7 days to go!

Last Sunday, I distributed our invites to my relatives in SOPAS (South of Pasig... mmmm, speaking of sopas... getting hungry, haven't broken the fast yet).  That's Alabang, Las Pinas, Paranaque & Bicutan.  Thinking it was a Sunday, I was hoping to finish errands early.  But was I in for a surprise!  Left the house at 1pm, came back 8pm...  7 hours just to go to 5 houses and hand out invites!  Weather was crazy cuz of Bebeng.  Certain streets in the Moonwalk and Better Living area were flooded almost up to waist level, had to stay at my cousins' house and wait for the water to subside.

But as the cliche goes, for every bad thing that happens, something good will come out of it.  Well, aside from the fact that Pacquiao won, I got to spend a little quality time with cousins and my Lola Auring (sister of my mom's mother whom we lovingly called Mama).  Also, had the chance to visit my brother Patrick's in-laws and play with my coin bearer, Uno, who happens to be my godson too.  He's such a big boy now, time really flies fast.  Before I know it, he 'll be graduating from college, working, getting married (or whatever) and having kids (paging granny Kor, hahaha!).  I gots ta visit him more often.  I'm sure he'll be a babe magnet once he reaches adolescence (ngayon pa lang yata e). Here's a photo fo' da ladies out there... fathers beware! :)

13 days to go pa rin! :)

And because we missed you a lot, I'm sharing another post before I call it a day...:)

I wanted to share with you a couple of photos during the pamamanhikan last March 25* in our home here in Batangas :)

Nowadays, this tradition is now called "family lunch or dinner". Sabagay, the Tagalog term sounds intimidating and nerve-wracking, if you think about it. So it was a good thing that my friends were just an SMS away so I can get advice, help and even fashion tips to prepare for it :)

The day turned out to be relaxing and endearing because we ended up looking at Ken's and my baby albums so we could choose photos for the videos, and laughing at how cute we were (now, we're no longer cute, we're gorgeous hahahaha!)

And even if Tat was not physically present, Tito Boy and Tito Mike were so kind to be there with Nangni (the 2 gentlemen stayed the whole time which touched my heart). Of course, Mommy, Tiya, Jhe, Shoom and Kooks were there with me while Ate Yoly , Kuya Popoy and Sam (from our compound) also dropped by. On the other hand, Ken came with his mom Tita Marie, his Tita Lucy who's visiting from Zamboanga, and his youngest brother Byron.

All in all, it was a really pleasant afternoon and I really thank the Lord for it and everyone for that special day :) :) :)

Seated (L-R): Tiya, Mommy, me and Tita Marie
Standing (L-R): By, Tita Lucy, Nangni, Tito Mike, Tito Boy, Ken and Jhe :)
Nangni, Tito Mike and Tito Boy are my Tat's siblings.

* March 25 is sorta special to both of us because it was around this time when he popped the big question (2 years ago) and when I said yes (1 year after). It's a beautiful story, if I may add, but I'll first ask my groom if I can share it widja :)

Good night, everyone! God bless and keep all of us in His love :)

13 days to go!

Hi, we're back!!! :)

13 days more to go and we'll see each other on our wedding day! :)

First off, we'd like to greet our moms, our titas, cousins and friends a Happy Mother's Day!!! :) God is pleased with your work and we pray for long, happy and healthy lives for each one of you so that you can continue to be your children's heroes, idols, best friends, cheerleaders, and confidantes! :)

As our wedding day nears, preparations are slowly building up. I know that most of you (esp those who'd be coming from Manila) have been making hotel reservations and talking about carpools and convoys. For those who have special roles on the big day, you're now planning and scheduling your fittings, hair and make-up sessions and rehearsals :)

But before you finalize all your plans, may I suggest that you make good use of the rest of that weekend for some R&R at nearby resorts so that you get one last hurrah out of summer before the rains start to become our regular visitor once again. (I know Bebeng has poured a lot of rains today but I rest on our Lord and trust that He'll bless us with a wonderful, beautiful and sunny day on the 21st :)

So, here are some resorts that you might want to check out while you're here in Batangas and just a drive away from Laguna. Might as well, right? :)

1. Laiya, San Juan, Batangas - Top off the list, this is the place to visit for some serious summer swimming. You might have heard about Laiya when Ryan and Juday had their wedding in this coastal town 2 years ago. The place has fine, polvoron-like sand, a nice seashore and resorts that range from the simple to the sublime :)  I personally recommend Sabangan (for its really good share of the shore) and Palm Beach Resort (for really, really nice villas with spacious rooms.) The place we got 2 yrs ago can house 8 persons and the terrace had a wonderful view of the sea. It also had nice, little huts along the shore where you can read a book or just simply meditate, daydream or gaze at the sea. Laiya is around 2hrs from Lipa. You can take the Lipa-Padre Garcia-Rosario-San Juan route or take Star Tollway and take the Ibaan exit.

