I’ve been wanting to blog these past few days… believe me! I didn’t write anything not because I can’t find the time but because I can’t find the right words.

You see, I’ve been going through a challenging time right now but I’m not sure if its bloggable or not. Well, I just don’t want other readers to misinterpret what I truly feel. (Yeah right, as if I have tons of readers out there!)

So anyway, I’m still not writing anything about it but I’m stopping by to say a quick hello to my friends who dropped a line or two at my tagboard and to those who didn’t but blog-hopped anyway.

I’m good. Dex & I finally got a new helper - who got sick after her first day by the way. She’s fine now.

My bday is fast-approaching. I’m turning 26 on June 25 and we plan to have the house blessed on that same day. Until now there are things needed to be done for the house. Put up screen windows & curtains, paint the bar turned divider, repaint the grills, etc. We’re excited though to welcome everyone and finally have it blessed one year after purchasing it.

Aidan moved in with us already. He was kicked out (hehehe!) from our Nova Home to make way for Sandy. He’s upstairs as of the moment until Agatha gets to transfer to her new place. They shouldn’t see ech other coz they fight a lot. I’m writing about our dogs and cat, hehehe! A poodle, boxer and Persian Cat.

What else is new? I guess thats it for now… until my next blog update! Ciao!

Due to insistent public demand (Public = Dexter), I am writing this blog for my husband because LAST NIGHT, I have discovered an additional PERK! Heheheh!

Perk nga ba yun? O bading lang si Dex? Hehehe!

It all started when he took a closer look at my toenails and realized how badly it needed cleaning na daw! He asked me why I’m so tamad to do it eh all we need is a cuticle remover, acetone and a pusher lang naman.

Ang tamad ko kasi talaga… plus I left my nail care stuff at our old house na, so we need to buy new set ulit.

We went to Watson’s that same day and bought all that we need for my nails… plus so much more! Side kwento muna, I tried to cut down my cost on my toiletries. So beat this: My usual Php 95 CreamSilk 200 ML, I traded for a Php 99 Suave Conditioner at 444 ML. O diba? More than twice the quantity at same price! I used it… and well, I got what I bargained for. Its quantity over quality. Pero ok na rn kasi hindi naman mashado sensitive hair ko (or ako ang hindi mashadong particular sa Hair Care), maybe I got so used to the conditioning formula of CreamSilk and I need time to adjust to Suave. Kuripot talaga!

So back to my Nail kwento. When we got home around 10:45PM, I’m preparing to go to sleep na, kasi may pasok pa ko sa umaga. Dexter asked me, “Gusto mo clean ko nails mo while natutulog ka?!” Hehehe! Aba shempre I said YES! Thats a welcome treat!

But instead na makatulog ako, I kept on laughing while watching him clean my toenails! Aba, marunong talaga sha ha! At sinabi pa nya na when we were just dating, he really looked at my toenails, inspecting if it looks nice. I said Bruho sha noh! Ang ganda-ganda ng paa ko! He said Maganda nga! Kaya nga kita pinakasalan eh! Hehehehe!

So now, my toenails are all pink and pretty! Thanks to my hubby! Gay gay gay! Hahahaha! Seriously, bilib talaga ko kay Dex, pagsinisipag, nagiging ALL AROUND! Pawis na pawis pa sha habang nililinis ang nails ko!

Thank you Baby!

Last Saturday, while soaking wet with my own perspiration waiting for the magnificent MB ARRIBA at the Batangas Port, I chanced upon this article by Raya Mananquil at the Philippine Daily Inquirer claiming that she’s a Boracay Virgin.

Though it was her first time to visit Bora, she didn’t elaborate how nice the place was as so many authors have done so in the past. Instead, she wrote about her observations on the growing problem of waste disposal in the area.

Much as I want to do a Raya Version of my Galera trip, I must admit that, though I’m a Galera Virgin, my eyes aren’t that keen when it comes to environmental concerns.

