printed one clear copy and then had it photocopied and then got a long reach staple, I bought some red colored board and then printed red riding hood stickers and placed it in front of the coloring books. I hope the kids enjoyed coloring it.

PHOTOS: Rio Rico Rojas (0917-8307902)
RATE: 10

I’ve known Rico as a student. In their photo class, he is one of the few who works really hard inside the dark room to process his photos and that class is where he got hooked into photography (I guess.)

Taking photos for Anne’s party is a gift from Rico (it’s pay back time, remember when I used to wait up for you guys to finish in the darkroom so I can go home. He he)

I was satisfied with Rico’s photos. He took photos of the guests and our families pictures as well.

CHOCO FOUNTAIN: HUEY YING RESTAURANT c/o Kleng

No rating for this, it’s priceless since my friend loaned me their choco fountain, bought the chocolates from the Chocolate Factory then Kleng asked their staff to prepare it then I asked my good friend Shane to pick it up from Macapagal. I bought bread sticks and marshmallows from the grocery then assembled it at the venue.

The choco fountain is for rent by the way.

It was tiring but it was sure fun! And if you’ll ask me if I will do it over again, sure I will, but let me pray first that I will have the budget so I can do it over again and the energy.

I am really thankful for having Jhoanne she was a great help. She was hands-on with the party and her creativity really is the reason why Anne’s party was unique and we really got a lot of compliments for the balloons and the puppet show. Thankful also for the n@w community, all the sisters there are helpful in sharing their ideas. If not for them I wouldn’t be able to come up with a nice party.

Hey sis Jhoanne! Hope you never get tired with what you do. You surely are an inspiration! Thanks so much!

More photos can be seen here.

Back track to the year that was…

2008-02-13T13:56:00.020+08:00

Let me make up for the year that I haven’t been posting.

Let me give you and overview of what our little family have been up to for the past year, 2007. Let me begin, December 2006 when the source of all the “busy-ness” arrived in our lives.

December 10, 2006

Gave birth via c-section after 12 hours in labor at Chinese General Hospital. Baby Girl Lao arrived in this world, 6.15 lbs.

December 12, 2006

This is the first time I was able to see our baby girl, she was brought to my room from the nursery because we were discharged that day. We went home and ate Pancit Malabon and puto to celebrate!

December 13, 2006

First day at home, among the first ones who came to see Anne was Ate Marlene and Therese. This is also the day I first gave Anne a bath.

December 20, 2006

Happy birthday brand new mom!

The day I turned 30 years old. Anne is 10 days old. Being a mom is foreign to me but I am starting to get the hang of it, my only problem is her world is up side down my baby is awake all night and sleeps all day! So during these days when I felt like a zombie! Because I was up all night. Its like when i see the sky turning black, fear eats me. And in my mind I’m saying “eto na naman kami…” (Here we go again)

My birthday was no different. I was up until 5am or 6am. Dzune left early to attend Letran’s annual Christmas party I was asleep practically all morning. When Dzune arrived in the afternoon, we cooked spaghetti. My family came, as well as Nino Boy and Therese.

December 25, 2006

Since Anne is only a few days old, we decided to stay at Tondo to celebrate Christmas with my in-laws, Anne was so small then. A simple dinner was prepared by Nanay and we all ate together at midnight.

December 31, 2006

Again New Year was with Lolo Rene and Lola Babes at Tondo. Not much activity for us since Anne was so small we stayed inside the guest room all the time with the air conditioning to avoid hearing the fireworks and the snow. Therese and Dave was also with us.

January

A brand new year!

On the 10th Anne turned a month old, which we celebrated with Pancit and chicken, prepared by Lola Babes. There was also cake brought by Mama Doyet.

On the 14th Tatay and Ninong Davy that Anne must be christened! So when Dzune arrived home on the 12th, which is a Friday, I was informed that Anne will be christened on Sunday at the Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary-Binondo Chinese Parish and we also have a reservation at Presidents Restaurant in Binondo for the reception.

So they snatched me the chance of preparing invitations, souvenirs. By the next day I was busy sending SMS to the ninangs and ninongs and our other friends. Good thing most of the Ninangs and Ninongs confirmed their attendance some of my friends have prior commitments like Ninang Miel but thankfully they cancelled their prior appointments to attend the christening.

January 14, 2007

Anne’s dress was borrowed from Ate Therese. Souvenirs were angel figurines from Divi, no tags. Ninong Davy, Ninong Gerard and Mama Doyet using their trusted digital cameras took photos. Only a handful came, mostly relatives and closest friends, Ninong Richard arrived all the way from Dipolog!

We only reserved 3 tables at the Presidents and it was just enough. The menu was chosen none other than Ninong Davy and guests was saying that the food was great.

It was around this time that Anne started having a normal sleeping pattern. She was sleeping at night waking up every three hours for her milk.

By the way, I don’t know if I am abnormal but my milk never really flowed and I never had a chance to breastfeed Anne, and up to now I still look at this as my failure.

February

Around February I was alone taking care of Anne, Dzune went back to the office. On Valentines, I dressed up Anne in a pretty yellow dress and visited Lolo Babes and Lolo Rene, my Mom arrived in the afternoon and though we don’t have any flowers for them, Anne was enough gift for them. We only stayed home that day and enjoyed dinner I think, I prepared.

On the 19th of February, I reported back to work, and here I realized, I understand most of my friends who kept saying they miss their children when they go to work. I thought it was exaggeration, but when I became a Mom, well, I realized how true it is. I miss Baby Anne so much I almost fly home as soon as it’s 5pm.

February 25, 2007

This is the first time we took Anne out. We went to Malate Catholic Church to attend the christening of Cheska, she is the daughter of our good friend, Grace and Jensen. Reception was held at Huey Ying, Ninang Kleng’s resto at Macapagal Seaside. Then for the first time, we took Anne to a place, which I have known as home, we went home to Taguig so we can fetch Lola Rose.

March 10, 2007

Anne turned 3 months today and today, she also turned on her tummy all by herself! Today we also celebrate Papa Jay’s birthday. Pamamanhikan was also scheduled on this day, so in the afternoon, the family fetched us and we went to Mama Chacha’s house at San Andres and then to dinner at Huey Ying Restaurant. Papa Jay’s wedding is scheduled October 10 of the same year.

April, May passed on without so much happenings, Anne continued to thrive as she grows.

A new building was constructed at the back of our apartment blocking the source of ventilation and since it was summer, it was really hot. My mom kept complaining so the air-condition was turned on almost the entire day.

On June we finally came to a decision that we need to stop renting, we figured that the money we spend on renting we could spend on somewhere else. Like for Anne’s formula and diapers so on the same month we gave notice to our landlady that we are moving out by the end of the month. It was also on the same month that Anne's two front teeth came out.

Moving was painful. I felt sentimental, it is our home, it is the first place where Anne came home to and she will never remember it.

July, we moved out and stayed with my Mom in Taguig. Thanks to some generous persons, the construction of our house was started. It is also on the same month that we celebrated Tatay's birthday and this is the first time Anne celebrated it with her Tatay since the previous year she was still inside Nanay's tummy.

We celebrated it at the house in Balut.

On August, we celebrated Dave (Anne's cousin, they were born four months apart) first birthday. On the very same day the latest addition to the Lao Clan was born, Aurora Kimly or Rory daughter of Albert and Karie.

Our family has been so much blessed with babies on this year, on September Marie was born, she is the youngest sibling of Therese and Dave. Too bad that Yayen miscarried, her baby was supposed to be born on October.

For some months Dzune and I and Anne was living apart. Anne and I were staying at Taguig with Lola Rose and Dzune was staying with in laws at their house in Balut. Around the end of September, our house was almost livable, Our target completion was originally October in time for Jay and Cha’s wedding, we were saying that as soon they started living with us we must be comfortably staying at our house. But due to some concerns, we were really not able to meet this deadline.

October 10, 2007

Jay and Cha’s wedding. Theirs is a Christian wedding, Anne is so little to play a role of a flower girl but this never stopped her from changing her outfit three times, her dresses was tailor made by my Tita who made the bridesmaids dresses during our wedding (Mama Cora).

Wedding was at a church in UN Avenue and reception was at Teatrillo in Intramuros.

Otober 12 to 16, 2007

It’s our first family outing!

We decided to join Jay and Chacha in their honeymoon. Destination: Puerto Princesa Palawan. Because Jensen’s family was also there! We flew via Cebu Pacific. We availed of their Piso-Fare promo then we stayed at Niko’s Cabanas , which my brothers and sister enjoyed immensely because of the swimming pool.

The place was really nice and conveniently located near Jensen and Grace’s home. Jensen’s family was so accommodating and they took us almost everywhere, we skipped the Underground River Tour because we had two babies (Cheska and Anne) with us. What we love most was the Island Hopping tour and the dinner we had at Ka Lui. Food was great! And if given the chance we would tour Palawan again.

When we came back, now we must get to business.

Anne’s birthday was in a few months and it was my major project.

Thanks to n@w which was a big help during my preparation for Anne’s first birthday party celebration. I met Jhoanne Paris and thanks to her and her brilliant ideas that I was able to prepare a nice party for Anne!

October 31, 2007

Anne goes to her first Halloween activity, Trick or Treat!

But the Glorietta blast was still fresh during these times so the remedy, we brought Anne to go trick or treating at Toyota Pasong Tamo with Mama Doyet.

Mama Doyet, of course bought her costume, the angel in her red devil costume. My mom and Mama Doyet were of course excited since its Anne’s first time to go to a Halloween activity.

And much to our surprise, Anne was called third place during the awarding for the Best in Costume. Lucky Baby!

December 10, 2007

Anne turns 1!

On the day of her birthday was a Monday, we were at the house in Balut, in the afternoon we attended Mass at San Rafael’s Parish. There was pancit and cake for Anne courtesy of Tita Rebie at home. The later that night we were fetch by Papa jeff and Lola Rose.

We celebrated Anne’s birthday at Don Henricos in front of Robinsons Place in Ermita. Her birthday celebration will be a different entry.

The Weekend

2008-02-11T09:27:00.005+08:00

Towards the end of the week I had this splitting headache and on Thursday morning I was down, so it was a no work day for me, Baby Anne maybe thought that I am in for the day to take care of her, so there I was lying on the floor trying to get some sleep, because I was thinking that if I sleep this headache off, it’ll be gone but to no avail, Anne keep getting my hand, I assume she wants me to feed her because she was trying to put her mouth in my hand, my poor baby, Nanay was at home for the day but cannot take care of her. Oh well, it took a massage from our neighborhood “manghihilot” to take off the headache and by the afternoon the headache was quite gone and I was able to get some chores done.

It was a busy weekend.

….busy learning new things.

I attended a beginner’s course on Adobe After Effects CS3 at PCCI (Philippine Center for Creative Imaging). So there I was learning to do effects for video with the pro, no other than Robert Quilao himself as the instructor. It was interesting seeing how those effects are made using this software. I know I will be needing time to learn this new software, so I need to use it and I have some ideas in mind, as a beginners it still boggles my mind on how will I do things and I hope and pray that sometime this week I will be able to come up with even a simple “reel” which I myself did.

Oh by the way, what interests me most is that Robert together with some guys are coming up with an all digital animation film titled “Dayo” and whew the stuff is quite something! And I am looking forward to seeing it in theaters come December of this year so I can say “the guy who directed that taught me my basic know how on after effects!” ha ha!

Check out their site: dayo movie

The Return of the Come Back!

2008-02-05T07:50:00.000+08:00

Getting back on the track of blogging will be quite a feat. I have to re-learn the ropes of blogging (again) and of course there’s also the html codes and all. I haven’t been bloggin’ for quite some time (ok, I don’t have even a single entry for 2007)

You see my life for the past year has been quite rewarding, specifically, my life as a mother is pretty rewarding, thanks to my lovely lil' girl specially now that she has started to talk and can now call me “Nana” (Nanay- Mother) though she learned to say “Tata” (Tatay-Father) first.

When and How did you know...

2008-02-01T11:23:00.000+08:00

... that you want to spend the rest of your life with your spouse? That he/she is THE ONE?

As Mec said, she is pre-empting the mushiness of Valentines. Oh well, I guess this is the start of my Return of the come-back to blogging…

Interesting…How did you know nga ba….

The answer is I don’t know! Ha Ha…

You know, you just feel that feeling that you feel when you feel that you feel inside….

I just know….

Maybe when the right person comes along that’s it, you just know, our love story is quite simple, we’ve known each other for some time. We went out, on our way home kami na…we have doubts alright, it all happened so fast anyway, “pag mabilis dumating, mabilis din daw mawala” but our love proved that wrong, we dated for 7 years, during those times, our relationship was smooth sailing, we got married November 23, 2005 and we are still very much married now, with one beautiful daughter, J’Anne who is the light of our life.

Do you believe in magic?

It’s magic, LOVE doesn’t need an explanation, you just know and then you believe that the best is yet to come.

Wish

2006-10-02T15:38:00.000+08:00

Do you believe in angels? In miracles? In wishes coming true?

I don’t know how to explain what happened. I was frightened for the past days, because of the heavy winds during the typhoon “ Milenyo” and I wasn’t so happy about the almost two days of darkness…

Last week was the fiesta in our place, part of the celebration is a novena mass which began September 15, my husband has been telling me that I should attend and complete that 9 day mass, and maybe since I go home ahead of him everyday and since I don’t have company at home, I found that it will be better if I attend the mass while waiting for him, though it means later dinner, the mass sometimes finishes around past 8pm sometimes as late as 9pm. My husband doesn’t seem to mind and I am just grateful. I was telling myself when I started attending, “will I be able to finish this novena” since the weather is so unpredictable and I know that there will times when I know that I will be never able to make it on time. And so, day 1, I was lucky enough to be able to make it on time, the priest celebrant is someone that I know and a relative of my father-in-law and he was so “Ganado” in his homily that I find myself enjoying hearing the mass. And I was learning a lot about the San Rafael, who by the way is the parish’s patron. Day 2, and day 3 was ok, no excuses for me because these 2 days fell on a Saturday and Sunday respectively so I was able to attend mass with no hassles. Day 4 was also ok, since I didn’t go to work, so no excuses for me not to hear the mass. On day 5 however, just as when I was leaving the office, a heavy downpour of rain delayed me. I was telling myself, this is it, I will miss the mass. I arrived around 7pm and since our apartment is just a few steps away from the church, I can hear that the mass was just about to start, which prompted me to hurry and I was surprised to find out that the priest celebrant was also late because of the heavy downpour of rain. I was thankful, I was happy, and I was enjoying that I learn something new on each day, no more hassles for day 6,7, 8 and on the last day of the novena, which was a Saturday, again I walked into the church with light steps, and there was the priest, introduced as Msgr. Pascal. I was greatly moved by this man’s homily, he shared his several “experiences” and I was touched. And then he started sharing about his life, his parents, he was saying he’s an only child and how much he loves his parents, he was sharing about families, and this time, I was moved to tears, remembering my Papa who passed away almost two years ago, Msgr. Pascal was saying how much we should treasure our parents, how much we should always tell them that we love them and how we should always hug them, kiss them, while they are still here with us, I learned all this the hard way.