2. El Madero or La Virginia Resorts in Mataas na Kahoy, Lipa City - My officemates perpetually kid me about the name of this barangay in Lipa but what can I do, it's really the name of the place. (Besides, I don't want to entice them to come by telling them about these nice resorts in Highwoods, Lipa City anyway :). El Madero Resort is a big and spacious resort with 3 big pools and small huts that you can rent for the entire day or houses where you can stay overnight.

Another really nice resort they've been telling me about is La Virginia Resort. This is more high-end and has a view of Taal Volcano.

You can reach these resorts by taking the national highway from Lipa and going towards Batangas City, past the Star Tollway exit (Manila-bound). Turn right immediately after Fernando Air Base to Mataas na Kahoy. Another come-on of the place is the fact that Aga Muhlach and Sharon Cuneta have bought properties here to build weekend homes and cultivate their own farms. Being the Aga Muhlach fan that I am ( I swear the world went into slowmo when I saw him in El Pueblo many, many, many moons ago), I still hope to see him when I come to visit - that'll be the day :)

3. Pansol, Laguna - There are a host of private pools, hot springs and public resorts that you can also visit in Pansol, Laguna.  After the reception, you can take Star Tollway (Manila-bound) and take the Calamba exit. Just drive and soon enough, you'll come across men along the natl highway with signs saying "private pool". Drive by and then you'll start seeing resorts on your left and right that all you need to do is to take your pick.

 

4. Los Banos, Laguna - If you're already in Pansol, why not drive to Los Banos to pay a visit to Mariang Makiling? You can explore UP Los Banos, dine at Bonito's (just before entering the main UPLB entrance) and you should not, I repeat, NOT miss buying and tasting Mer-Nel's chocolate cake! It makes me hum and wiggle EVERYTIME I have a bite of it (okay, not a bite; more like a slice or 2 :):):)

On your way home, don't forget to take home pasalubong:
1. tawilis and maliputo (really yummy fish) from the local market;  2. panucha, rimas and bukayo (really yummy sweetened nuts, local fruit and coconut) from the bus stop stores, and 3. buko pie.

Enjoy your stay, my friends!!! :)

Labing siyam na araw na lamang!

Magandang gabi, mga kaibigan! :)

Nagsimula na po kaming mamigay ng mga imbitasyon at ipapagpatuloy namin ito sa buong linggong ito. Maaari lamang pong maging maghintay ng kaunting panahon bago ninyo makuha ang inyong sariling kopya. Amin pong ikakagagalak kung agad ninyong ipapaaalam sa amin kung kayo ay makadadalo para malaman namin ang pangkalahatang bilang ng mga bisita upang maibigay namin ito sa maghahanda ng pagkain.

Samantala, narito po ang direksyon patungong Katedral ng Lipa at Tanauan Events Center upang magsilbi ninyong gabay papunta doon sa ika-21 ng Mayo para sa aming pag-iisang dibdib. Minabuti naming ilagay na rin ito dito sa aming blog upang bukod sa kopya na nakalakip sa imbitasyon ay maaari rin ninyo itong tignan sa inyong mga smartphone, ipad, tablet at laptop habang naglalakbay tungong Batangas.

Paalala: Kung maaari lamang po ay nasa Katedral na kayo ng 8:30 ng umaga at suot na ang barong (para sa mga kalalakihan) at masasayang kulay na mga bestida (para naman sa mga kababaihan).

Ayon sa gabay at alintuntunin ng Katedral para sa mga kasuotan:

     "Kinakailangang maayos at disente ang kasuotan ng mga kakasalin. Iwasan ang sobrang bukas ng dibdib at likod, maigsi, sobrang hapit, matataas na slit, at iba pang uri ng kasuotang nakakatawag ng pansin, mahalay o hindi angkop sa banal na tahanan ng Diyos. Ang Katedral ay may nakahandang mga balabal, blusa o palda na maaaring itangkop sa damit ng babaeng lumabag sa alintuntuning ito."

Sa madaling salita, magdala na lamang po ng balabal o "shawl" na maaring isuot sa loob ng simbahan kung medyo "revealing" ang inyong suot.

Salamat po! :)

PS: Para sa mga kaibigan naming mas matatas manalita ng salitang banyaga, nawa'y di pa kayo binabalinguyngoy sa kakabasa nito :)