On the other hand, I found myself looking left & right, up & down, searching for best buys, yummy food stops, beach buddies and beach “bodies”. Nope don’t get me wrong, I’m not looking for some hot stuff — coz I brought along my very own, my husband! — I just can’t help admiring how much great leaps women have made in terms of liberating themselves and becoming more & more expressive of the women that they are.

Thin, tall, short, fat, name it! They’re all there parading their bellies without batting an eyelash! Wow! How I wish I can have that same spirit to take off my tank top and reveal my two piece swimsuit too! All that Billabong hiding behind sarongs and shirts… going down the drain… tsk tsk tsk!

Day One started out really well. Lunch at Manalo’s was super filling and yummy! Or I don’t know if I’m just too hungry coming from the MB ARRIBA-gal (as what other passengers called it) trip that anything that looks like food appeals to me! I ate Samaral, liempo, talong with bagoong, inihaw na pusit matched with steaming white rice! Of course, can any lunch be complete without ice-cold Coca-Cola?!?

Next stop: SNORKELING! This activity actually scared me. But since everybody was joining… I’d rather be there half-scared & half-having fun than doing absolutely nothing at all. I wore complete gears to protect me from whatever thats under the sea. I have seen corals hundred times already at the comforts of our house where Kuya takes care of his own corals & Nemo-looking fishes. But I’m not prepared to see them at their natural habitat.

When its my turn to dip into the water, I can’t let go of myself as I was too freaked out to accidentally step on it or disturb their state. Good thing Dexter was there to reassure me and my Kuya who kept on joking, “Wag kang babakla-bakla! Magpakalalake ka!” Yeah thats the deal you get being the only girl in the family!

So finally, I let go and was in the water already. After a few moments, I was adjusting my gogles and preparing my first peekaboo.

There they are… alive and kicking… within my grasp! It was awesome. The feeling you get is indescribable. It took me to a whole new level of understanding the world of other living creatures. It was a humbling experience… being in their territory, feeling so small in the middle of the sea, knowing that I’m at someone else’s home and was probably an unwelcome guest.

It scared me. It really did. I swam a bit more (more meant 5 meters of crazy paddling of arms & legs, Im not a swimmer!) and looked for a different view. What I saw was more scary than the first peek. There were huge formations of odd looking corals, almost as if looking straight at me, and those spiny sea urchins, and other unknown species that I seemed to have missed in my science class!

Thats when I said snorkeling is OVER for me. I asked Dexter to help me swim back to the boat. I was there for only about 15minutes. I waited for them to finish and was envious at how they marveled about seeing moray eels, star fishes, etc. Why am I such a baby?!?

After that, the boat took us to another island with only few swimmers and tourists. Perfect time to get my tan! Walked a little further and found a spot that the sun seems to be kissing at that very moment! Thats only when I was able to take off my sarong and bare it all. Dex was actually surprised, hehehe! As if it was more surprising than to see me naked! Ay sus!

We seemed to attract tourist… was I a tourist spot?!?! Hehehe! Since more people are trooping to share the sizzling sun, I decided to put on my sarong again. So much for sun bathing huh!?

It was getting late already. We’re so excited to get our henna tattoo. We showered and made sure no traces of sunblock was left.

Off we went to Gecko’s Tribe. Aahhh so now I know where those UP students got their unique looking bags printed with lizards! And oh, I found Dreamcatchers there too! If only I haven’t got one too many already, I would’ve bought another one at Geckos!

Ate Mich and Kuya James are cool henna artists. There was a long waiting list just to get that australian ink on your skin! So while waiting, we made chicka. Kuya James even agreed to do a special design for me not found on their catalogue. They called it “Creation”. As in, “Creation na lang ang gagawin ko sayo.” Isn’t that cool?!? I told him I want something like sunrise with tribal look, and so he did. His canvass was my neckline, and boy it was a huge “creation”! Almost reaching my shoulders already! I just love it. For a moment I wished it was a real one! But no, of course I wouldn’t want something like that to be permanent! Hehehe!

My Kuya chose an armband type of tattoo, Tom chose a “Blade”-like design, Dex chose a skull-looking design plus a mean looking sun (!?!) and Abi chose a quarter moon with rays tattoo.

We were all very satisfied!