Papa passed away on a sudden death. He was sick, yes, but not that sick. One morning I woke up my Father is gone. I will never be able to hug him or kiss him, or tell him that I love him so much. And it is something I regret. My father is not an expressive person, he is quiet, and he seldom speaks, but after we loss him, I realized, it is not about him, it was about me, I should have hug him more, or held his hand more when he was here. Even on his death bed, being the eldest in the family and having to be strong for my siblings and my Mom, I remember I didn’t even hugged my father before his body was removed from us. And during that 9th day of the mass, while Msgr. Pascal was saying “Ngayon, during the greeting of peace, I want to see those children who are present here today with their parents, to kiss their Tatay’s and Nanay’s” and with tears in my eyes I was silently saying, I don’t know maybe even, praying, or wishing “If only my Papa is here I would hug him one last time”

I was happy to be able to complete the novena mass, my prayers is simple, good health for our family. Being able to hug my papa, it escaped my mind until…

Since I got pregnant, I became a light sleeper, waking up several times at night and in the wee hours of the morning because I need to go to the bathroom. Because of the typhoon electricity only resumed for us Saturday at 12am. And for the entire day, I was making up to the household chores which I missed because of the electricity making Saturday a busy day for me, so that night I find myself sleeping earlier than usual. Sleep….a dreamless sleep…and then, I woke up. Seeing my husband wasn’t beside me, I immediately went down looking for him and going to bathroom as well. I don’t know if this is part of my pregnancy, I was complaining to my husband how he always leave me alone while I am sleeping, and he was explaining/saying that he is cold that’s why he needs to leave me instead of turning the fan off.

And suddenly, I was in tears. Wracking sobs.

My husband thought that the reason for the tears was because he left me, and I thought so too…Until I remember…. I had a dream, actually, I suddenly realized, it wasn’t a dream at all, I saw my father, si Papa. And suddenly the words escaped my lips. “Dinalaw ako ni Papa. Niyakap nya ako. Hinawakan nya ang tyan ko at nakangiti siya, ngiting-ngiti, tulad ng ngiti nya dun sa isang picture nya sa kwarto nila ng Mommy ko, pagkatapos niyakap din nya si Dzune, ang asawa ko. Masayang masaya siya” And then my husband is asking me “ano suot ni Papa” and a smile escaped my lips, because the funny thing was my Papa wasn’t wearing a shirt on, which is something that he usually does when he was still alive, often, you will see him without his shirt on, and that’s when I knew…I remembered, I realized, I might have been praying for this….and I remember San Rafael…..

Do you believe in miracles? In wishes coming true? In angels.

My song

2006-06-28T08:58:00.000+08:00

"I remember so well
The day that you came into my life
You asked for my name
You had the most beautiful smile

My life started to change
I'd wake up each day feeling alright
With you right by my side
Makes me feel things will work out just fine

How did you know
I needed someone like you in my life
That there's an empty space in my heart
You came at the right time in my life

I'll never forget
How you brought the sun to shine in my life
And took all the worries and fears that I had
I guess what I'm really trying to say
It's not everyday that someone like you comes my way
No words can express how much I love you"

First hurt...

2006-06-15T14:30:00.000+08:00

It hurts to lose someone dear to you...lalo na napaka-untimely.

In the six months my husband and I have been together, this is our first hurt, because we lost someone dear to us. Now, we only have happy memories, and most of all each other. I am glad I am beside you My Love when all this happened, I wish I could take away all the pain. Dad is a dear friend. He will always be remembered.

He was too young... We often imagine that someday we'll be old but still be together, having a cup of coffee. It happened too fast. We we're together last Sunday, having coffee, having dinner. If we'd only knew it was the last...

Goodbye Dad! You'll always be our dearest friend...our dearest dad...

The Gwapitos

My two pink stripes

2006-05-12T13:20:00.000+08:00

Got a new ticker today! A countdown to the arrival of our first child. We came to know of our pregnancy last Easter. My expected date of delivery is December 9 of this year which is only a few days after my Mom's birthday and a few weeks before my birthday. My mom and the entire family just can't wait... We will be having our second visit with my OB next week, I have taking vitamins and taking it all easy, I hope to continue having an easy time with my pregnancy, so far, no nausea, no throwing-up, all I ever do is sleep and eat, it's like I am a bottomless pit. I know I should start to control my eating habits soon, maybe after the first trimester which is the critical stage of pregnancy, I just want our baby to be healthy, I am really praying hard for this.

Final Judgment Part2

2006-05-03T16:50:00.000+08:00

This is the continuation of our suppliers rating. I didn't know na the 2nd part wasn't posted

DzuneJenn’s Suppliers rating
Married on a bright and fresh new day of November 23, 2005
At Our Lady of Remedies Parish (Malate Catholic Church)

Legend:

10 highest, 1 lowest
+++++++ - Exceeded expectations
***** - Supplier got from w@w

Waiters - 10+++++++

Waiters and generally all the staff during the reception was really helpful and maasikaso, when we arrived at Villa while waiting for us to be called for the grand entrance, they immediately served us ice tea, without us asking them to, di ba nakakatuwa yun na alam nila we were at the ceremony for an hour and siguro naisip talaga nila that no one offered us a drink.

Tapos while we were having dinner lahat even the pritchon they served us and they even remembered to ask us before nila binalot ang left over food kung sa ilang family i-didivide and then when we told them na divide it into two and sinabi namin kanino ibibigay pati yung cake was divided into two and then I had special instructions that there are certain tables to be served softdrinks, lahat nabigyan din and I also requested for the guests served cake with their coffee and nasunod naman because I asked our guests and natikman naman daw nila ang cake.

Then during the cake,wine, dove ceremony they are the one who guides us where to stand and what to do and they are all really presentable yung head waiter pa nga nila me hitsura and me personality, for the dove ceremony, I was thinking ayoko na ito gawin dahil I don’t want to hold the dove but without asking them to, binalutan nila ng napkin yung dove so I can hold it, oh and my tip for the future Villa Immaculada brides, na nakalimutan ko nga because my AE wasn’t cooperative enough and she is nowhere to be found, if you are planning to have the dove ceremony don’t do it inside Villa Immaculada because they don’t allow you to really release the dove because of the ceiling drapes, it might be ruined di ba. I guess the best time to release it is after the ceremony na lang upon your recessional at the church. That way you can really release the doves and outdoor pa and they are free to fly talaga.

Oh and lastly, talaga maasilkaso mga waiters’ ng Tamayo’s catering after the reception before we had our pictorials and I was sitting at one of the tables and waiting for Chito to finish setting up his studio lights for our pictorial the headwaiter came and served us with water, nakakatuwa naman talaga.

AE (Pla) – 1

Hay eto naiinis ako dito, actually I don’t know if I can blame my AE Pla, initially she isn’t the AE assigned to me, it was Ms. Jinky Martinez talaga but 2 months before our wedding Jinky resigned and my account was transferred to Ms. Pla. She called me up informing me na siya na nga ang AE ko, and she never even asked if I would like to meet her ako pa nag-initiate nun and when I met her once, akala ko dito din siya nag-o-office sa malapit sa amin pero hindi pala, sabi nya paiba-iba daw siya ng office sabi ko pano yan eh I prefer yung malapit sa akin kasi nga gusto ko mapupuntahan ko anytime maisip ko na meron ako kailangan its one of the reason why I chose Tamayos kasi lalabas ka lang ng backgate ng Letran andun na ang office, sabi ni Ms. Pla I just give her my number so we can communicate easily pero each time I text her naku antagal sumagot and minsan mapipilitan akong tawagan siya sasabihin nya wala siyang load. Then ako pa ang nakaisip na mag-paschedule na ng food tasting, talagang ramdam na ramdam ko na hindi ako inaasikaso ewan ko lang baka dahil nga hindi ako under talaga nya pero di ba I should be treated same as her other handled accounts because I deserve it. Medyo bumait lang sa akin itong tao na to kasi nalaman nya that my Tita is a close friend of Mr. Tamayo. Pero isa pang palpak nitong si Ms. Pla, is Mr. Tamayo offered us a huge discount on the upgrade of the setup of Villa Immaculada which I declined, so I texted Pla, na wag na nya i-upgrade, etc., she didn’t acknowledge my text nor did she call me up to acknowledge it, siguro come our wedding day and upgraded ang flowers sisisihin ko talaga siya. And on our wedding day itself, nakalimutan ang garter sa Tita ko na modista so alam ko meron sa kanila nun so I texted Pla, wala man lang reply binigay ko pa hotel number pero walang tawag so last minute I asked my sister to just buy it, pagdating namin sa Villa here comes Pla me dalang garter, so sabi ko meron na. That was the last time I saw her, ni hindi ko siya nakita during the reception or after.

14. CAKE – Judy Uson (CakeArtist)
Included in Tamayos Catering Package

RATING: Appearance – 10
Taste - 7

The cake was nice, color white fondant with yellow green and aquablue flowers. Masarap din naman not too sweet and not bland, pero hindi ko masasabi na ang sarap yung tipong mouth watering pag naaalala mo I chose carrot flavor, kaya lang I don’t know if it is because it is included in the package kaya parang napakaliit nung cake na nasa loob and angkapal ng fondant tapos malaki yung styro na pinapatungan ng cake, mas malaki pa sa cake. And ewan ko ba siguro this is my AE’s fault bakit hindi nila maintindihan na iba ang yellow green sa yellow at green kasi sabi ko white fondant with yellow green and aquamarine blue flowers pero nung andun na sa reception yung cake ko merong yellow flowers. If you have the budget to spare siguro order na lang kayo ng ibang cake tutal wala naman corkage pero kung di naman priority maganda naman and ok naman ang lasa nung cake na kasama sa package nila.

15. BRIDAL CAR– Mercedez Benz 240E(?)
Included in Tamayos Catering Package

I cannot exactly remember what model, originally I chose the Nissan Cefiro for our bridal car because I was thinking it’s a newer model compared to a benz pero last minute sabi ni Pla and sabi din ng ibang friends mas classic daw ang benz so yung nagbago ako.

Maaga dumating sa hotel ang bridal car though sabi ko kay Pla 315pm ang pick-up time eh maaga pa din dumating and meron na nga setup na flowers, ang hindi ko alam kasama pala sa time limit na 3 hours ba yung use ng kotse yun pag aga dating sa hotel so at 230 counting na yung 3 hours ko kaya paghatid sa amin sa Villa Immaculada sinisingil na ako ng additional 500. I don’t want to argue so I just asked my husband to pay.

Roomy naman kahit paano yung Benz and hindi naman ako nainitan pero hindi din ganun kalakas yung aircon and I say that its roomy because I didn’t have a hard time sa pagsakay at pagbaba, with the bulky train that I have.

16. WEDDING RINGS – Talag’s Goldsmith
Contact Person: Sammy Talag
Office Address: Gagalangin Tondo
Tel. No’s.: 253-8227
Peso Power: Php 13,500 14k two tone (white gold and gold) wedding band with 5pcs. Precious stone each
RATING: 10+++++++

Maganda and makapal ang wedding rings namin mabigat and pulido pagkagawa, Mr. Talag has been making jewelries for years ito talaga ang hanapbuhay nya and when you visit his shop makikita mo na mga gamit nya sinauna and sa tingin ko sa tagal nya na ginagwa eh he really gives his best into it. Madami nagpapagawa ng wedding rings sa kanya and mabilis siya magtrabaho, we went there September 13 I think and on September 26 gawa na yung rings namin and nakita na namin siya but we had decided to palagyan ng bato yung sing-sing namin and at first iniisip ni Mr. Talag na baka masira yung engraving pero nagawan naman nya ng paraan. Kasama na din pala sa service nya ang engraving.

the (missing????) rings...
Originally uploaded by jennifermorente.

And pinakita namin yung rings namin sa ibang kaibigan na marunong tumingin ng alahas, yung white gold sa rings namin white gold talaga kasi sa iba ka pagawa after a while the white turns back into gold kasi nga tinubog lang siya. So masayang-masaya ako sa rings namin and katerno pa siya ng engagement ring ko. With regards the amount we paid medyo mura na siya pero I am not really sure kapag si Mr. Talag ang magpo-provide ng lahat ng gold, kasi in our case some of the gold was given to us by my mother in law.If you are familiar with the Gagalangin area maganda pagawa sa kanya, makalampas lang siya ng St. Joseph’ s almost infront of Nanay’s Pancit Malabon yata yun.

17. PROGRAM EMCEE FOR RECEPTION – ***** Mallory Cosio
Contact Person: Mallory Cosio
Office Address: #30-C Saint Joseph St. Paradise Village, Q.C.
Tel. No’s.: 453-0327
Mobile No.: 0928-7763425
E-mail: ms_mallory@yahoo.com
Peso Power: Php 3,500

RATING: 10+++++++

This is one decision I made na hindi ko pinagsisihan, to book Mallory as reception emcee. All praises for Mallory ang mga guests and my friends who are to get married was all asking for her number because they wanted to book her too for their wedding.

Our relatives from the US was all saying “ang galing ng DJ nyo!” clear voice energetic and she really draws the crowd to participate in the games and all. I never really got to talk again with her after the initial meeting we had when I paid the reservation fee, she emailed me the games and yung programme itself and all instructions to provide names, have this and that ready like she was asking for profiles of the PS pero hindi ko nabigay so she just make do with our misalette and then before the program started sabi ko, Mallory I wanted to do the bouquet carousel for the games but I the throw away bouequet didn’t have ribbons attached to it, sabi nya, “Ok ako bahala” and all throughout the program, no dull moments! Last minute Dzune and I decided na for our couples dance isasayaw namin all our Ninongs and Ninangs and some of our Ninongs left the table, Mallory went around and asked Dzune’s cousins, my brothers, to dance with me until maisayaw ni Dzune lahat ng Ninangs and kami na ulit ang sasayaw. Highly recommended si Mallory!

18. MUSICIAN FOR CHURCH & RECEPTION – Velvet Mood
Contact Person: Edwin Silangcruz
Tel. No’s.: 287-4563
Mobile No.: 0927-2607518 / 0917-9201620
E-mail: velvetmusicale@yahoo.com
Website: www.velvetmood.com
Peso Power: Gift from my broher in law, he got special rate kasi kasamahan

RATING: 10+++++++

Bait ito si Edwin, sobra. When I inquired about their services, he was at a hospital recuperating from a motorcycle accident pero he is so nice to entertain pa din my inquiries, when he was discharged tinext nya ako agad sabi nya pwede ko na siya tawagan sa office and nung nakausap ko sya sabi nya gusto nya daw ako matulungan.

On our wedding day, lahat ng guest sinasabi na ang galing nila Edwin! Until a few weeks after our wedding, hindi pa din nila malimutan ang Velvet Mood. The night before our wedding I simply texted Edwin na siya na bahala sa lahat and hindi naman ako binigo. Highly recommended and some of my friends who got married got them na and sabi nila binigyan naman sila ni Edwin ng good deal.

