Nov 30, 2008

Some "quotable quotes"...

From Sis Jenee, a fellow w@wie bride...
  1. An Eat Bulaga contestant was asked by Joey and Vic: “Ano sa Tagalog ang grasshopper?” Contestant: “Ahmm. . .Huling Hapunan?”
  2. It was an ex-PBB housemate (1st batch) who said this (i think this was Cass): “Big Brother, ginagawa po nila ako laughing stuff…”
  3. In Wowowee, the question was: “Kung ang ’sigaw’ ay ’shout’ sa Inggles, ano naman sa Tagalog ang ‘whisper’?” The contestant answered: “Napkin!”

Sharing Some Pix...





Few of our raw photos...More to come.


On Clones and China Phones


It has been 9 years since I first got to use a non-analog cellphone-it was Nokia 6150. I was then a college student at DLSu-Manila. Back then N 5110 was the most famous phone and so how proud was I to have 6150..hehe..
Nine years passed and hundreds upon hundreds of units had come and go...from 6150, I had 3310,to 6510,to Moto, to 3210, to 6600, to Moto Razr, to N73...recently though, our faculty has been the subject of burglary (4 times in these past 2 months!) and I began to worry about bringing my N73 as we would often bin our classes where cellphones are a no-no. So I decided to look for a less "eye candy" cell phone. Glad my tito gave me a China phone...It has 2 batteries, a camera, an mp3 player,dual sim and the likes...It may be a clone, it may not be trendy as my N73 (which I'm keeping for a while) but as long as I can text, make and receive calls without me or the person on the other line sounding like Chinese, its fine with me!

Nov 29, 2008

And they call it Colorgenics

A good friend led me to this.
COLORGENICS.Say what?
You are longing for some love and affection at this time - not that you have been deprived of tender loving care - but there are times when everyone needs to try something new or to go 'somewhere' else to perhaps experience that little extra 'understanding'.You are feeling very vulnerable at this time. Nothing seems to be going in the right direction - business wise, private-life wise, everything. You need some emotional security and an environment which could possibly provide fewer problems, but the way you are feeling you can't be bothered even to make the effort.Everything seems to have gone wrong and the situation at this time is such that you are not quite sure which way to turn. So it would appear that you are 'holding back', re-consolidating your position and relinquishing all fun and games for the time being.Your ability to withstand the pressures of everyday life have been overtaxed and this is leading to stress and frustrations. It would seem that for the time being you have lost the resilience and strength of will necessary to contend with existing difficulties. You feel that it is all 'too much' and, try as you may, you are getting nowhere. But to give you credit, you continue to stand your ground and pursue your objectives with a fierce intensity. Naturally this situation is subjecting you to intolerable stress and pressure from which you would dearly like to escape, but you can not bring yourself to make the necessary decision. As a result you remain firmly involved in the problem and you can neither view it objectively nor get rid of it - you cannot leave it alone and you feel that you will only be at peace when you have reached your objective.You are putting on a show - a facade. You are a master of demonstrating considerable charm in the hope that this can or will lead to better things. Deep down you are fearful that this may not work and that you may have to employ other strategies in order to realise all your ambitions.Try it here.

Nov 26, 2008

The Sacrament of Waiting...

The English poet John Milton once wrote that those who serve only stand and wait. I think I would go further and say that those who wait render the highest form of service. Waiting requires more self-discipline, more self-control and emotional maturity, more unshakeable faith in our cause, more unwavering hope in the future, more sustaining love in our hearts that the great deeds of deering-do that go by the name of action.

Waiting is a mystery – a natural sacrament of life – there is a meaning hidden in all the times we have to wait. It must be an important mystery because there is so much waiting in our lives.