Since we need 3 hours to dry it, Dex & I decided to sleep for a while in the family room. My Mama & Tatay were both singing using the abused Magic Mic! (it has travelled a lot already!)

What was supposed to be a short nap turned out to be a long sleep and we woke up the following day already…

Day Two began with a heavy breakfast… again at MANALO’s! We’re all excited to go for the Banana Boat ride! The thought of riding at that speed and getting thrown at the water is both hilarious, scary, thrilling and fun. I don’t consider myself so brave at these kinds of activities but the thrill-seeker side got the best of me.

We were composed of 7pax for the boat ride. I was seated second to the last. What started out to be a crazy ride ended up with me being trampled and crushed under water, got kicked at the head, back, arms, legs, everywhere! Thank God I was still conscious afterwards. But I wasn’t able to finish the ride though. I opted to ride at the motorboat and watch them being tossed like Barbie Dolls & GI Joes! Ouch ouch ouch! Thats all I can think of, but seeing them laughing afterwards makes me wanna try the ride all over again… minus the bumps of course!

After the incident, there’s no other way for me than go to rest and spend the rest of the afternoon sitting & waiting. So much for my Galera experience huh!

Oh but I still loved it. My tattoo, my anklets, my galera shirt, my souvenir rocks, and most specially, MY TAN LINES!

What can I say…?!? My summer mission is complete!

I never thought finding a helper would be difficult. Maybe because I got used to just having one yaya for the past 25 years and never had a problem with her except when she’s “pms-y”!

When Dex and I moved in to our new house, that’s when the actual “yaya” stories began.

I actually found myself asking advices from my N@Wie friends (newlywedsatwork) their basic policies for their helpers. I was clueless as you can imagine, this is our first time to be EMPLOYERS.

Here goes my ranting. What do we do when…

1. Manang breaks one dinnerware & one glassware in less than a month?

2. We find her sitting on the gutter, making chicka with the other helpers of the kapitbahay?

3. We eat almost sunog & matigas fried chicken?

4. Manang soils two of Dexter’s long sleeves while ironing it?

Hhhmmm… I don’t know though if its fortunate or unfortunate that she’s leaving soon. Her husband got a job already & she feels that she doesn’t have to work anymore… wow! lucky manang! Unfortunately for us, we haven’t found a replacement yet.

I just hope that the next one will be alright. Not perfect, but just right. I can tolerate glitches… oh tell me about it! We’re not asking too much, really. So there… Im crossing my fingers… I’m crossing everything I can cross with the hope of finding a helper we can really stick with for long.

Most “new” wives feel it, but not everybody talks about it. Reality bites though, that after getting married and moving in to your new home, the loneliness of having to leave your old house & family seems unbearable!

Only 4 weeks away from home, the adjustment stage is still where I’m at.. and oh it’s not easy. What do I do if I feel the need to cuddle my dog? Or just look at my Kuya’s fresh water aquarium? Or just tease our bunso about this and that?

How I miss those times when I have to be the one to answer phone calls and finding out that it’s my Tatay on the other line calling long distance from Cotabato City… those times when my poodle barks non-stop if strangers pass-by… even the days when I don’t have to lock my bedroom door because our helper is so trustworthy and has been with us for the past 20+ years! Gone are the days when I’ll see my room all fixed up with clean sheets after a no-work Saturday afternoon for my Mom…

But life is like that… nothing is permanent except for changes… and changes such as getting married is always a “welcome change”. Adjusting is difficult, yes. But I try to look at it on a brighter side…

There’ll be a new hangout for my mom, tatay & brothers… new bonding place as they say! Hehehe! A new place to build a CYN-DEX culture, start a family, establish a lasting marriage… the list can go on…

Exciting… but when I get a little bit lonely… I can always hit a few notes with the Magic Mic! :p

1. Hindi pa nagagawa ang pressure tank namin- meaning, hindi nakaka-akyat ang water sa bathroom namin sa second floor except between 12mn-4am. Eh pag walang pressure, hindi magwo-work ang heater - meaning, hindi ako maliligo! Hehehe! So si Dexter would make ipon hot water during these hours at tatakpan nya yun (in fairness, maganda ang quality ng Orocan!) hanggang magising ako ng 7am… surprise! Mainit pa rin ang tubig sa balde! Yipee! Pero magagawa na ang tank namin next week, so goodbye balde na ko. :p o diba, halos isang buwan din nyang ginagawa yan ha!