19. Pritson – *****Charlie’s Pritson
Contact Person: LJ
Tel. No’s.: 426-5501 / 921-0405 / 921-0415
Peso Power: Php 4,000 plus Php 200 delivery charge

RATING: 10

Got this supplier from Benz (Thank you Benz!!!) I think, she got them for her in-laws golden wedding celebration yata yun.

My rating here is based on our guests comments na masarap daw yung pritson. I really don’t know why but I hardly ate during the reception. My friends said that the pritson was so much better than the ordinary lechon because hindi daw nakakaumay ang pritson dahil it is wrapped like sa soft taco. Maganda din ang presentation nya ( I remembered being served…) tapos nakita ko when I arrived sa Villa chopped na siya and mukha naman talaga na sinulit to be able toserve everyone kasi buto-buto na lang nasa table eh.

Madali magreserve at first I was worried that they might not come to deliver kasi wala naman akong downpayment/reservation man lang. I called and talked with a certain LJ (certain kasi I never got to meet her he he) she asked when function, where, asked if I wanted the pritson to be served as appetizer or as main course. Then she told me that it would be delivered on the day of the function mga 30 mins before daw kasi bago daw yun and someone will be there to chop/prepare it, sabi ko pa nga waiters in Tamayos can take care of it pero she kindly told me na mas ok kung sila kasi meron mga sauces and iba nga ang presentation siguro pag sila kasi sila ang mas nakakaalam. I asked my friend to pay them after the function, wala naman problem they even gave me a receipt.

20. BEAUTY REGIMEN
a. Teeth Whitening and other dental needs – Dra. Joyce Manalo-Cañon
Contact Person: Dr. Don or Dra. Joyce Cañon
Address: Puso ng Maynila Arcade
United Nations Avenue Manila
(landmark: it’s the same building kung saan andun ang Banco de Oro sa kahabaan ng U.N. Avenue)
Tel. No’s.: 523-0224
Mobile No.: 0917-4908768
Peso Power: special rate because she’s my friend!

RATING: 10+++++++

Hindi naman maitim ang ngipin ko, he he pero sabi ni Joyce maganda daw sa picture pag nagpawhitening so I tried it, she gave me a kit for the whitening and applied it for s week or two until the kit ran out. Kailangan matiyaga ka lang, minimum of two hours a day, at first medyo mangingilo ngipin mo pero mawawala din pagtagal. And buti na lang nagpawhitening din ako kasi confident ako sa smile ko come my wedding day!

Highly recommended, visit their clinic, mabait ang husband and wife team na ito. Joyce also does ortho works (yun nga bay un?) , yung mga braces, retainers etc.

b. Peeling – Dra. Olivia Ocson
Address: Marikina, PM me for the exact address in case you are interested. Basta malapit ito sa St. Clara Church kasi I remember we offered eggs before going in her clinic. So its like hitting 2 birds with 1 stone, nakapagpaderma ka na and naka-offer ka pa ng prayers kay Sta. Clara.

Peso Power: Php 3,760

RATING: 10+++++++

My friend recommended Dra. Ocson, sabi nya yung mga ibang celebrities’ daw who models for Belo and etc. dito din nagpapaderma kaya naengganyo naman ako. Medyo mahirap siya puntahan kung wala kang sasakyan because the clinic is inside a Village kasi yun din ang house ni Dr. Ocson.

They cleaned my face, meron din pala akong warts na akala ko wala lang and she removed that hindi na naman bumalik sabi nila sa iba daw kasi bumabalik and sabi ni Dra. Ocson madami daw bride to be siyang nagiging clients na nirerecommend sa kanya ng mga gumagawa ng gowns nila. Maganda yung cleaning, ramdam mo talaga na linis ng face mo, then she applied the peeling cream and the next day my face was red and peeling talaga tapos after that lahat nakakapansin na mamula-mula ang face ko, parang meron kang blush. Maganda din gamitin yung peach soap nya. Sayang nga lang hindi na ulit ako nakabalik pero I recommend her sa mga naghahanap ng derma and sana kayo bumalik kayo he he.

21. Hair ACCESSORIES – *****Rio Tiaras
Contact Person: Rio Escolin
Address :# 106 Small Horshoe Drive, Horse Shoe Village Q.C.
Tel. No’s.: 412-6640
Mobile No.: 0917-5302341
E-mail: resph99@yahoo.com
Peso Power: Php 1,000 for 6 pcs. Rhinestones & flowers pins

RATING: 10+++++

Happy ako from the pins I got from Reggie. Kasi even the hairstylist Ogie said ngayon lang siya nakakita ng kaibang pins sa dami ng naayusan nya. It served the purpose as my hair accessory at the same time it held my veil in place all throughout the ceremony and at the reception I removed my veil para kita yung pins.

Quite expensive but as Reggie pointed out compared to tiaras, I can wear this pins for other functions I might be attending in the future and not just store it with my other pharaphernalias. Bait pa si Ms. Reggie, she helps you choose, asks necessary questions such as ano beadworks ng gown para maibagay nya and she will ask you if you have a particular budget and she can work on that. In my case I don’t want to go back though she offers like in my case I can pick it up daw in Sari-Sari Glorietta kung magpapacustom make ako ng hair accessory.

22. AVP – Phonam Gatela
Contact Person: Phonam
E-mail: phonam@yahoo.com, phonam@gmail.com
Peso Power: free!! Pho is a good friend and classmate sa college

Long before Dzune and I planned to get married sabi ko isang magandang AVP ang gagawin ko. Pero siguro nga sa dami ng inaaasikaso and from the start of the preps sabi na ni Phonam siya gagawa ng AVP ko, simple lang pero maganda ang effects and editing ang gawa ni Pho dahil that time she was busy editing the movie Exodus and nakakulong siya sa hideout nila he he….simple as it is, it was able to capture the audience attention naman kasi most of them were our relatives and what I did dahil madami talaga pictures si Dzune lalo na is we showed them pictures of us halimbawa nung maliit kami kasama this particular tita or tito then kasunod nun yung present picture namin with the same tito/tita, ganun din with cousins, una muna nung mga bata at uhugin kami tapos yung nagbibinata/nagdadalaga and then yung most recent photo that we have with them, kasi gusto talaga naman maipakita yung tagal ng friendship, and yung role nila sa buhay namin, ganun, and yun tawanan kasi yung ibang tito’s me buhok pa nuon tapos kalbo pa, yung mga ibang kaibigan payat pa nuon tapos laki-laki na ngayon, ganun.

23. GUESTSHEETS – Gigi Gallano
Contact Person: Ghie
E-mail: gigigallano@yahoo.com
Peso Power: free!! Ghie is a good friend and classmate sa college

Si Gigi my saviour! Originally I want a calendar for our giveaways kasi I want it to be useful and even if it will only last for a year at least it will serve its purpose, but due to unexpected situations prior to wedding day hindi ko na nagawa mag-layout and my friend offered to layout the guestsheets for me, sabi ko kahit man lang guest sheets kasi pinaalis ko sa package namin with Tamayos ang signature frame (it was replaced with 2 bottles of wine that was served to the Principal Sponsors table)

Simple layout patterned from our invites ang ginawa ni Ghie. compared to other guest sheets meron itong mga questions na pwede nila sagutan so they don’t just simply sign their names and meron ding mga blank ones for their messages in case feel nila sulatan kami. I got this idea from a fellow w@wie .

24. EFFECTS – Party / Confetti poppers

168 Mall in Divisoria! Ang ganda ng effect for a few hundred bucks, we bought 2 small na red ang tube nya and 1 big tube na color violet. I was thinking of having these confetti popped sa recessional namin sa church isip ko kasi the façade of Malate Church was really old, I was thinking that it would look good in the photos yung me confetti thrown over us upon our exit kasi contrast talaga yun sa façade ng Malate kasi makulay yun right? But I don’t know mas lito pa ata mga brothers and sister ko they cant find the tubes sa likod ng kotse kaya sa reception na lang. Ganda pa din ng effects, during our dance! And you know what naisip ko, if you are buying these tubes yung red ones yung yung makikintab ang laman and yung violet ang colorful ones, ang ganda ng effect kasi combination of shiny pieces of papers and colorful ones.

25. MOM’s DRESSES – Bobby Novenario
Address: SM North Edsa
2nd floor
Peso Power: Php 2,900 per dress

Bought my Mommy’s dress and my Mother in law’s off the rack kasi gusto ng Nanay ni Dzune pareho sila ng Mommy ko, and for her ang maganda lang ng fit sa kanya eh yung works ni Bobby Novenario. Pero my sister Juliet ayaw naman pumayag na pareho sila kasi ng ayaw namin that they look like twins and one more thing is that yung mga abay nga hindi magkakapareho ng style tapos sila pa. We bought it at SM North Edsa yung shop nya sa second floor, we just look for similar style ng damit, and though my Mom doesn’t want to wear a cream/ecru colored dress and gusto dapat nya eh yung color ng motif namin eh walang magawa kasi there was no dress available in our motif color that time, maganda bumili sa Bobby Novenarion kasi if you need some alterations on the dress they can do it for free. Like for my Mom, blouse and skirt kasi damit nya, ok na yung skirt pero maluwag yung blouse kasi ampayat nya they altered it kaya sure ka na hindi mawawala sa porma yung damit. Same with my mother in law, tama yung fit ng upper part ng dress nya but needs adjustment with the hip part eh ginawa din nila.

Happy naman si Mommy and si Nanay with their dresses simple yet elegant. Kay Mommy hindi naman siya nagmukhang matanda sa color. And for my Nanay bagay sa kanya ang cut and maganda nga ang fit sa kanya though medyo “me katawan” siya.

26. WEDDING RESOURCES –
a. www.weddingsatwork.com
b. WeddingsAtWork@yahoogroups.com

RATING: 10+++++++++++

Thank you to John and Benz for coming up with this website. Truly this is a bride’s haven. I am so thankful for being a part of this yahoo group of beautiful brides to be, our wedding wouldn’t be this beautiful if not for this group. Thank you so much! Words are not enough to express my thanks to you and I hope makakabawi ako sa inyo lahat in my own small way.

Fabulous DJ!

2006-03-18T09:00:00.000+08:00

It's been quite sometime since I posted here...

Been busy with married life (washing clothes, doing the dishes, ironing, the works!) ha ha. Oh well, I've been busy, with a lot of things. But this never stopped me from attending seminars and workshops...

And last Sunday March 12, I had a chance to again listen to the fabulous Dominique James talk this time on Wedding Photography. Which reminded me, I'd like to share the tips he shared and I know you will be asking why, well it's like this, about this same month last year I also heard Chito Cleofas commented on this and this is the very reason why I'm sharing this here.

So here goes...

Secrets in coming up with good photos:
1. Relax the face.
2. Chin down.
3. Eyes.
4. Hands and Fingers.

I really don't know, DJ says relax the face well what I did was simple think and get ready because I know that I was to be photographed. On putting your chin down, well some people doesn't like it this way because it results to having double chins instead but

Favorite Shots by Arnie

2006-02-03T16:34:00.002+08:00

fave shot at the car by arnie
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sore feet of flea
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nice facade of malate church
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another
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sore feet of flea
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getting ready at the church
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the beautiful members of the entourage
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this is arnie's idea of taking away the nervousness of the groom, take some pictures
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standing by the window! pose requested by arnie to add drama
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my gown with its long, square edged train
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silhouette of a bride
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final retouch by angie before i set off to church
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Mommy!
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my gown and my bouquet! i'm ready now!
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the invitation's sponsors' card
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this is it! my wedding gown!
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and the pictorial begins
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the silver sandals that i never got to wear and the garter bought last minute by my sister Juliet
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bible, ring and misalette with monogram
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inside the invitation
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arrhae, Dzune gave me these 10 peso coins from his claypot. to match our rings which is white gold and gold I decided to use the 10 peso coins.
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rings again side by side this time
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rings nested in the cloud like veil
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the front if the invites
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the (missing????) rings...

2006-01-24T17:59:00.000+08:00

129_2902
Originally uploaded by jennifermorente.

The final judgment....Part 1

2006-01-20T15:58:00.000+08:00

DzuneJenn’s Suppliers rating
Married on a bright and fresh new day of November 23, 2005
At Our Lady of Remedies Parish (Malate Catholic Church)

Legend:

10 highest, 1 lowest
+++++++ - Exceeded expectations
***** - Supplier got from w@w

1. INVITATION - ***** Printed Matter
Contact Person: Phoebe Chua
Office Address: 9 Saragoza St. Araneta Ave. QC.
Tel. No.: 715-6338 / 715-5124
E-mail: phoebe@studioinnovation.com
Website: http://www.printedmatterinvites.com/
Peso Power: Php 7,931
Inclusions: 49 pcs. main invitation non-matte, 54 pcs. Clear envelope, 27 pcs main invitation matte front, 3 main invitation matte al sidesl, 27 pcs. White envelope with flap, 15 pcs. Entourage cards non-matte, 3 pcs. ento card matte, 1 additional page in matte,50pcs. tags, Php 1000 design fee 2 pcs. for mock-up

RATING: 10

Each time a friend or acquaintance of mine gets married I am often requested to “design” (he he design-designan lang naman!) their invites. Kaya naman I vowed (vowed daw oh!) that someday when my turns come to get married hindi ako ang gagawa ng invitation ko! (ako, ako lagi na lang ako). Kaya happy ako when my friend Ben said that he will take care of the design for our invitations basta bahala lang akomaghanap ng printer to do it, and it’s a big bonus that I found out about this supplier through w@w and first saw their works at the bridal exhibit in Megamall last I think that was around June last year. I browsed through their sample invites and I particularly liked a booklet type of invite since it’s an all in one invite and can carry all information about the wedding.

Guests who received the invitation were all saying how unique and cute it was. Most of them would say that it’s their first time to receive this style of invite which make me rate it this high.

I never thought that I’d find a supplier that can do pop-up invitations. I wanted to have something “out of the box” for our invitations and I was thinking of the pop-up style which I first saw when my college friends Monching and Chinky got married, they DIY their pop-up invitations, as in cut-out, glue here and there, draw the faces and all. I was thinking I can do the same but I don’t have enough time in my hands, with 3 occasions (our wedding, Dzune’s Tita’s renewal of vows and Dzune’s Lola’s 90th birthday party) to get ready for. Good thing one w@wie (Sino nga ba yung first design na pop-up nila Phoebe, si Tin ni Archie nga ba?) posted about getting her pop-up invite made at Printed Matter. There were no photos of the said invite posted so what I did was

Ben , my college friend was the one who originally made our vector portrait but this wasn’t the one used in our invitation. Sabi kasi ni Kathy (artist ng Printed) they have different style and it might look like Frankenstein if she uses the portrait made by Ben and she also says that “masyado detailed yung portrait na gawa ni Ben ”. I understand naman, being an artist (he he parang totoo, arte-artehan lang po!) I know that minsan instead na dugtungan mo ang work ng ibang tao mas maganda pa na ulitin mo na lang lahat. Yun nga lang, I like Ben ’s work better because the caricature looks just like us while the work of Kathy, si husband ko lang ang kamukha ng caricature.