Every day is filled with those little moments of waiting – testing our patience and our nerves, schooling us in self-control. We wait for meals to be served, for a letter to arrive, for a friend to call or show up for a date. We wait on line at cinemas and theaters, concert and circuses. Our airline terminals, railway stations and bus depots are great temples of waiting filled with men and women who wait in joy for the arrival of a loved one – or wait in sadness to say goodbye and give that last wave of the hand. We wait for birthdays and vacations – we wait for Christmas. We wait for spring to come – or autumn – for the rains to begin or to stop.And we wait for ourselves to grow from childhood to maturity. We wait for those inner voices that tell us when we are ready for the next stop. We wait for graduation, for our first job, our first promotion. We wait for success and recognition. We wait to grow up – to reach the stage where we make our decisions. We cannot remove this waiting from our lives. It is part of the tapestry of living – the fabric in which the threads are woven that tells the story of our lives. Yet the current philosophies would have us forget the need to wait, "grab all the gusto you can get." So read one of America's great beer advertisement – Get it now. Instant pleasure – Instant Transcendence. Don't wait for anything. Life is short – Eat, drink and be merry because tomorrow you'll die. And so they rationalize us into accepting unlicensed and irresponsible freedom – premarital sex and commitment – against expecting anything of anybody, or allowing them to expect anything of us – against vows and promises – against duty and responsibility – against dropping any anchors in the currents of our life that will cause us to hold and wait.

For most of all, waiting means waiting for someone else. It is a mystery, brushing by our face everyday like a stray wind or a leaf falling from a tree. Anyone who has ever loved knows how much waiting goes into it – how much waiting is important for love to grow – to flourish through a lifetime.

Why is this? Why can't we have right now what we so desperately want and need? Why must we wait – 2 years, 3 years, 5 years and seemingly waste so much time? You might as well ask why a tree should take so long to bear fruit – the seed to flower – carbon to change into diamond.

There is no simple answer – no more that there is to life's other demands – having to say goodbye to someone you love because either you or they have already made other commitments; or because they have to grow and find the meaning of their own lives – having yourself to leave home and loved ones to find your own path – Goodbyes, like waiting, are also sacraments of our lives.

All we know is that growth – the budding, the flowering of love needs patient waiting. We have to give each other time to grow. There is no way we can make someone else truly love us or we them, except through time. So we give each other that mysterious gift of waiting – of being present without making demands or asking rewards. But there is life in the gift we give. So lovers wait for each other – until they can see things the same way – or let each other freely see things in quite different ways.

There are times when lovers hurt each other and cannot regain the balance and intimacy of the way they were. They have to wait – in silence – but still present to each other – until the pain subsides to an ache and then only a memory and the threads of the tapestry can be woven together again in a single lovestory. What do we lose when we refuse to wait? When we try to find short cuts through life – when we try to incubate love and rush blindly and foolishly into a commitment we are neither mature nor responsible enough to assume? We lose the hope of ever truly loving, of being loved. Think of all the great love stories of history and literature – Isn't it of their very essence that they are filled with this strange but common mystery – that waiting is part of the substance – the basic fabric – against which the story of that true love is written.

How can we ever either find life or true love if we are too impatient to wait for it?

Nov 25, 2008

The Hunt Is On...

We went to the Wedding Expo last Sept.6-7 with the hope of booking some suppliers…and we did. We were able to book Printed Matter for our invites and Save the Date magnets. We chose to have the square invites but we don’t have the particular design yet.
After that we went to MOA for the mini-book entitled “The Sacrament of Marriage” which is a marriage guide and misalette reference all in one.

ON DIY TREND

Whoever said that DIY is such a breeze…whoever started that DIY thing must have some really extra time, some extra hands and feet…hay. It’s hard to pump out all those creative juices late and it puts pressure to other brides because it makes you feel as if you are less of a bride if you don’t do any DIY stuff...grrh.

Nov 24, 2008

Trip to Bridal Fairs

Future H2B is uber shy so imagine the amount of motivation needed just to bring him to a super crowded venue where bridal fairs would exhibit...we've been to three actually-Celebrations at SMX, The Debut & Wedding Fair in SM Megamall and The Wedding Expo at the Forum.