2. Kapag sira ang mga bumbilya o may switch na kelangan palitan — magaling ang electrician ko: si dexter!

3. Kapag malabo ang cable o kaya kelangan ng extension ang cable — si dexter na rin ang cable guy!

4. Kapag may nagfe-fade na pintura sa bahay — masipag ang pintor ko: si dexter pa rin!

5. Kapag nagugutom ako: si dexter ang nagluluto ng midnight snack namin! complete with chopstix pa yan!

Simple things, simple joys. These are the things that make our marriage happy. Just when I thought its gonna be hard & difficult, my husband & I just had to go back to these simple things and realize that we don’t need a lot… just these, and love… and a little money! :p

Last Saturday (March 5), my college buddies gave me a Bridal Shower at the Astoria Plaza (Ortigas).

(Supplier Rating - kuno!: 10; condo type sha, with two rooms, kitchen, dining, sala, maid’s quarter, storage room, 3 CR for 4K, ok sana yung rooms & amenities, kaso sabi nila maingay daw kami, heheheh! eh nanonood lang naman kami ng DVD ni kirsten dunst — uyy kirsten dunst daw oh!)

WE HAD A BLAST!!!

I can’t believe my friends went through all the trouble to give me such a great party! The night started with of course… dinner - dinner, inom - inom, exchange of never ending chickas! Tapos came the kinky gifts… Hehehe! Not so kinky naman - coz they were saving the real kinky stuff for later, hehehe! Tapos one by one, they gave personal messages. Really touching coz when it comes to how much we care for each other, hindi kami vocal. But that night, I was touched to actually hear them say how much I mean to them and how much they look up to me & Dex for having an almost perfect relationship. They said they admire me so much and they’d do anything just to give me a bridal shower that I really deserve. And we ended up crying all together, and laughing at the same time! Para kaming mga baliw. I told them, “Sabi na nga ba, magiiyakan eh!”

I bought tokens for them… I was told kasi na there will be games. Kaso nga, as the night unfolds, hindi mapalagay yung mga barkada ko. Hindi kami makapag-games! So sinabi na nila sakin what’s in store for me. They hired pala male stripteaser! Eh di naloka ako! Never pa kasi ako nakakita ng ganon pati sila! So lahat kami FIRST TIMERS! Kaya pala uneasy ang mga loka, pati sila kinakabahan! Pero ako ang pinaka-kabado sa lahat! As in! Hehehe! Grabe tlaga, sabi ko nga, “Ok lang sumirko-sirko sila basta may damit! Or kahit briefs! Wag nyo na lang paghubarin, PLEASE!” Naglitanya na ko sa kanila! I was cursing left & right coz I’m so nervous. Ganon pala feeling talaga if you’re about to do something that’s so NEW to you!

Eh yung isa kong barkada na girl, mejo GAME tlaga kasi nakainom. Sabi nya, “All the way dapat!”. Sabi ko, “Ang daming kwarto jan o, gawin nyong VIEWING room! Kaming mga “conservative” - dito lang sa labas! Hehehe!”

So came the agony of waiting for the dancer! Everytime may magdodoorbell, tumitili kami! Feeling namin, anjan na! OA!!!!!!

At ayan na nga, around 10PM dumating na! OH MY GOSH! TATLO SILA!!!!! Naririnig ko, nagpapalit na sila ng clothes (actually, NAGBABAWAS!) sa bandang maid’s quarter. At yung dalawang barkada ko na “punong-abala” sa pag-organize, tawa ng tawa kasi mukha daw kaming super kabado! Naririnig ko na mga boses nila from afar. At totoo tlaga, namumutla na ko! Di kami mapakali kung anong pwesto na gagawin namin sa sofa, kasi right in front of the sofa sila sasayaw, inalis kasi ang center table sa sala! Umaakyat na nga ko sa sandalan nung sofa to move as far away as I can from the center area! Hehehe!