The cover of the invites I made myself, this is what I want so it would be the same monogram I used for the misallette covers. One of my friends commented that the design made the invitations look real elegant! (*blush* thank you!)

front of invites Originally uploaded by jennifermorente.

Price, I should say is affordable sa Printed and I can say that they work fast especially if you have a ready made design which you only need printed. High quality din and I like it that they have this matte lamination ok na ok to sa akin since ako mahilig magtago ng mga invitations for future reference and wala lang basta andami ko na natabi, pag may matte mas matagal at mas maganda preservation nung card.

Ano ba ang cons dito, layo ng office nila and if you don’t have a private transport mahirap magpunta. Tapos during the time I was following up to get our invites, almost wedding na din ni Phoebe so I guess “nawawala siya sa sarili”at times, there was a time when we went to get the mock-up, when I opened it, the pop-up caricature wasn’t there and since we paid for it ( 110 din yun!) I left that particular invitation with her with instructions that they finish it and I will get it together with the other invites. Buti na lang I counted the invites and found out that instead of having 76 pcs. I only have 75, and when I reminded Phoebe na ang kulang eh yung mock-up, she cant remember na iniwan ko sa kanya yun for completion and hindi na nya mahanap. Kaya what she did what refund me 60 pesos which is dapat 110 pero hindi na lang ako nagreklamo kasi ayoko na ng discussion. And then there was a time when I called their office (I usually call before I go since mahirap nga pumunta sa kanila) to ask if ready for pick-up na lahat ng invites, ayoko kasi ng balik-balik kasi nga malayo sila puntahan and Phoebe said yes, so I went there the next day and when I arrived sabi nya hindi pa tapos, mga 1hour pa kasi cutting pa lang, hay, yun I ended up getting 25pcs lang and went back for the other invites na lang. Mahal din ang envelope nila, if you have the time to do it yourself gawa na lang kayo, with me nga since I have limited time I just bought their clear envelopes and have some tags printed then I printed the names of the guests in transparent stickers then punched holes in the tags and tied it around the invitations using raffia ties I bought at Simplejoys.

2. ENTOURAGE’S GOWNS
a. MATERIALS – MTA Bridal Boutique
Address: Pasilio C4-5 Cluster Bldg., Tutuban Center
Peso Power: Php 120 per yard - Two tone satin
Php 20 per yard - Lining

SEWING – Mama Cora
Address: Masambong, San Francisco Del Monte, Q.C.

Inclusion: 5 dresses for flowergirls, 1 dress for maid of honor, 3 secondary sponsors, 5 bridesmaids, 2 dresses for junior bridesmaids, 1 dress for Tita Ninang Carol, 1 bride’s dress during preps (green) and bridal gown and train, 2 secondary veil, 1 pair of pillows

RATING: 8
Though I had a hard time coming back and forth to pick-up, follow up on the dresses, I can’t really give my Tita a failing mark because everyone in the entourage liked their dresses! I picked out the style, simple tea-length dress for the bridesmaids, secondary sponsors, without beadworks, simple styles for the flower girls. Even my husband’s cousins from the US who just emailed me their measurements doesn’t have any complain when they tried on their dress and my other cousins was saying how much they like their dress and that it looked good on them. So I guess this is just a fair enough rating. My gown is another story…

BRIDAL GOWN
MATERIALS - Maria-Haidee Textile
Address: C10 & 11 Tutuban Center Bldg. I,
C.M. Recto, Tondo Manila
Peso Power: Php 150 per yard – Gazar

SEWING – Mama Cora
Address: Masambong, San Francisco Del Monte, Q.C.

RATING: 6
I never expected this. When I got my gown November 19, 4 days before my wedding even my Mom almost have tears in her eyes “Bakit ganyan lang ginawa ni Mama mo, sobrang simple.” It was as if I am just wearing a Sunday dress only that it has a very long train. As in very minimal beadwork on the dress itself though the train has very good beadworks, the concern was with my dress! And the sides of the dress wasn’t really yun bang nakalapat ang pagkatahi, medyo bukol siguro kasi sa dami ng tinahi ni Mama naiwan na yung gown ko and nagmamadali na din (mag-isa lang naman kasi siya, wala siyang tagaburda) naiiyak talaga ako kasi in a way naiisip ko nagpabaya din siya because I bought the fabric and started giving her the money to buy whatever she needs to make the gown February pa lang.

This is another story...

BEADWORKS AND REPAIRS – Edd Sy
Contact Person: Edd Sy
Address: #122 J.P. Rizal St. corner Delos Reyes St.
Project 4, Quezon City
Tel. No’s: 913-7072 / 421-6493
Telefax: 439-0622
Mobile: 0916-9472928
Email: edd@eddsy.com, edd_sy_collection@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.eddsy.com/
Peso Power: Php 6,500 for beadworks, repairs and dry cleaning

So with 4 days to go, I cannot just sit down and cry, my mind was telling me to act, do something, so I put my gown inside the car and called Dzune to fetch me and help me find someone or something, anything, di ko talaga alam and nung day na yun was the renewal of vows of Dzune’s Tita at Sto. Domingo Church, abay din siya and I still have to find a dress to wear for that occasion (something red kasi yun ang motif and I’d like to look good because it is the first occasion ng family nila na andun sila lahat and I will be meeting them all, diba kasi month of occasions for their family ang November kaya nga dun din kami pakakasal) so Dzune and I went first to his Tita’s condo in Pioneer to check if the make-up artist is already there and if the flowers for the entourage was already delivered (ako din kasi naghanap ng suppliers for them since they are both staying the US) then seeing that everything was good we went to SM North (dahil malapit nay un pauwi sa kanila and he has to go home to dress up for the wedding) to look for a dress for me to wear to Tita Baby’s wedding. Dzune was thinking that we should go home and ask for the help of my mother in law because she might know someone who can do the additional beadworks for my gown.

Immediately upon entering the mall we saw that there was a mini-bridal fair, gowns by Edward Teng was on display (and naisip ko punta kaya ako kay Edward Teng kasi naisip ko what happened to a fellow w@wie, si Grade Dy) and sa medyo unahan/entrance ng exhibit meron din gowns on display by Edd Sy. I pointed one on display saying “ganyan dapat ang gown ko, ganyan ang gusto ko, kasya ba sa akin yan baka pwede ko mahiram, magkano kaya ang pagawa ng ganyan..” Lumapit pa ako sa display and picked up one of the flyers na nasa baba nung display. The flyer consists of the contact details as well as the package breakdown, etc. nakita ko some gowns costs 22,000 and naiiyak na ako kasi in 4 days, mag-aaditional expense pa ba ako ng 22k tsaka makakagawa pa ba sila ng kasukat ko in 4 days. So my husband told me, that we should at least eat something first so we could think, so we went to a fastfood (ayoko halos eat!) and as Dzune was ordering something for us, naisip ko, why don’t I try to text these numbers. So nagtext ako, sabi ko ang ganda ng creation on display, about how much ba yun, which Edd promptly texted back saying how much, etc. Naeengganyo ako magtext kasi text back agad siya. So I sent another message, sabi ko “What about if I already have my gown, it just need additional beadworks, gumagawa ba kayo and about how much so I’d know if it fits my budget.” I wasn’t expecting any reply pero nagtext back pa din saying “Yes, gumagawa kami ng beadworks lang, we have to see the gown to know how much to charge.” After reading that I texted back and dropped the bomb, sabi ko “ Talaga, but my wedding is on November 23, (Wednesday) kaya pa ba yun?” Grabe kaba ko while waiting for a reply, I was expecting a text message saying, no, naloloka ka na ba, etc. etc! Then came a reply: “Oh my mama! Kailangan mo na dalhin dito ASAP!!!!” Nabuhayan ako ng loob and I wanted to go immediately na sa shop nila pero since we have a wedding to attend, pumunta muna kami sa umuwi muna kami and went to Sto. Domingo.

Naku, halos di ko naiintindinhan ang ceremony. Basta I arranged the processional of the entourage, inayos ko yung mga readers and gave them the signal when its their turn tapos guide ko din secondary sponsors hanggang pictorials na and hindi na ako nagpapicture lumalabas na ako ng Sto. Domingo iniwan ko na si Dzune nagpapalitrato with the other members of the ento, hindi na ako mapalagay eh.

Papunta na kami sa office nila Edd Sy when I though of sending a message muna dahil baka wala na kami abutan. Nagtext si Edd saying until 7pm lang pala sila pag Saturday and it was already mga 630 pm. So nalungkot nanaman ako, sabi ko siguro it’s not meant to be. Pero my ever cool husband called Nagtext si Edd, di ko alam ano talaga sinabi niya, basta ang narinig ko lang, “humihingi kami ng tulong sa’yo.” And after speaking to him sabi na ni Dzune they will meet us at the Wedding Library Store sa SM North!!!

We arrived sa mall around 730, we waited until about 9pm. I thought Nagtext si Edd changed his mind and they wont be coming anymore pero a few minutes before 9 sabi nya nasa wedding library na siya! So ayun, tinignan nya yung gown, pag-open ko pa lang ng box tapos niladlad ko yung damit sabi nya, so yan na yun, gown na tawag dyan. He explained that dapat hindi bumubukol-bukol yung pagkatahi and kailangan pa daw irepair yun tapos kailangan kahit paano lagyan ng shape kasi kahit daw may katawan ako ganun daw yun, tapos lalagyan ng beadworks, tinuro nya saan parts para daw maconcentrate of one side ang design and maging bursting siya. Pati sleeves needs additional beadings and up to the back of the gown daw, totally different gown daw yun pag nagawa nya, Edd Sy creation na.Then he said I should put on the gown since they are also repairing it kasi dapat daw papagawa na din eh todo na, you know what, I haven’t gone back to thank them, isipin mo saan ako magpapalit ng damit sa loob ng Wedding Library , but the staff there ever helpful, cleared their stock room para dun ako magbihis. Gusto ko maiyak!!!! Marami pa ding mabubuting tao sa mundo. Pati pins para i-tuck yung mga rerepair hinanapan nila dun sa store. Naku talaga….so yun, sabi ni Edd for pick-up daw Tuesday (November 22) night and I shouldn’t worry kasi magagawa siya and ipapa-overtime. Hay, medyo nakahinga ako.

RATING: 10+++++

Ikakasal na kami the next day, Dzune was still on the road to pick-up my gown and bring it to Diamond Hotel. When I arrived at the hotel the gown was already hanging inside the closet and ang ganda talaga, hindi ako makapaniwala, ang daming beadworks!!! Ang kintab, ang ganda, iba na siya, mukha ng gown!! Tapos accessories were all inside an Edd Sy box, he even gave me a very long veil kasi daw wala daw gawa si Edd Sy na “chaka” and I should use a veil made by them instead. Even my Mom was surprised when she saw it.

On my wedding day, everyone was saying panalo ang gown ko, hindi daw ako galit sa beads! He he! Sa mga nagtatanong sino gumawa ng gown ko ang sagot ko Edd Sy! Very thankful ako to this person who has a golden heart na tumulong sa akin….naiiyak ako kapag naiisip ko, ang ganda ng beading ng gown ko, malinis, pulido ang pagkagawa, malinis din talaga ang gown. Hay ang ganda talaga ng damit ko, I look at it every chance I get. Highly recommended ko si Edd Sy kasi very accommodating siya, super bait talaga. I haven’t gone back there to personally this person. He really has a big heart!

my gown with its long, square edged train
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BARONG MATERIALS
i. Mega Solo – for my two brother’s Jayson and Jeffrey, cousin Albert and Uncle Ninong Bert
Address: Stall D-05 Cluster Bldg. Tutuban Center
Peso Power: Php 450 piña jusi barong material

ii. Baby’s Bridal Embroidery Shop - for my father-in-law and our Uncle Ninong Larry
Address: New Ylaya Textile Market
In front of Tambunting Pawnshop
Peso Power: Php 650 piña jusi barong material

***For my husband’s barong material I forgot the name of the store and the stall number… kasi ikot-ikot kami for the entire day. My husband can’t make up his mind not until I told him na hindi kami aalis sa Divisoria unless meron na siyang barong. To give you guys an idea we bought the piña suksok fabric for 2,000 pesos.

iii. Michelle’s Ribbon & Lace Center - Swarovski buttons
Address: LS 05 – LS 06 Tutuban Prime Block Bonifacio Drive
Tel. No.: 450-3199
Peso Power: Php 240 (6 pieces)

BARONG SEWING - Piñgol’s Mens Wear
Address: Juan Luna Street, Tondo Manila
Contact Person: Aling Fatima Piñgol
Mobile No.: 0917-3969874
Landline: 252-2907
Peso Power: Php 600 per jusi barong
Php 1000 per piña with lining
Php 800 for pants includes fabric (wool)

RATING: 10+++++

Suki sila Dzune dito sa Piñgol’s. For the past four consecutive years na sunod-sunod ngpakasal sila magkakapatid all of them had their barongs tailored made here at Piñgol’s. Maganda sila tumahi and known sila especially within the vicinity of Tondo for makers of good quality tailored barong. If you need some guidelines in taking the measurement they will teach you. Ako lang kasi not following instructions, I never told Dzune’s uncles to measure their hips eh importante pala yun para maganda daw ang bagsak ng barong kasi diba nilalagyan yun ng slit and mabilis sila gumawa, they can have it ready in 3 days, ready to wear, malinis na. Accommodating pa si Aling Fatima, she sends me message sa mobile when the barongs are ready for pick-up.

Ang ganda ng barong ng husband ko, almost everyone is asking where did we buy it, some of them asked “Magkano bili nyo sa barong ni Dzune? Sa Onesimus nyo yan binili eh.” Smile lang ako. Bahala sila mag-isip. He he ;-)

If you are familiar with the Tondo area, highly recommended ko na sa Piñgol’s na kayo patahi ng barong if you are planning to have one tailor made kasi mas maganda pa din ang bagsak kapag tailor fit ang barong instead of the ready made ones. Depende din kasi sa body built.

5. CEREMONY PHARAPERNALIAS
Cord, Secondary Veil

MATERIALS:
Maning’s Lace Corporation
433-435 Evangelista, Quiapo
Tel. No.’s: 733-4982 / 733-4985

i. Cord - Php 25 per yard (3 yards)

ii. Special Tassle – Php 150 per pair

iii. Lace – Php 35 per yard (6 yards)

RATING: DIY kaya 10+++++
I wanted a different kind of cord, something similar to the one I saw at Metro Weddings Magazine (the Claudine issue) sa wedding ni Karlo Estavillo and Macel Fernandez meron picture ng cord there, pero with pearls, eh ayaw ni mother-in-law ng anything with pearls sa wedding so naghahanap lang ako ng ready made na cord na similar to that. Andami ko na napuntahan until one afternoon I went to Maning’s Lace Shop in Quiapo, and naghahanap ako ng cord when one of the salesperson there mentioned na meron palang special tassle eh hindi ko type yung ready made nila, and I want ang cord na putting-puti buti na lang sabi nya gawa na lang ako and binigyan nya ako ng materials including the special tassle. Medyo mahirap isuksok yung cord sa loob ng tassle because of the small hole, akala ko nga masisira ko pa yun eh mahal pa naman pero I used a fine point na needle used sa knitting tapos pinuno ko ng elmer’s glue yung loob ng tassle before ko nilagay ulit yung dulo para hindi maghiwa-hiwalay. Then sa paglagay ng swarovski accent I asked my friend Me-ann to do it for me. We bought worth 500 pesos of the smallest swarovski crystals in Quiapo (3 pesos each yung ganito kaliit) then nylon cords tapos si Me-ann na naglagay. She gave it to me tapos na ang happy naman ako kasi ganda tingnan sa picture.