Here are some of the loots...Pics to follow!


Wedding Cd-with Wedding Expo Jingle by Trina Belamide
Sense and Style Magazine
Thank You Cards by Printed Matter (we booked them)
Wedding Expo Bridal Directory



There's something on my head...

LOVE: Adjective or Verb?

If one were asked to describe love, they would probably attempt to convey blue skies with fluffy clouds, fluid harps and lovers embracing with whispering sweet-nothings, kisses and long stares. My counsel to those in this "love coma" and to those misguided souls who think that the word "love" in itself is a blanket statement that warrants no thought or movement after the fact that those three words pass their lips, is that love is not a description. Love is a verb, an action word. Action means doing, saying, and moving.
Love is more than passion and an ecstatic "I love you too." Love means more than sharing a cup of coffee, a gross sharing of toothbrush or proverbial e-mail. Love means "show me." Many overlook this clear reality and end up just like undisclosed coffee crystals in the bottom of a cup and wonder after several years down the road where they went wrong.
People tell me that chivalry is dead, but I say, NO! Chivalry isn't dead, just taking a nap. Wake it up, resurrect it! Yes, you made the first move, took her out to dinner at the finest restaurant in your city and walked her back to her apartment and didn't pressure her for that first kiss, but now you're far beyond that. You want to be the only sunshine in her life, and the only hose watering her lawn, so be innovative. We put our best foot forward when we date, maybe we were overly generous and flattering trying to sell ourselves like an item marked down 50% off on a clearance rack, but you need to continue to convey these things to keep them. You have to be a literal court jester, if you will. And if your grandmother never told you, I'm telling you, women love with spontaneity! They love to be wooed. We don't want to feel like furniture. We aren't in your lives to be overlooked, underappreciated, disregarded or sat on.
You say you love her? Or maybe you feel it and you're just holding back those words that you think will change her into a fire-breathing dragon once she knows how you feel? Be brave Robin Hood! Why feel something that you can't say? The tomorrows of love aren't promised.
Carpe diem - Seize the day! Love means much more than just words. Love means reaching for her hand in the supermarket between the honeydew melons and the tangerines. Love means not making her have to arm wrestle you for popcorn just because you're holding the bucket.
Love means, "I heard you mention that you wanted this new CD so I went out and got it for you just so you won't have to." Love means "I know you hate scary movies and action flicks and I hate love stories but I'll sit through 'You've Got Mail', and enjoy every minute of it, just for you." Love means calling just to say goodnight, not just because she asked you to or because you feel obligated, but because the sound of her voice lulls you to sleep. Love is doing!
Listen guys, it's not about Prada and Fendi. Not more on Max Mara or a Coach tote bag! It makes no difference to the average woman if it's a Godiva or a Snickers bar, just give it because it's always the little things that we remember anyway. We want to hear the words "I love you," yes, and at the same time, since words can be empty words, we want to feel it too. Sure we appreciate the fancy dinner by candlelight, but sharing that double mocha fudge ice cream cone with the candy sprinkles was a romantic gesture too. Bottom line--words are empty without actions to back them up. You heard the parable about the fig tree? It bore no fruit. It was cursed to die.
See, we don't care how you show it, just convey love any way you know how. Love to us can mean something as simple as "you" learning to write poetry that doesn't necessarily have to make sense or rhyme. Love can be a song on a cassette. Love is knowing her favorite perfume and buying it because when you hug her, she leaves her scent all over you, and you secretly like that. Love could actually know who makes her favorite lipstick and buying her a tube, especially when she's at the point of digging the last of it out with her fingernail or accompanying her for a job interview and waiting in line until it’s her turn. Love is assuring the person that you have his/her back at times when you know the world rests on his/her shoulders.
Whether you're in a long distance relationship or living right next door to the love of your life, realize that there is more than e-cards. The old-school, cheesy Hallmark cards, amidst the cynicisms, can still work wonders…give Mr. Cupid a break, will you? Let the mailman know he's delivering some love inside.
This is life, take risks! You love her? Make your words entice, work, talk, move, express. Breathe life in your love before it whither into a pile of wet leaves. Or if you're simply one of those uncreative souls who are simply unmoved by the ideas here but still can't manage a thought of your own, the least you can do is learn to say I love you in any other language than your own. How about French? "Je taime." She'd do it for you, and chances are she already has.
I still believe in LOVE, be it the verb, or the adjective, for I have a proper noun to associate it with--whose ways and means of letting me know that I am loved in return has thought me all of these and for whom I am dedicating this blog for.