At shempre pa, nag-shawl ako. As in yung malaki na parang sarong ha! Kasi I want to have something to cover my eyes, my skin, my body!

Tapos ayan na… nag-DIM lights na. Ni-ready na namin mga cameras. Sabi ko, “Madilim, baka di natin makita kung ano na pinag-gagawa nila!” Tapos sabi nung isa, “Sigurado kayong gusto nyo ng maliwanag? Baka maloka kayo kapag nakita nyo sila ng maliwanag!” Eh di mas lalo na naman ako naloka! Grabe na ito. Nag-special instruction pa pala ako, BAWAL NILA KO HAWAKAN!
Tapos yung isang dancer, parang sumilip sha, nakita ko - NAKATOWEL! Grabe, nakakabaliw. Sabi ko agad dun sa friend ko, “Pwede bayarang nyo na lang, tapos paalisin nyo na!? Wag nyo na pasayawin! Di ko talaga carry!” Tawa sila ng tawa. Sabi ko nga, “AYOKO NA! Mag-magic mic na lang tayo!” Sabi naman friend ko, “Oo nga, “magic” mic talaga to!” Hehehe, mga baliw!
Finally, came the moment — tumugtog na ang “I’m a Slave For You” ni Britney Spears!
HALA! SIGE! Giling na! Ang mga towels, nagsibagsakan na sa floor! Sa totoo lang, di ko natingnan talaga ng straight! Alam nyo yun, tipong peripheral vision lang lahat — di ko tlaga kasi kaya!

Eh yung friend ko nga na GAME (itago natin sha sa pangalang ANNA, hehehe), sumayaw sa gitna with the boys! Oh my! That I have to see! Kaya kahit mahirap, tumingin ako ng diretso sa harap at nag-cheer na for her! That was hilarious! Umupo pa sha dun sa chair, na dapat for the bride! Hehehe!

Tapos ayan na… sabi ni ANNA, ALL THE WAY na raw! Sabi ko, “Serious?? NO!!!!!!”
Eh yung mga boys, shempre GAME na! One by one daw sila. Sabi pa, “Mam, pang-finale na po ito.”

Ayun — pumikit na talaga ako, at nagtalukbong! Naririnig ko lang is puro sigawan! Tapos after mga 30 seconds, sabi nila, “O si AmBoy naman!” Tapos hiyawan na naman! Tapos, “Si Mr. Luzon naman!” Tapos hiyawan ulit! Grabe grabe grabe!

Tapos biglang hinila ni ANNA yung talukbong ko! Eh di no choice ako but to open my eyes! Buti na lang kamo, natatakpan nung kamay nila yung mga “thing” nila — or else! GGOOOSSSHHHH!!!!! Grabe talaga!

Nakahinga lang ako ng maluwag nung natapos na, at nagbihis na sila! Thank God its over!
Aba shocked ako kasi nakipag-bonding pa samin yung mga BOYS! They sat sa dining area at nakipagkwentuhan, WITH CLOTHES ON na ha! :p They told us the drama in their lives — why they’re doing it, etc. I saw the more “human” side of them.

I can’t tell though if they’re telling the truth or not. Maybe THAT’S the TRUTH they want to believe or maybe their making up sad stories to justify their acts. I really don’t know.
All I know is that I’m glad when they signalled that they’re leaving na! Hehehe! Shoo shoo, go away! Heheheh! Kaming mga girls na ang magbobonding. :p

Tapos ayun. They left na.

Funny, when we were fixing the place, etong friend namin na pinaka-motherly sa lahat, kept a kitchen knife pala near the sala — baka daw kasi kung ano mangyari eh!! Sabi nya, “Papatayin ko tlaga sila!” Hahahah! Dios ko day, MURDER ITO! Hehehe! I’d like to believe that she was joking — but I’m glad she hid it within our reach anyway… :p

What happened next is a series of videoke festival! Hehehe! And totoo tlaga — we watched “Bring It On” DVD - pangpaantok!