For the second veil, too stiff yung nabibili so what I did was buy about 2 yards of tulle na ginagamit din na veil and also about 6 yards of lace para ipalibot sa tulle then I asked my Tita to sew it around the edges of the tulle. Ganda tingnan parang cloud na naka-cover sa amin ni Dzune yung second veil.

arrhae, Dzune gave me these 10 peso coins from his claypot. to match our rings which is white gold and gold I decided to use the 10 peso coins.
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Misalette
MATERIALS
i. Cover - National Bookstore
Robinsons Place Ermita
Peso Power: Php 33 per pack of special paper color yellow green

ii. Photocopying - CJO Copytrade
5th flr. SM Manila
Peso Power: Php 126 laser copy, 28 copies of 2 pages misalette back to back printing

iii. Elastic Blue Cord – 3/F SM Makati, Ayala Center
Peso Power: Php 12.00 per meter

RATING: DIY kaya 10+++++

Almost, always whenever someone is getting married in here in Letran I am asked to make their misalette. Kaya naman now that its my turn andami ko ng template na nagawa. I did the design for the cover which is a simple monogram of our surnames which is also the same design I used for our invitation cover. Bought the special paper from National Bookstore sa Robinsons kasi magulo ang mga papel sa National sa SM Manila eh, then printed the monogram using a laser printer tapos I printed din a copy of the misalette and have one reproduced at Copytrade in SM Manila and seeing na malinaw and malinis sila magphotocopy, that’s when I reproduced several copies of our misalette na. Then I borrowed our long stapler here at the office and stapled the pages together and then tied it with the aquablue elastic cord I bought in a store in SM Makati (I forgot the name pero they sell all kinds of wraps and ribbons and different “anik-anik”).

misalette
Originally uploaded by jennifermorente.

I recommend the CJO Copytrade in SM Manila for you copying needs kasi mas malinis ang printing nila and they use a whiter brand of paper. Last December one of my friends asked me to make their misalette and I had it photocopied sa SM San Lazaro, maitim ang paper nila and mukha tuloy madumi tingnan yung misalette. Elastics cords can be bought din sa Simplejoys and Michelle’s Ribbon & Lace Center in Divi, wala lang silang available na color na gusto ko and I found the color I like in the store in SM Makati nga po.

6. HOTEL FOR PREPS - Manila Diamond Hotel
Reservations Department Tel. No.: 528-3000 extension 1102 & 1141
Website: http://www.diamondhotel.com/
Email: reservations@diamondhotel.com

Peso Power: Php 4,200 net superior room with breakfast for two
Size of Room 40 sq. m.

RATING: 10+++++

I went to several hotels din before finally making a reservation at Diamond, kasi when I inquired and was told that rate for a superior room is 4,2k naisip ko too expensive yata, pero I cannot let it go because I know that the staircase in this hotel is really grand and this is the hotel nearest to Malate Church. Pero sige para lang talaga makita I went to Manila Hotel, Pan-Pacific and buti na lang malayo pero I considered Westin din sana, I would want to check-in at the New World Renaissance din sana because my husband’s cousin often stays there and alam ko maganda rooms nila ang lobby din but Dzune wouldn’t hear of it kasi malayo na daw yun masyado.

So I called made the reservation by phone then one Sunday I went there and said I’d like to make an ocular inspection of the room. After that phone call and visit I never made any follow up until the day before we checked-in, I called (November 21) and inquired about my reservation for the next day and they said that it’s already settled and I was told that check-in time is 2pm.

Mabilis naman when I checked in isip ko nga baka sabihin wala akong reservation or anything pero nothing like that happened, I was immediately given a room (was assigned room 1123! Date of my wedding 1123 din! Andali tandaan!) When we arrived in the room, spacious siya, overlooking the bay, ganda!

Ok na ok talaga lahat ng requests ko sa housekeeping mabilis dinadala sa room, like when I requested for an extra chair, agad meron, for extra towels, I even asked them for safety pins kasi nakalimutan ko magdala ng pins para sa secondary veil meron din! Tapos sarap pa ng buffet nila!!! Yummy! At like what others said in their review hindi sila strict, nagdala kami ng maraming burger for our suppliers pero wala naman silang reklamo dun. And though hindi kami nakapagphoto ops sa grand staircase nila because dami tao dun during my wedding, Korean nationals yata yun they were having some kind of a symposium seminar ata yun vey happy pa din ako sa naging outcome ng pictures ko, lalo na yung sa may picturesque window overlooking Manila Bay, I so love that picture kahit na sino makakita nagtatanong saaan yun na hotel and yung pictures dun sa may hallway na papunta sa pool area ata sa second floor, yung me glass tapos yung sun flowing basta ganun, ang ganda! I even like our pictures sa may café, yung me yellow table tops. Ang galing! Then it’s a big plus na lapit siya sa church, in a few minutes andun na kami no traffic to worry about. What we paid for is really worth it with their service, everyone was all smiles pagpasok pa lang and you don’t need to ask for assistance, once they see you kukunin nila ang bag mo and assist you.

7. CHURCH - Our Lady of Remedies Parish
Malate Catholic Church
2000 M. H. Del Pilar Street, Malate Manila
Tel. No.: 523-2593 / 400-5876 / 400-5877
Fax Number: 524-6866
E-mail: remedies@skyinet.net
Contact Person: Ruth
Peso Power: Php 10,000 weekdays wedding with maximum 8 pairs of sponsors
Php 300 for electrical fee
Inclusions: flowers and decoration for church, priest, organist,soloist, red carpet,appropriate music, civil registration, lighting, kneelers and chairs for the couple, kneelers for Best Man and Maid of Honor upon request, candles, availability of staff and equipment.

130_3089
Originally uploaded by jennifermorente.

RATING: 10+++++

Malate church is where we often hear mass here that’s why we choose this church. Someone mentioned to me din that maganda daw talaga sa Malate dahil lahat daw nagagawaan ng paraan when you ask/pray for it in this church dahil nga, “remedies”, di nga ba ibig sabihin nun “lunas”. Maybe if we got married on the month of October or December baka sa Sto. Domingo Church kami because being a Letranite and my husband being a member of the Third Order of Preachers, I can say that we are devotees of the Our Lady of La Naval. But since we are getting married November, Malate Church was my first and only choice. Paid the reservation March we initially planned to have 6 pairs of sponsors lang but since me mga dagdag si mother-in-law we ended up having 8 pairs.

While completing the requirements for the church, nalaman ko that my husband was christened in this church which made it more meaningful that we are getting married here.

Each time we go to the parish office different persons and nag-aasikaso and some of them hindi masagot ang mga inquiries because Ms. Ruth nga daw talaga in-charge. We only met Ruth during the 2nd part of the precana. Ok nga dito sa Malate and very useful yung kanilang wedding kit, Fr. Kevin whom interviewed us is a nice person and he said after interviewing us that he is happy to see that we are both matured enough to enter in this marriage. We had some problems with my baptismal certificate which wasn’t immediately filed (adult baptism kasi ako) and at first very strict si Ruth and ayaw nya kami bigyan ng consideration pero tinawagan nya din ako para sana sabihin na ok na pero nakuha ko na din that time yung aking baptismal certificate kaya ok na. When we paid the down payment pa lang, I asked anong flower ang gagamitin sa church and sabi nila (not Ruth) baby’s breath daw kaya I was thinking sana of upgrading the flowers but never got to discuss this with Ruth when I met her kaya sabi ko hayaan na lang tutal the show will go on naman even with simple flowers.

Pero siguro natuwa sa amin ang Our Lady of Remedies. Feast day pala niya is November 19 and I wasn’t expecting it, when I woke up in the morning of our wedding, since malapit lang ako naka-check in my Mom and I went for a walk towards Malate Church and a wedding was taking place when we got there and I was surprised to see na yung altar punong-puno ng flowers and ganda! I was silently praying/saying sana wag tanggalin ang flowers na yan. And my wish was granted kasi andun pa din siya during my wedding and yung flowers na nasa aisle was calla lilies pa nga yata. Everyone who attended the ceremony was saying how beautiful the altar was because it was so filled with flowers ang ganda talaga and I was so thankful for that! Me mga buntings pa nga sa harap ng church and there were flags tapos nakakatuwa yung flags na malapit sa door kakulay pa ng motif namin (blue and yellow green) kaya I was so happy ang ganda sa pictures and hindi malilimutan ng mga guests kasi tinambakan ng flowers sa church all of them thought kami ang bumili nun! He he di ko nga sinabi na ganun kadami flowers because katatapos ng fiesta. Advantage pa sa Malate Church is there is ample parking space for your guests hindi na sila mahihirapan na isipin pa where to park.

Uy, meron din palang hindi maganda, yung sound system ng commentator I don’t know kung mahina ba yun or garalgal kasi kami ni husband was right beside him pero hindi maintindihan masyado pagsasalita. Pero yung sa choir/organ malinaw na malinaw kasi while walking the aisle rinig na rinig ko ang wordings ng song sang by the soloist of Velvet Mood. Clear din naman yung sa side ng readers and sa priest no problem, loud and clear.

Another thing is you cannot go up the choir loft kasi daw sira-sira ang floor hindi pwede apakan kaya naman wala ako picture ng top view, kainis, pinahabaan ko pa naman ang train ng gown ko kasi sabi ko maganda na ganun sa picture.

And isang tip lang sa next na Malate Church bride, after the ceremony before the pictorial starts, ask someone to ask the church in-charge kung pwede itiklop nila yung projector screen kasi ampangit tingnan sa pictures! Yung sa akin kasi kitang-kita siya eh alam ko pwede naman yun itiklop siguro lang hindi napansin ni Chito and no one noticed it until nakita ko na lang sa pictures. And yung door naman can be closed before the entrance of the bride but you must assign at least 2 or 3 male friends of yours to do it kasi ambigat daw talaga nung door according to Arnie (Chito’s assistant) kaya sa akin it was not closed kasi si Arnie lang ang nag-aasist sa akin. Buti na lang he never left me, he was even the one who assisted me in getting down the car. Buti na lang…

8. ENTOURAGE FLOWERS - *****flora@eleven_01
Contact Person: Rex Rosario
Office Address: 4134 Algeciras St. Sampaloc Manila
Tel. No.: 743-3513 / 0918-6736202
E-mail: rex_rosario@hotmail.com
Peso Power: Php 7,600
Inclusions: 1 handtied bride’s bouquet,1 nosegay for MOH, 7 nosegay for BM,5 baskets and headbands for FG’s, 3 pomander for SS, 8 nosegay for PS, 2 nosegay for moms

RATING: 10++++++

This one supplier that really exceeded my expectation, well naman talaga sobra kasi I was expecting them to deliver beautiful flowers pero hindi ko din talaga akalain. Everyone is telling me how beautiful my bouquet is!

Got to know about this supplier through w@w, I first saw their arrangements sa wedding ni Grace Dy, then if I remember it right Abi Lam-Parayno was also one of their clients who was boasting of their services dahil nga they don’t just simply deliver the flowers for the entourage and bahala na, they stay and make sure that the flowers are properly distributed, the headbands of the FG’s put into place, di ba that’s something! Ako kasi in the past weddings that I attended na ako naaatasan to take care of distributing the flowers, hindi ko maintindihan which is for whom.
Met with Rex twice, first to give the reservation then again a week before the wedding for finalization of the flowers for each bouquet. During the final meeting, di ko na alam basta I wanted to get over with our wedding na lang so I told Rex, bahala ka na. since I know that blue flowers are not common and kung meron man sobrang mahal or needs to be ordered pa kasi imported so sabi ko lang sa kanya gawin na lang nya basta makulay ang bouquet ko para angat naman siya sa white na gown ko, tapos sabi ko I really don’t like mums except for the green button mums so yun ang gawin sa mga entourage, basta sabi ko mga abay will be wearing blue so dapat more on green and yellow na lang bouquet nila or white ganun tapos sa mommy namin color ng damit nila ecru so make it more on green and white. I didn’t ask for buttonaires kasi sayang naman barongs ng male ento kung mabubutas lang because of the safety pin. Tapos on the day of the wedding I asked him to deliver the flowers at 11am sa hotel and alam mo yun, they (the ones who delivered the flowers) quietly came, asked if everything is ok then left. Which is ang ok kasi no fuss, ang ganda ng bouquet ko, hindi ko kasi siya napapansin kasi picture ako ng picture tapos nung pinahawakan sa akin niChito sabi ko na lang bigla, yan ba ang bouquet ko? Sobrang ganda naman! Sobrang happy ko talaga, kasi I heard some brides hindi satisfied sa bouquet nila ako happing-happy, I really don’t know what kind of flowers Rex used basta ang ganda, kitang-kita yung touch of green and meron din blue violet pero hindi madilim tingnan kasi nga combined with other colors, my Mom, sister and other members of the ento are so happy with their flowers din and yung iba na nakalimutan nila ang bouquet nila sa reception kasi nalapag at siguro kinuha na ng ibang tao nanghihinayang. Angtagal din ng buhay ng flowers, we gathered all the bouquets kasi na naiwan and bought it to my father’s grave the next day and ang tagal pa din nun dun. Dzune’s Tita nga who renewed her vows November 19, (got Rex as the flower supplier din) ganda pa ng bouquet nya nung pabalik na siya ng US ng December 1, what she did was put it inside the ref.

9. HAIR & MAKE UP - ***Agie Cruz & Ogie
Contact Person: Angie Cruz
Mobile No.: 0916-3868307
Peso Power: Php 5000 for first 3 heads
Php 850 per head in excess of 3
Php 1500 trial make-up

RATING: 10+++++

I am so happy with my hair and make-up! At the beginning of our wedding preparations I really don’t want to spend that much on this because I really don’t wear make-up not even lipstick. Upon joining w@w among the first suppliers ratings I read was Maybelle’s and this is how I came to know about Angie. Ive taken her number (akala ko talaga female siya eh!) and texted her asking if her schedule for November 23 was still open. And she said yes. But I don’t know what’s with me I had trial pa din with another HMUA, si Irene Maniego, went to Rustan’s in Robinsons Manila for 2 trials, gaan naman kamay nya ang ganda naman work pero hindi talaga ako masiyahan until nga I texted Angie and arranged for a trial make-up with her.