Nov 23, 2008

Some Rantings...

Hay naku, I never expected na sa lahat ng magiging problem nmin, sa simbahan pa. Una pa lang, medyo toxic na ang dating ng secretary ng parish office. We were trying to reserve our date, lagi nya sinasabi its still too early, hello nothing is too early for a w@wie! So we tried to explain to her na every now and then, umaalis kami that’s why we wanted to have our date secured. It took us a couple of visits to their office before niya kame nilista and even when we had our pre-cana, she still continues to comment na ang aga daw ng wedding preps.

This is by far the extreme-- super delay sila sa approval ng misalette, tapos sila ang sobrang higpit sa mga pasahan ng requir I don’t know if I was expecting too much but considering the fact that I gave the copy to them last July 26, expected ko after a week or two ok na. We went back last August 16 to follow it up, di pa din na-check at sabi ng Parish Office secretary na natabunan daw kasi tapos biglang tinanong kanino daw namin iniwan, eh hello sa kanya kaya! This afternoon wedding coordinator volunteered to call them and do the follow up since our coordinator will do the misalette design for us. Aba, hello ganun din ang sabi sa kanya, di pa din daw na check kasi naiwan daw yun sa mesa at baka di napansin. Wala na bang mas logical excuse aside from that? Buti na lang at kakilala ko ang priest at pinahiram pa kami g sample misalette.
I just hope that parishes will know what their employees are doing as this reflects the efficiency of the entire parish office.
I hope they will understand the feelings of soon to wed couples who are trying their best to manage their schedules and juggle their time between work and wedding preparations. Can somebody try to put an end to this?

Nov 22, 2008

Our Wedding Reception Venue:
The Aguinaldo Hall of Island Cove Hotel & Leisure Park

TALES FROM OUR PRE CANA


Taken from our Pre Cana Seminar: July 26, 2008

I thought our day was doomed. Kasi medyo nagkatampuhan pa kami on the way to our pre cana. Kasi ayaw ko talaga ma-late sa kahit saan…early bird nga eh….hehe. Eh dahil nga we are supposed to get our pre cana next year pa kasi May 16 pa ang wedding naming pero dahil pinanganak talaga yata akong persistent, kaya napapayag ko din ang mga taga simbahan na ma-schedule kami, siyempre hiya ko na lang na after kaming pagbigyan eh late pa. So ayun, usapan naming7am ang alis namin, ayun medyo nagka hassle at nasundo niya ako ng 7:30 kahit na ang Pre cana ay 8am. Ayun paspas siya talagang mag-drive…natakot nga me kasi careful yun sa driving pero siguro na-pressure ko kaya ayun medyo careless.
Thank God naman at umabot kami at hindi lang yun, early birds kami. Pero at least while waiting napaliwanag ko sa mga taga parish office yung reasons why kami on the rush to fix the requirements and documents. Being a mentor is a vocation. It’s not the type of job that gives you the freedom to leave your work behind once you are home and my dedication to being a mentor is the primary reason why we wanted to arrange the requirements early. Imagine every month may activity in school, gawaan ng grades, meeting, field trip, sportsfest, speechfest, Christmas Party and JS prom etc.
Ok ang Pre Cana namin. It was very enlightening but it was fun. We were very comfortable all throughout the seminar even during the topics na medyo sensitive. We would like to thank the Couples of Christ speakers Bro. Sam, Bro. Boy and Bro. Mario who really took the time to share to us their experiences as married men. We thought boring ang Pre Cana kasi knowing na simbahan at akala naming sermon ang format. I had a friend kasi na nung nag pre-nup sila exam format pa, they were asked what is the definition of sacraments and what are the 7 sacraments. Pero super enjoy talaga. It made us realize about a lot of things in our relationship and what just happened that morning. Kaya yun, super sorry mode after that.
What hit me the most is the discussion that “Marriage is God’s Plan”…it’s true that there had been so many people whom we have met, so many trials that had come between us…but despite it all, we are still here. Being a mentor, it’s my nature to take down notes. Mas gusto ko kasi yung we have something to look afterwards and we can ponder over it again and again, and even share.