(Special thanks to Jaja — pwede na mag-apply na crying lady, Cean — ang aking mamasan, Misty, Leng & my secondary sponsor, Sheryll)

First of all, I’d like to acknowledge my “Game Na Game” videographers for bearing with our “demands” in shooting a very unique, wacky, action-packed, & unforgettable wedding AVP. They’re no other than BONG, CJ and JON of Thre3logy Digital Videos. Thank you guys!

Dex and I are vain. We love cameras. Our first official purchase as a couple was a Kodak Digital Camera and our first date includes a trip to Great Image Studio for a pictorial. Hehehe.

And so when deciding for a photo and video supplier to cover our wedding… we were excited! The package that won the photo coverage is Passion Photography’s Digital Coverage… Alan Borras is the main guy and he’ll be bringing another colleague.

For the video… the supplier who brought the more cameras… the BETTER! Thre3logy offered a 3-cam set-up, all 3CCD, for a very reasonable amount! We just can’t resist the offer!

Here comes the torture… the shooting of our AVP (by 3logy)…

Actually, it was Dex & I who brought this upon ourselves. Thre3logy has nothing to do with it other than to give in to our ideas, encourage us, excite us even more and suggest a little bit of this and that. To sum it up, “nanggatong pa sila…so NO BACKING OUT!”

As much as I want to tell the AVP Concept, we have to keep it a secret. But its like no other wedding AVP you’ve seen before!

Just imagine putting together AMAZING RACE, SURVIVOR and our local, EXTRA CHALLENGE in a wedding AVP… and you’ll understand why!

On January 23, the actual shoot will take place! We’re very excited and nervous already! And a lot of brides-to-be are actually waiting for the result of this “experimental” video.

Can’t wait for it too!  

(Migrated from my previous blog last December 15, 2004)

After booking the Church and the Reception venue around May 2004, our preparations went to a halt. Pa-easy easy muna coz we got the major parts covered na.

BUT I’m an active member of the Weddings At Work. It gave me a full view of preparing a wedding. From suppliers, to packages, to haggling techniques, to just making kulitan with the other brides to be, to consoling those experiencing cold feet, etc! It was cyber bonding tlaga. Then, some of them I got to meet during wedding exhibits!

I can’t remember when I began seriously scouting for a designer. I guess I was following the pace of my fellow March brides and all of a sudden, they started talking about DESIGNERS. Shempre, sali ako jan!

It was a W@Wie member - Charo ni Jovan - who first caught my attention when she posted and raved about her designer. As in, no idea who she was, haven’t seen her work, haven’t met anyone who has been her client, BUT her name sounded unique so she was the first one I texted. Nice criteria huh?

To my relief, she replied quickly and we immediately set an appointment. I met her on a Tuesday. Went to her house in QC, armed with nothing! No idea about my gown, no fabric in mind, no design whatsoever. But she was marvelous! In a span of a few minutes she was designing a gown that I soooo love!

BUT even before she finished sketching the gown, I love her already! I just know I have to get her. She makes me feel well-taken cared of. She wasn’t hesitant to sketch and give me tips on what would look good on me, considering the fact that I’m not even sure if I’ll get her or not. She was generous in giving her ideas. Very courteous, especially to my Mom who went with me during the first meeting (and still went with me until the fittings!). My Mom said after meeting her, MABAIT SHA NO?

And so after two days, we signed the contract and paid her in half. Time went quickly before I knew it, I was on my third fitting with her already. The feeling is undescribable when I tried my gown. I was speechless, to think that I was fitting just the lining! It was one of the prettiest piece of clothing I’ll ever own, if not the prettiest! It felt different, its beyond words. I wasn’t fitting just a gown but it meant a whole lot more to me.

It’s only December now. My wedding is on March. Before Christmas, my gown will be half done. We have to take the whole ensemble to Lumban for special operations (handpainting and embroidery - no beadwork) that will take a good one and a half months to finish. By February, I’ll be seeing the real deal. I’m so excited!

Oh by the way, my heaven-sent designer is Veluz Reyes of Seeds Clothing!