Naku nakakahiya, for the trial I asked for them to be in the vicinity of Intramuros at 8am and they came promptly, pero since it was raining I arrived past 9am na yata!!! Naku natakot ako sabi ko naku how would this work out kasi they have been waiting for a long time baka hindi na nila ako pagandahin. Alam ko inis talaga si Ogie that time because he has to be somewhere sana at 9am dahil he has a shoot with Preview magazine (the one that came out December, si Ruffa Gutierrez cover) so he immediately got busy with my hair, mabilis siya gumawa pero ganda talaga and ayos naman, di ako nagsasalita masyado kasi sobra hiya ko then when he was through fixing my hair sabi ko wow ganda! Sinagot nya ko “Kaya dapat book mo na kami!” and that’s it. Angie did my make-up, sabi ko “sabi ng sister ko yung no-make-up look lang daw” and naalala ko sinabi ni Mec kaya sabi ko “tsaka ano ba pwede mo gawin sa lips ko kasi I have full lips” and yun lang Angie doesn’t talk much sabi ng officemates ko (Dito kasi ako nagpatrial) ok kasi hindi tulad ng ibang bading na maiingay! Then the outcome ng trial pa lang very happy na ako kay booked them agad.

During the wedding Ogie came early he was first to arrive, followed by Angie, Ogie immediately got busy with my Mom’s hair kailangan i-set and then started with my hair, I want an updo para hindi ako mainitan and then showed him the pins I got from Rio Tiaras, sabi nila ang ganda and sa dami ng naayusan nila ngayon lang sila nakakita ng ganung design, so after doing my hair make-up naman ako ni Angie. And all throughout the time we were in the hotel kahit tapos na kami lahat ayusan andun lang sila, they call me from time to time (Ogie calls me Ms. Bride and si Angie naman Jen) to retouch my lipstick or fix something in my hair, hanggang sa paglagay ng veil and pag-spray ng perfume si Ogie gumawa nun and they really know where to spray, alam mo yun parang pati yun mi-naster nila! Sayang nga eh should have requested them to stay until the reception eh ewan ko ba nalimutan ko yata to ask if they could do that….nawala ako sa sarili.

I highly recommend this two person, they really made me feel so beautiful on my wedding day, for a price that is really affordable naman and worth it. And I realized, make-up is really important pala, kasi if you don’t feel at ease with it you won’t feel confident and if you don’t have confidence you won’t look good in the pictures. Nasasayangan nga ako I didn’t ask my other Tita’s to join us in the hotel para sa kanya na kami lahat nagpamake-up. So ang nagpamake-up lang kay Angie is me my MOH sister, my Mom and my 2 junior bridesmaids na 12 yrs old respectively, ang ganda nila hindi sila nagmukhang parang dalaga because of the make-up. If I am to marry again (haha!) sana Angie and Ogie will still be around to do my make-up and hair! He he.

mga model!
Originally uploaded by jennifermorente.

10. PHOTOGRAPHY – íChito Cleofas
Contact Person: Chito / Cris Cleofas
Office Address: 2568 Agata St., San Andres BUkid, M.Mla.
Telefax: 561-6485
Mobile No.: 0919-3106751
Website: www.chitocleofas.com
Peso Power: Php 43,000
Inclusions: COLLECTION 1 (DIGITAL) Php. 43,000.00

Package includes the following
* 40 page 8"X10" imported album ( made in Korea)
* All the pages are protected with anti scratch lamination
* 100-140 images in digital layout creating a storybook
* 500pcs 3R (3.5X5 inches) prints as proofs in slip in album
* One (1) 16"X20" photo in canvass with frame
* Master file CD-R high resolution RAW of all your images
* CD-R containing all Final images for the digital album plus the
40 page digital layout in jpg format.
* 2 photographers

RATING: 10+++++

This is one supplier na talaga naman kay tagal ko hinanap. Even before Dzune and I decided to get married, I told him na hindi ito matatawaran because I really want beautiful pictures on my wedding day. I visited more than several photographers site and each time I chanced upon photo exhibits, bridal fairs, pictures agad ang tinitignan ko, it took me sometime to decide whom to get to cover my wedding day, a friend of mine even offered to do it for me for free but I was thinking that I want my friends to enjoy my wedding day not to take my pictures. When until one day while browsing through messages posted at the w@w group, I chanced upon ruth and marc’s photo album which they shared online. They included in their message that the group of Chito Cleofas took their photos. I checked out the weddingsatwork directory and there was Chito’s web address which I visited immediately sending a message/inquiry which was immediately responded to.

What’s funny was in his reply he was asking if a I know this certain person who is his colleague in photography. Sabi ko yes he is my colleague here at work and a good friend. yung common friend namin na yun is a very good photographer and I always trust his judgment pagdating sa photography. So one time I saw him sabi ko, Leslie, kilala mo pala si Chito Cleofas, sabi ny oo naman, galing yun nagbaback-up photography ako dun and kung ako ikakasal sila din ang kukunin ko. Yun na, I immediately arranged for a meeting with Chito and booked his services.

Very down to earth ang taong ito, I remember on meeting him I never asked him for anything, sya ang nagsabi sa akin “Ano ang maitutulong ko sa’yo?”

veil girls
Originally uploaded by jennifermorente.

I also booked Chito’s services for Dzune’s Lola’s 90th birthday party and though napakaraming requests nun na pakuha dito and doon walang reklamo ang tao na ito. He took hundreds of pictures for my Lola for a special fee and I was really touched.

Then on our wedding day, he came early and shoot lang siya ng shoot. Meron ding times na he asked me/us to pose for him pero he just sits quietly at times with his long lens and squeeze that shutter and look at my pictures naman! I am so happy with the outcome, everyone is praising the pictures taken by Chito and his assistant too was so nice, si Arnie, he was even the one who assisted me in getting off the bridal car when it was my time to march down the aisle and ang ganda din ng shots ni Arnie grabe! Chito’s style is really more on photojournalism ang gaganda ng mga reaction shots nya I love it! It tells the story…

Nga lang and I cant blame Chito or Arnie, dahil siguro sa taranta on our “missing rings” nawala siguro composure nila and wasn’t able to take really good photos of the exchange of rings. Pero sa dami naman ang ibang good shots nila compensated na nun yung walang picture taken on the exchange of rings. Sobrang happy pa din ako sa output nila.

11. VIDEOGRAPHY –Ricky the VTR Man
Contact Person: Ricky
Tel. No.: 5308491
Mobile No.: 0906-9423915
Peso Power: Php 3,000 Talent fee
Php 3,500 rental of equipment

RATING: 10+++++
Video is really not my priority, sabi ko nga worse comes to worse pag wala ako nahanap I will just tap one of my officemates na cameraman din naman talaga namin to bring one of our dvcam siya na lang magkuha. Then one time my husband mentioned na he has a student connected with Manila Prime Studio. I asked the student if he knows someone who knows to handle a CanonXL1 and has background in taking videos in wedding. which he readily answered with a yes, I requested for the contact number of this person but he didn’t have it that time and I sort of forgot about it until about 3 weeks or less before our wedding. I saw again this student and he asked me if the vtr man called me, sabi ko no. Sabi nya he will remind him to call and true to his word tumawag naman siya. Ricky told me that he regularly works as a freelance videographer for weddings, usually he works for Lito Sy, Mel Cortes. So yun, ok siya kausap sabi nya for an additional 3,5k he can bring the all his equipment including the lapel mic na, and yun nga ang naging final agreement namin.

I texted him my hotel room number as soon as I was checked in and he arrived promptly at eleven. During the preps, kuha lang siya ng kuha and he only asked me to pose once, kasi sabi nya natural lang gusto nya, candid and what he is after is to capture the natural emotions and not yung mga directed, towards the end of the reception program I even saw him making interviews with some of our guests and not until nakakwento na lang namin yung mga ibang guests na the vtr man asked them for some words pala, o di ba.
When I watched the video, I was amazed at what Ricky did, ang ganda ng choice of shots! Very clear and audio and maliwanag talaga even the ones taken at the church. Di ba minsan madilim inside some churches. And then when I requested for our Video Editor to transfer it to DVD akala nila it was edited na! Kasi nga some of Ricky’s shots needs not to be edited kasi meron na syang sort of transition and lalagyan na lang ng music.

No rate for editing here, that would be my job pero I still haven’t find the time to do it but will in a few days and I will find the way to post it para makita nyo din. And hey, what’s really good is Chito and Arnie knows Ricky well, nakakasama na nga daw nila on other weddings kaya naman walang problem na me possibility na mag-aagawan sila ng shots, kasi one concern ko yun nung start dahil nga I didn’t get the photo and video package. And good thing they know each other so, walang problema sa pagtratrabaho nila kasi nagbibigayan.

12. RECEPTION VENUE – Villa Immaculada
Contact Person: c/o Tamayos Catering
Tel. No’s.: 525-9772/527-4404 / 522-5565 / 400-7686 / 400-7161 /952-0263
Peso Power: Php 24,500
Website: www.tamayos.com
Inclusions:Use of venue for 4 hours, waived corkage fee

RATING: 10+++++

Villa Immaculada was really one fine place for a reception, ang ganda ng ceilings and the venue itself. Ceilings are high complete with the drapes nga ba tawag dun and the lighting adds drama to the place. Accessible pa siya especially if you are having your wedding in Intramuros and in my case Malate Church was just a few minutes away. With the ample parking space it’s not a hassle for guests to park. I was worried that it would rain on my wedding day since we often experience having rain on this month during our grand alumni here in Letran Manila my husband and I agreed to hold our reception in an indoor venue and of all the places we visited we kept on avoiding at first Villa Immaculada because we find the rental fee too expensive though at the beginning of the planning pa lang my husband knows that Villa is my first choice.

After so much computation and discussion, we decided to book Villa Immaculada and despite the expensive rental it was worth the money we paid for, my husbands cousin from the US fell in-love with this place one of them (Cheryl) keeps on mentioning in her emails how much she likes the place where we had our wedding reception and the fact that we don’t have to pay for any corkage fee and can bring in anything (food, drinks) we want is good, maybe its because those corkage is already included in the rental of the venue.

13. CATERING – Tamayos Catering
Contact Person: Pla
Tel. No’s.: 525-9772/527-4404 / 522-5565 / 400-7686 / 400-7161 /952-0263
Peso Power: Php 69,500 for the 1st 100 persons
Php 465 per pax in excess of 100
Website: www.tamayos.com
Inclusions: selection from various array of menu (menus 1-3), 3 layered fondant cake (all edible) following color motif, bridal car (maximum of 3 hrs), decorated cage & doves, 1 bottle of champagne, guestbook,reception set-up, refillable softdrinks or fruit punch or ice tea, place cards for sponsors at the reception tableScheduled food tasting for two, free use of sound system, reception coordination on the function proper.

RATING:
Food - 10+++++
The food was overflowing. All our guests says busog na busog sila and andami ng food! I never expected it to be this much. During our food tasting and finalization of the menu I was worried na baka kulang ang food and I need to add more in the menu but a week before our wedding when I met Mr. Steve Tamayo one afternoon, because it turns out that the bestfriend of my Mom is the close to Mr. Tamayo that’s why I had the chance to meet him during one of his visits sa Villa. Mr. Tamayo assured me na hindi na ako mapapahiya with the menu I chose and suggested that I just add with the flower setup ng Villa para hindi naman daw ordinary party lang. he was even offering me a real huge discount for the upgrade but I declined but I guess medyo dinagdagan pa din nya lalo na yung food kasi parang andami nung deserts and other main dishes ko eh. And for that I am really thankful.

Set-up - 10+++++

Even without the upgrade for the centerpieces or the gazebo for the cake ang ganda pa din ng Villa. Most of our guest thought that we had the centerpieces upgraded pero wala naman talaga kami add-on. Except for the backdraft fountain which Mr. Tamayo made us use without additional charge.

Everything was set into place, tables have elegant cover and pati na din ang chairs and strategic din ang location nila for the cake which is at the back of the hall para you can see the bride and groom move around naman for those ceremonies.

Yun nga lang my AE told me na for the couples entrance hindi daw muna nila ilalagay in the middle yung cake table. Pero it was already there when we went in pero hindi naman siya nakaabala or nabangga namin.

Wedding high!

2006-01-14T14:25:00.000+08:00

A month and a half has passed but still I have this feeling of nostalgia with our wedding!
I wished I had blogged this immediately but I don’t know where the time goes! During the time I was so engrossed with our wedding preps I was telling myself I will have more time after the wedding, but I was wrong. Maybe it’s because of the holidays. Here are the chronicles of my wedding day:

*Relatives arriving from all over the world! Ha Ha! Dzune’s aunts, uncles and cousin arriving from the U.S. and Hongkong, my Tita Lyn’s family arriving from Cagayan de Oro and still us who has to fetch most of them and entertain them and accompany them. Plus Dzune’s brother arriving from Jeddah.

*Getting my gown four days before the wedding and seeing that it was so simple, its looks like a simple Sunday dress! So frustrating and stressful!!!

*Meeting Edd Sy and being so thankful for his big heart! Imagine agreeing to do the repairs and additional beadworks to my gown and have it finished picked up the night before our wedding. Happiness!!! (Thank you sobra!)

* Mixed emotions, thankful, so thankful for people with a good heart! The staff of Wedding Library in SM North, clearing a space in their stock room so I can try on my gown and show Edd Sy which parts needs alterations! Some people really do have a big heart!

* Because I was so worried with my gown I wasn’t able to push through with designing a desk calendar which I intend to have printed at Printed Matter to be given away as souvenirs.I just let it go. No souvenirs!? I’m sure that they will be well fed and watered.

* Giving up on doing the layout of the guest sheets! Good thing my good friend Ghie agreed to do it for me and Dzune’s investment on a desk jet printer months ago paid off because he printed the guest sheets at home the night before our wedding day!

* Checking in at the Diamond Hotel and assigning me room 1123, wow! It’s the same date as my wedding! November which is the 11th month so its 1123 din!

*Having an argument with Dzune the day before our wedding because last minute we found out that no one’s to pick-up my gown from Edd Sy’s office. Not even my brothers are up to doing it, this was so frustrating because after all the help we do for almost everyone I deserve one favor as such. In the end Dzune taking a cab (I don’t want him to drive) to pick up my gown while he drops me off at Robinsons so I can get a manicure and pedicure at least! It was a big bonus that someone agreed to massage me and give me a spa despite of the late hour I arrived.

* Arriving at the hotel room and finding that my cousins are gone (As panic and worried and puzzled! Where are those kids! Sabi ko wag aalis) and Dzune was no where to be found too makes me panic and nervous (San na sila!?) and I don’t have my phone with me because I left it all to Dzune with instructions that he leaves it at the hotel room!

*No one around but my gown was there hanging in the closet (bodyform still at home, Mommy would bring it when they come over) and all the accessories was there in an Edd Sy box, he even gave me a veil! (San na si Dzune?!!)

*Calling Dzune’s house and speaking to my mother –in-law who is also asking me where his son is! Hay Panic!

* The kids and Dzune arriving at the hotel it turns out the kids were really hungry he took them out to get something to eat! (Huh u, kawawa pala mga pinsan ko! Forgot to get grab them something to eat!)

*Cousins doesn’t want to sleep at the hotel so they all went home leaving me alone. Taking a shower and trying to sleep but to no avail. I ended up sending messages to cousins, suppliers, etc making last minute bilins and some of them replying, “Matulog ka na! Gusto mo ba grabe eye bags mo bukas!” eh hindi talaga makatulog eh!