Nov 20, 2008

Inside our church venue: St. Michael the Archangel

THE WEDDING BUG BIT & STUNG ME



Ever since the question was popped, I have been stung hard by this wedding bug. I just can’t get enough of the planning the details for our Big Day. Every time I sit in front of my laptop, I just can’t keep myself from going through the details and planning. We’ve been to three bridal expos already: Celebrations (SMX), The Bridal Fair (World Trade) where I booked my supplier for wines and The Wedding Congress (Megamall).I am now eyeing the Themes and Motifs Wedding Expo 2008 at the PICC Forum to book the suppliers for our unity candles. Alonside those bridal fairs that we attended, I am maintaining two wedding websites- www.abygailandedison.ourweddingday.com and www.mywedding.com/edulovesaby. I have had two (2) W@W wedding primers with me (2006 & 2008), two (2) bridal magazines- Metro Weddings and Wedding Digest and numerous articles on tips about wedding planning and marriage and finally- I am a member of an e-Group which I will always be proud to be a member pre-wedding and post wedding…my W@WIE family.

Nov 18, 2008

READY…SET…GO!


Both of us considered our guest’s convenience when we were on the process of choosing our venue for both the reception and the church. I immediately discounted the idea of having a Manila wedding since Manila is too congested with numerous other weddings and receptions. We considered Cipriano’s Garden (PROBLEM: Nearest Church), Ysabel Garden (PROBLEM: Accomodations), Paradiso Terreste (which is the nearest of all), Island Cove Hotel & Leisure Park and Josephine’s Watercamp and Restaurant. Honestly, I was biased towards Island Cove Hotel since I had been personally to that place for a company seminar and I have nothings but the best recommendations for its amenities and services ( I even got myself a brochure for their wedding packages when I had a seminar…ESP stuff?). I talked to several friends who have held an event in Paradiso Terrestre and learned of several glitches. A lot of friends told me they have encountered frequent changing of package stipulations. After such, I decided that Paradiso was not among my option. We went Eds. She fell in love at Island Cove instantly to Island Cove and Josephine’s with my mom andand I felt that even though she agreed to visit Josephne’s, right there and then, she had made her choice. Ms. Sharon Dueñas of Island Cove was very courteous and accommodating especially during my numerous inquiries. We were able to block the date of May 16, 2009 one year before.If you think that’s where the problem stops, think again. Second in the list was the venue for the ceremony. Among our choices were St. Mary Magdalene which is a century old, red-bricked church in Kawit, Nature’s Church in Las Piñas (famous for its Anahaw ceiling), Our Lady of Lourdes in Covelandia Rd. with its open air altar and finally St. Michael the Archangel, an old red-bricked church built in 1752 and from where Padre Mariano Gomez (GOMBURZA) used to be a parish priest (that’s a plus point for historical value). We zeroed in for St. Michael the Archangel which we got for only Php3,500.00 inclusive of the use of red carpet, the choir, the electricity and the parish priest (who happens to be our former parish priest!) stipend. They have a credited flower shop for the flower arrangements which is just near the area so it wouldn’t be much of a problem.


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