* My mom finally arriving at the hotel in the middle of the night just as when nakakatulog na sana ako and her reaction pagkakita sa gown ko, I can tell that she is happier with my gown this time and cant believe that it was repaired and beaded in two days!

* My brother Jayson texting me in the middle of the night with a message saying:”Gisingin mo si Kuya Dzune, andito kami sa tapat ng bahay nila.” Fuming mad! My 2 brothers’ barong was still at Dzune’s house because no one would go and pick it up and my instructions to my brothers and sister Juliet was to go to Dzune’s house first thing in the morning of the 23rd to get their barongs, and Yanie’s (junior bridesmaids), the coins for the arrhae, and our wedding rings. In the morning and not in the middle of the night!!! Hindi ko talaga ginising sila, I send a message to my brother that he go home and sleep and if he doesn’t want to come back at a more decent hour to get his barong it would be alright if he doesn’t attend my wedding!

* Having an argument with my brother Jayson on my wedding day! I don’t want to spoil this day so what do I care if he is angry, I don’t care if he doesn’t show up to walk me down the aisle, Jeffrey (my other brother will be there) or it can be Juliet and my Mom. I never texted Jay para suyuin siya.

* Juliet, Jeffrey and cousin Yanie went to their Kuya Dzune’s house to get the barongs and other things and the funny thing was nasa kanto na sila when Dzune realized that he has given his barong to my brother! Buti na lang naabutan pa niya! He he he!

* Taking a stroll towards Malate Church early morning of our wedding and seeing an early morning wedding going on the the Our Lady of Remedies’ altar overflowing with flowers!!! I was silently wishing/praying that in the afternoon, on my wedding ganun din kadami flowers and ganun nga kadami!!! It was so beautiful!

* Back at the hotel taking a bath and nakahilata sa sofa, some friends were sending short messages, asking how do I feel, if I am nervous excited or what. Ha ha! Hindi ako kinakabahan!

* Suppliers starting to arrive promptly around 10:30am. Ogie the hairstylist was first in the scene followed immediately by Angie the make up artist, then Ricky the freelance videographer that I hired for the day and then finally Chito, Arnie and the assistant then my sisters, Juliet, Jeffrey and Yanie, kasama pa si Onel!

* Glad that my supplier knows each other, si Angie has worked with Chito before and Ricky the videographer din nakakasama na talaga nila Chito!

* How time flies that day, suddenly my hair and make up was done and I changed into my green dress which I really planned to wear for the preparation photo shoot and My Love calling me but I really can’t remember ano pinagsasabi nya sa akin, alam ko tawa ako ng tawa. Hi! Hi! Hi!

* My mom keep on saying, “Itago ang singsing baka malimutan” kaya naman after the last time na ginamit ang singsing yung after ako kinunan ni Ricky na nasa fingers ko ang singsing I gave it back to my Mom and I remember my Mom giving it to my 2 junior bridesmaid (Nini & Yanie) and hearing Juliet’s voice saying “Ako magdadala nyan dahil baka malimutan!” but I wasn’t looking though who really got it.

* Then it was time to dress up and Ogie and Angie commenting: “Hindi ka galit sa beads!” He he and them fixing my hair, putting the pins I got from Rio Tiaras attaching my veil, ang ganda dawn pins sabi ni Ogie! “Kaiba!” , lipstick, kaunting photo ops with my Mom and brothers.

* Chito asking my Mom to hand me my bouquet (which in the midst of all happening arrived quietly and I was surprised to see that my bouquet was really beautiful!!! Sabi ko the first time I hold it. “Ang ganda naman sobra ng bouquet ko!”) bigla na lang crying lady si Mommy sabay sabi: “Iiyak ako naalala ko si Papa.” I was trying not to remember my Papa because I don’t really want to cry. “Wag ka na iyak Ma, masisira make-up mo” I was kidding my Mom baka di ko mapigil luha ko.

* And Chito remembering “San nga ba ang father mo?” which I silently replied “Kamamatay lang ni Papa last year”

* Time to go down somewhere in the lobby or stairs for more photo ops. Final retouch ng hair by Ogie,final lipstick from Angie, even sa pag-spray ng perfume ogie was the one who did it! Dzune’s cousins Lyra and Grazielle arriving, ang ganda nila, they look like dolls.

* Photo ops at the window with a view~ never thought these photos would be this good!

* Down the elevator getting off at the second floor, picture taking left and right. Lyra was asking “Ate Jen saang magazine ba ito lalabas?”

mga models!
Originally uploaded by jennifermorente.

Cooking with Nanay

2006-01-05T14:14:00.000+08:00

I am now married for a month and 13 days. I have been learning a lot lalo na in terms of cooking. I have been my mothe-in-law's constanct kitchen companion for sometime now since last Christmas. Yesterday we prepared dinner for Kuya Bong's and Ate Lene's anniversary and I was asked by Nanay na maggisa. Simpleng bagay, pero hearing it from someone I look up to specially sa pagluluto is a big deal for me..."maganda ka maggisa,you will be a good cook, nakakatagal kas sa kusina..." Wow! I am happy...so

I have the power!

2005-11-17T00:08:00.000+08:00

Miracle. Eto yata ang nangyayari sa akin nitong mga nakaraang araw.

Monday 10 days before our wedding, I was able to book musicians for our wedding reception at sa church na din! Swerte talaga. We got Velvet Mood to add life to our wedding! Grabe, actually maybe we were just really lucky dahil our wedding falls on a weekday kaya madali pa magbook ng suppliers even with a few days left. And luck because Velvet Mood was the group with which my brother-in-law to be belongs to, it just so happen that Gerard personally know Edwing Silangcruz.

Tuesday 9 days to go, meron na akong videographer! This is something na hindi ko talaga kinareer sa lahat sa wedding preps ko, kasi katwiran ko meron naman kaming videocam sa office and worse comes to worst I could simply ask Mang Jay, our cameraman to handle the videos during the wedding tapos kahit ako I can simply edit it in one of our editing machines. Pero naiisip ko, hassle naman sa officemates ko, gusto ko guest naman sila sa wedding. Swerte naman that My Love has a student who is connected with a known name in the wedding photography industry, ang Manila Prime. So Toto helped me find a freelance videographer in the person of Ricky, so Ricky will be taking our video come our wedding day, he will be using his own camera (Sony VX2000), bring the lights and the lightsman and provide lapel na din for a good audio. And it is a big plus that he knows and has worked with my photographer, Chito. Si Ricky nga pala is a freelance videographer who worked with Lito Sy and Mel Cortez. Ang galing!

Wednesday 8 days to go before our wedding and 4 days naman before Lola Orang's big celebration for her 90th birthday. Eto palpak talaga ako dito. I should have done this months, weeks ago. For Lola's party, we should be giving away coffee mugs with a logo that I made for Lola, this same logo ang nakalagay sa invites and sa giveaway shirts na din. I kept on putting off ordering it for another day all the while I thought it can be done for a few days lang, unfortunately, hindi pala! So eventhough nahihiya ako sa mga Uncle ni Dzune, hindi ko na ito inisip, wala kung wala sabi ko. Pero kanina while looking around SM North before I picked up my Mom'a dress from Bobby Novenario I saw a shop displaying such coffee mugs! So nabuhayan na naman ako, went in and inquired if I could place an order for such and be able to get it by Saturday....at possible siya! So eventhough it costs double than the other shops na gumagawa nito, I placed an order for 50pcs. and what's more I can pick it up in their branch sa SM Manila which is closer to me. Haay...pray ko lang na sana maganda ang lahat...

My mom has a friend, si Tita Vicky who happens to be the bestfriend ot Mr. Steve Tamayo himself. Kaya kanina, Tita Vicky set an appointment with him at Villa Immaculada, kaya naman I finally got to meet the man behind Tamayo's catering. Bait naman siya and since matagal sila nagkasama ni Tita Vicky in Kuwait he even served us merienda. Sir Steve has been offering me an upgrade para sa mga centerpieces, gazebo, etc para sa Villa, pero it is a huge amount and naiisip ko, flowers lang naman yun. Siguro I will call na lang my AE and decline the offer, I'd rather spend money on food like my dream cake from Alex Franco which I let go na nga kasi hindi talaga kaya....At least Mr. Tamayo assured me that the food will be perfect come my wedding day....

Final countdown..

2005-11-04T06:06:00.000+08:00

How time flies...parang kailan lang and the year 2005 was just beginning. Tapos today malapit na siyang matapos. This is year is full of happy and sad emotions for me, this is a year of "beginnings and endings"...

19 days to go and altar date na namin ng Mahal ko...sino ba ang magaakala that all this started sa isang date, sa isang tanghalian na nauwi sa ganito karaming taon ng pagmamahalan. Hay, magic talaga ang love...We met in Letran almost 9 years ago, at ang tawag ko pa kay Dzune ay Sir Dzune, o kaya Sir Lao (something na hindi makalimutan ng mga kapatid ko kaya hanggang ngayon they still call him "Sir" which I hope in time mapapalitan na ng kuya), Dzune and I have known each other for two years, he was a faculty at the college department and a friend of my officemate Davy kaya tambay din sa Media Center before we became an "item". Sino ba ang magaakala na ang seryosong tao na ito will be my husband...every month...every year, binibilang namin ang mga araw na nadadagdag sa relationship namin. Parang kailan lang iniisip namin nung bagong bago pa lang kami "ano kaya tayo one year from now..."

Found my HMUA

2005-10-30T05:15:00.000+08:00

Had my trial with Angie Cruz last Friday and I was so happy about it! I finally found someone who could do my make-up! And what’s really good about it is that my brothers, cousins and even my officemates loved the way Angie did my make-up and Ogie my hair!

It was so embarrassing, nga lang kasi I was late for the time I set which is 7am. Ogie has another appointment pa naman and mainit na yata talaga ulo nya when I arrived in Intramuros. And I was thinking naku hindi ko pa yata makakasundo ito. But after a while, while doing my hair ok naman na siya. Ogie did my hair first because he needed to leave na nga, bilis lang nya ginawa hair ko pero hindi naman madalian, she curled my hair and style it ala Jasmine Trias daw sabi ng kapatid ko, pero I liked it! Ngayon lang ulit ako nagpakulot kasi, last time was when I was in elementary. Then Angie did my make-up. I don’t know why but I have a lot of pimples on my face…siguro gusto talaga I-challenge ang magma-make-up sa akin..he he he. Gaang ng kamay ni Angie ands she really knows what she is doing, medyo kwento-kwento lang siya, bilis pa nya mag-make-up.…tapos she assists pala known make-up artists such as Denise Go at sino pa ba…si Denise Go lang naalala ko because I was dreaming before to have my make-up done by her…he he…in my dreams na lang, happy na ako kay Angie that I already booked her services on my wedding day! Yan, one tick off my to-do lists.

Then we proceeded to Chito Cleofas’ office in Agata in San Andres since it was raining we cant have an outdoor prenup. So punta kami in a studio in Sanlo where we had our prenup photos taken. Had fun with it, My Love nga lang hindi kasi silaw na silaw siya sa mga studio lights…

A few more days to go..

2005-10-26T13:54:00.000+08:00

Kaunti na lang I am near panic mode na...lapit na wedding pero meron pa akong mga gagawin. To top it all, I am getting nervous with my gown. It's not I don't trust my Tita (who is the one doing it)...la lang, baka kasi ano kaya hitsura ko sa wedding day?..

We went to SM Manila last Sunday after our food tasting at Tamayo's. And saw this gown on display by Edward Teng, sabi ng mahal ko ganun daw kaganda ang iniexpect nya na hitsura ng gown ko...Naku mommy ko! Hindi yata magiging ganun...paano na...

So, we had our food tasting together with our friends, Jensen & Grace who will be tying the knot din March next year. The food was....paano ba describe yun....ok lang....naku...hindi ata magandang ganun lang...masarap....masarap naman siya, hindi ko lang yata nalasahan...he he....anyway, here is what we will be having for the menu:

Appetizer

Calamares

Assorted Cold Cuts

Soup

Pumpkin Soup

Salad

Tossed Green Salad

Russian Salad

Caesar Salad with Croutons and Crispy Bacon

Main Courses

Roast Beef with Gravy Sauce

Gindara Fish Meuniere (on the spot cooking)

Pork Strips with quail eggs and cashew nuts

Stuffed Boneless Chicken

Sauteed Vegetables in Oyster Sauce

Steamed Rice

Carving Station

Pritson

Desserts

Assorted Pastries

Leche Flan

Coffee or Tea Service

I don't know why I am feeling this way, even with the menu I am nervous if I made the right choice. Ano ba ang tawag dito...hu hu. Kanina gusto ko maiyak I don't know why and I don't have a reason to. Then there are times when I just suddenly feel sad. Tapos there are things that bothers me like yesterday I received an email from a "friend" sabi nya yung common friend, acquaintance namin told her na "pinikot" ko lang daw si Dzune at ako lang nakakaalam ng kasalan na ito...haaaayyy...sabagay this is all my fault din yata. I used to tell everyone, anyone who would listen that this is the first single wedding na makikita nila kasi ako lang mag-isa ang ikakasal and maybe because they see that ako lang ang abala sa lahat ng preparations, siguro kasi naawa naman talaga ako kay Dzune kasi he has tons of work to do kaya talaga naman na inaako ko na lahat. Naiinis lang ako pag meron ganito comments kasi naman no, di naman nila alam gaano kahirap ang magprepare for a wedding ha! Lungkot tuloy ako...hmnnn...

Second Trial.

2005-10-21T10:04:00.000+08:00

Hay after this second trial with Irene Maniego, parang hindi pa din ako masyado masaya sa outcome. I don't know if it's my face. He he. Irene is fine, magaang ang kamay,ok naman ang products na gamit nya (Laura Mercier). My brother says that I should have another trial with a different HMUA. Maybe I can schedule it during our prenuptial shoot withChito.

more photos here

First trial was done during the last week of September, it was the month after my "battle" kuno with I don't know what na sakit...He he...Pagkakita ng brother ko sabi nya pa-trial lang ako sa iba because he didn't like it, masyado daw nag-iba ang mukha ko parang hindi na ako and nada-dark-an sila sa shade that Irene used for the eyes.

Kaya ako nagpatrial ulit, Irene offered it and she said that she will be using lighter naman daw ngayon. So this is it. Lighter na nga siya. Sabi ni Dzune better than the first trial. Paano ba ito, observation ko lang, my eyes changes everytime I apply make-up. As in, before during our service awards night dito sa Letran, Dzune's cousin was the one who did my make-up, nag-iba din mukha ko. Should I have another trial, or am I just trying too hard...he he...I don't apply make-up kasi eh, not even lipstick. Di ako marunong...

Pins from Rio Tiaras

2005-10-19T15:50:00.000+08:00

Would just like to post the photos of my hairpiece from Rio Tiaras. Andami mo makikita if you go to her place sa Horseshoe, pero what's nice about her is that she will assist you, make suggestions. Tulad ng ginawa nya sa akin. I also ordered a tiara from her for my Tita Baby's use, sa November 19 naman ang wedding renewal of vows nila.
More photos here:

Our invites

2005-10-17T08:52:00.000+08:00

for more photos of our invites click here under the album "our invites"

Finally got our invites from Printed Matter. Pop-up style invitation with our portraits. Originally Ben, a college friend and classmate made our vector portrait, na pinagkopyahan ng artist nila Phoebe. Kamukhang-kamukha ng mahal ko ang portrait nya, pero ako hindi....he he...kasi pina-sexy daw ako nung artist eh...Anyway, I hope we would be able to distribute all this within the week. But the sad thing is these invites doesn't have an entourage card pa din kasi we haven't completed the list of our Principal Sponsors yet...parang andami pa namin time no....pero ang totoo almost a monthe to go na lang....hayy...

Ethel accompanied me sa pagpunta sa Printed Matter office, she wants to see some samples of their works kasi for the wedding of her cousin naman, si Bonjing and Norjo this December.

Another accomplishment for me ngayon weekend is that I finally got to go to Rio Tiaras! From SM Centerpoint we took a cab going to Horseshoe Village. I get to meeting Ms. Reggie finally. Sa text pa lang nababaitan na ako dito, she never fails to text back, as in lahat ng inquirt though late na she texts back. There was even one time when I texted her, she was in the US pala, sinagot na pa din ako, sabi nga nya she won't forget me kasi when I texted her she was in a bridal fair. Before nya pinakita sa akin mga items na gawa nila, she asked me din muna if ano ang budget ko ask nya din ano mga nakalagay sa gown ko, cut glass, pearls, etc of which I answered agad na "no pearls" ayaw kasi ng mother in law ko they have a sad experience on wearing pearls to a wedding, ewan ko pero it represent tears daw kasi eh. Sabi ko naman something simple lang ang kailangan ko, something that will hold my veil into place. Gusto ko din ng tiara pero ayoko naman yung masyado siyang mataas sa hair ko, Reggie suggested if I like pwedeng pins na lang ang bilihin ko, so she showed me three sets of pins, I chose the one with the flower designs kasi kaiba siya ang isip ko I can use it for some other occassions naman. I have ordered na din a tiara for Tita Baby. I hope she'll like it kasi ako nagandahan ako sa kanya, pero mukhang hindi pa ako ganun ka-carry to wear something as fancy as this, at sabi din ni Ms. Reggie, since it's a silver wedding naman , she is sure that my Tita would like to have something like this.

A Traditional Bride....

2005-10-07T08:25:00.000+08:00

Congratulations! You are a traditional bride!

What Kind of Bride Will You Be?
brought to you by Quizilla

Twice I came upon this article, tried answering it twice because I was thinking that I might have a different answer each time but always I am a Traditional Bride. Maybe because I am....I wish my Papa was still here to walk me down the aisle...

The ring...

2005-09-28T09:28:00.000+08:00

Finally, nagkaron na din ng linaw ang tungkol sa wedding rings namin. Yesterday we went to the shop of Mr. Talag "the ring" maker and had our fingers measured for our wedding band. Both of us will be wearing a 6.5 size of ring, it will be a simple two-tone wedding band to go with my engagement ring. Nanay was so kind to give us some gold to be used in making our bands, these gold rings were given to them when they attended a wedding of their relative in HongKong kaya though simple lang ang rings namin it would really be special. Mr. Talag, the ring maker says that our ring will be ready by the 29th of October or earlier. His daughter is getting married din kasi kaya ayaw na mangako that it could be earlier. He showed us several other wedding rings na ginagawa nya and good craftsmanship naman talaga. Our wedding ring engraving: "Dzune-Jen 11-23-2005" gusto ko sana mine would be Dzune My Love, always & forever....hmnnn...di tuloy ako nakatulog sa pag-iisip nun. Maybe I will ask My Love to go there again one of these days to make the changes....if he will have time..

We got our marriage license yesterday! Pinaulit pa kami sa pag-fill up ng form kasi we messed up the first one, daming erasure kaya the one in-charge in signing the license put a note, buti na lang we were together at least we can have it signed din agad. So now, what's next is to wait for our wedding banns so we could complete our requirements, the Sto. Niño Parish in Taguig is charging me 500 pesssoossses for the banns which I think is too much considering na wala naman silang gagastusin sa pagbasa nun and to think that I never even go to church there and most likely walang makakakilala sa pangalan ko. Hay, pero sabi ni My Love ganun daw talaga yun, bawat simbahan daw kasi na daanan me charge kaya siguro ganun kamahal. Sabi pa nya:"bayaran na lang natin." Maybe that settles that matter.

We had the last session of our pre-cana seminar last Sunday, what's good pala in Malate Church is that they include an orientation on what to do during the wedding day itself. Nakakatawa kasi we we're given this wedding kit that contains 3 versions of the misalette that can be used. Fr. Kevin, (the one who facilitated the seminar and he was also the one who interviewed us) even asked several couples (including us!) to actually demonstrate by reading the exhange of rings, scrutiny and sharing of the coins part of tha wedding mass. They encourage the couple to memorize their lines because not only that it would look good on video but you'll also get to look into the eyes of your beloved while saying your vow. They (Malate Church) also gives this option that you can face you family, loved ones, friends and guests while saying your vows. O diba, really dramatic and romantic. I just don't know if My Love will agree to this. Masyado mahiyain eh.

I am glad that we now have several more accomplishments in our "to-do" list. We also got the mock-up of our invites last Saturday and have shown it already to Miel, Ben and Pho at aliw na aliw naman sila so aside from the changes in the text, I will be giving Printed Matter the go signal so by next week I can now give out our wedding invites. Next week would be already October, how time flies. Before I know it, November is here and together with it a happy and sad occassion. Come November 2, I will be not really closing a chapter but rather, I will putting a rest to our mourning...my Papa will be gone for a year on November 2, how I miss him....

Losing the game and on being....tactless???

2005-09-21T05:22:00.000+08:00

LETRAN vs. PCU Game 1 of the NCAA Season 81.

I was gripping my camera so tight and there were times when I just forget that I am at Araneta Coliseum not just to watch the game but to cover the event. Yesterday was game 1 of the NCAA Finals. Letran vs. PCU. What a game! I thought the game was already in the bag of the knights but we lost...whatever, I am just happy that I have some nice photos inspite of losing, it was nice of Rico to lend me a different camera lens, and though my I was really adjusting to the use of such lens I believed that I've put justice into my photos.

Tactless --
tact·less adj.
Lacking or exhibiting a lack of tact; bluntly inconsiderate or indiscreet.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
tactless·ly adv.
tactless·ness n.

Unkind, impolite, rude...was I ever like this? I mean, I am not perfect but I see to it that I don't do anything unkind to anyone because who would ever want people to be unkind to them. But today, someone told me that I am "taklesa" because I spoke some words to someone and what's really funny is that I didn't mean anything. The person to whom I have spoken these words was someone I consider real close to me, almost like my own brother and you know what ang nagsabi sa akin na taklesa ako was not him. But I apologized anyway...and nakakatawa because he really don't have an idea what is my apology for...Maybe I should just keep my mouth shut...

On my own...

2005-09-09T00:06:00.000+08:00

Today, I did something that I think I can be proud of, because it is not often that I do this. I am in the final days of my vacation leave and since I am feelin’ a lot better than the past week I decided that I shouldn’t let this day pass without accomplishing something for my still long but maybe not really alarming “to do list”.

Binondo...
In Binondo where I am supposed to inquire for the printing of birthday invitations for Lola Orang’s birthday celebration. Unfortunately after walking for almost an hour, I cannot seem to find the street which I am looking for. Well, it is partly my fault, I never asked for any landmark anyway because I believe that I will be able to see it easily, but my guess is wrong. So ended up goin’ to SM Manila. Which I think was a good idea because since I am waiting word from my fiancé if he could get away from his office so we could attend the afternoon session of the seminar so we could process the marriage license, waiting there would be a wise thing whatever the answer maybe because if the answer should be :

“No” I can easily walk towards the LRT station going to Araneta Ave. to the office of Printed Matter and if he says
”Yes” I can easily walk towards the Manila City Hall to meet him

Well I was wrong…

The seminar...
But anyway, I don’t really want to dwell into that, we were able to attend the seminar anyway, which has something to do with family planning, and a film showing on "the miracle of life", which reminds me, I have seen this film during my high school days in our health class. Parang nakakatawa ‘to, we were the last couple to arrive at the room and there were three other pairs there watching TV and mind you we were not alone there, several others, mostly women, (Jun was the only male staff) who I think must be staff of the department was watching in another set of TV, at hindi nila hinihinaan ang boses nila ha, kahit na maliit lang ang room at magkalapit na magkalapit na kami ha?! Tapos si Jun(the one who was giving the seminar), without uttering any word simply turned the VCD player on and the film was on…there was questions and answers pero not a serious kind of a classroom discussion then after about an hour, our marriage forms was handed back to us and we were instructed to go back to the civil registry office. Me oath taking pa pala talaga yun ano, we went to this woman who asked us to raise our right hands and asked us “Kayo ba ay nanunumpa na lahat ng sinulat nyo dito ay pawang katotohanan” then we signed the forms and we are to go back on the 19th for our license. Ganun pala yun, first time ko kasi magpakasal eh…he he he…

Printed Matter...

para akong namamasyal talaga, this time went to Printed Matter. It’s been almost two months since I’ve gone here for our wedding invites. A lot of new designs for the pop-up invites was on display and all of them are really attractive! I really want to make use of the portrait made by Ben for us, so I decided to pick out from one of the numerous pop designs and that’s it. Now all I have to do is send them the wordings for it and they will come up with my mock up. Yahoo! Now I can say that I already have my invites!

Meeting Dr. Don and going home...

finally, I met with Don before taking the FX in Masagana to take me home, this is to get Gian’s photos, I will be making a streamer for his birthday which is on the 24th!

this is really a fruitful day for me…I should be really be happy…pero bakit kaya ganun, sumakit nanaman ulo ko on the way home and I was throwing up as soon as I stepped at our door. I hope this doesn’t mean that I am getting sick again. I am on vacation leave now because I really wish to feel better, I’ve never been this sick in my entire life, and ang nakakainis I really don’t know what’s wrong with me….maybe I really need to rest na lang…

On invites pa din...

2005-08-05T10:28:00.000+08:00

I had an idea for the invites and since hindi ako nakatulog thinking about this I decided to make a simple layout based dun sa naiisip ko na gawin just to see and know the feeling kung ok ba sa akin ang naisip ko...kulit ko no?...Anyway, here it is...ngayon naman hindi ako makapili....

The first one is the classis invite na napili namin ni Ben when we went to Printed Matter. Ben did the vector graphic (our portrait) tapos inayos ko lang siya and I guess this is how it will look like kapag ginawa....

The second layout naman is parang sort of pop-up yet classic. I need the space kasi since ang dami ng wordings na gusto ko lagay sa invitation and to think na ang dami din ng ento ko, the bride and groom is a cut out na nakapatong sa paper sort of a pop-up. I want it (the bride groom) to be a portrait of us and the Church dapat siguro at least yung shape man lang is Malate Church, I have to ask the help of Ben (ulit) if he can make me a vector graphic ng bride and groom, if not sana pwede sa printed matter na lang pagawa......

The Portrait...

2005-07-30T18:09:00.000+08:00

Almost 4 months to go na lang before my big day…sabi ni Dzune nga hanga’t hindi dumarating ang 23rd day of the month of August eh 4 months pa din daw…

Ben made us this vector graphic to be the element na lalagay for our classic invites to be printed by Printed Matter. This is how more or less it will look like. But I am havin' second thoughts on this....ang katwiran ko since I can make it on my own why ask printed matter to do it for me? Kaya ang solution ko is to choose a new layout....tsaka hindi ko daw kamukha yung nasa "element" he he....baka daw isipin ng iba ang pakakasalan ni Dzune.....

The creative eye...

2005-07-01T14:02:00.001+08:00

Finding a photographer was hard for me. Ewan ko ba, ang arte ko kasi yata...gusto ko maganda pero syempre hindi mahal. Richard ni Phonam who is into photography offered to do it for me, pero syempre hiya naman ako sa kanya since I want them to be VIP guest's sa wedding ko tapos papagkunin ko siya ng pictures. is how i came about Chito Cleofas Thanks to Marc and Ruth, fellow w@wies.http://community.webshots.com/user/marcandruth2005

Caterer and the reception venue

2005-04-14T13:22:00.000+08:00

Mahirap din maghanap ng caterer and venue for the reception. Renting a place, means paying and additional fee of 15 to 30 (or more) pessssossssessss... Hindi ko talaga alam, o mas tama yatang sabihin, hindi ko yata kayang tanggapin. Katwiran ko sana, instead of paying an additional 25k, dagdag ko na lang ito sa food for the buffet at mabubusog pa ang guests ko.

Suki ako sa wedding, ewan ko ba. I get to be invited sa wedding ng lahat ng ikinakasal especially here in Letran, most of our photos (Dzune & I) was taken attending a wedding. I remember being in a wedding almost every Saturday of the month (then the following year every Saturday naman sa binyagan he he). So almost every possible venue napuntahan, nakainan ko na. RMC hall, Diamond Hotel, Manila Hotel, Windmills and Rainforest, Teatrillo, Kowloon West, Patio Ibarra, Century Seafood Restaurant, Hotel Intercon, I even attended a wedding reception sa Hard Rock Cafe, at masaya siya! etc. etc. pero what really captured my attention is Villa Immaculada...

The first time I attended a wedding here was when my college classmates, Jaymie & Gayle got married June years ago... Maganda ang place, food was good. At nasabi ko sa sarili ko noon, "when Dzune and I get married maganda dito... gusto ko din dito..."

Naku, ginto pala ang presyo sa rental pa lang ng place...add the 465 pesos per head...O my gulay....hindi yata kaya ng powers namin.....haay....hanap na naman.

Patio Victoria, para sa akin this i the perfect venue pag outdoor. There was one year, na dito ginanap ang Service Awards namin dito sa Colegio. And ofcourse we also made inquiries there. Together with another couple (Grace & Jensen) who are also getting married next year, kakahanap, nakaabot kami sa Illustrado. Ganda ng garden, iniisip ko pag November they start putting up Christmas lanterns, maliwanag at maganda na ang mga puno around it. Tapos ganda din ng setup. At nabanggit din ni Nanay that they like the place (Nanay's words were: "Naka-attend kami ng kasal dun, maganda. Pangarap namin na sana me anak kami na dun maghanda sa kasal.") So, partly nagugustuhan ko na din talaga ang Illustradom until I remembered. Letran's Grand Alumni Homecoming is every 2nd, 3rd Saturday of November at halos lagi umuulan kapag araw na yun. Last year, bagyo pa nga....so I inquired about renting tents sa Illustrado. Garden needs 3 tents, costs about 13k! Grabe 13k....

13k....sa Villa Immaculada na lang ako, secured pa na merong bubong umulan man or hindi. Today, we paid the reservation fee sa Tamayo's Catering for service on November 23, 2005 at Villa Immaculada....everything is falling into place now....