Mom and Dad's Ruby Year

Mommy's been planning for her Ruby Anniversary Party but no one else in the family is helping her plan, much more make moves for the party. Until they have to leave for Europe to attend a wedding.

The day after their arrival, they had their thanksgiving lunch with the family in celebration of their 40years together as husband and wife.

The family wore red.

We started the celebration with a Thanksgiving Mass with Mons Flint.

Lunch was served at the ballroom area. We served Filipino and Japanese cuisine with halo halo bar. It was a blast, as usual.

We ordered a small cake from Red Ribbon with Mom and Dad's picture from Grand Canyon.

Jenjen prepared the AVP with Ate's and her family's wishes for Mom and Dad. The staff prepared surprise dance numbers for them too.

The party was prepared in less than a week, with the celebrants at the opposite end of the earth. So, imagine the stress and hassle in preparing the party. The celebrants were happy, it's all worth it.

Eson-Michelle

My cousin, Eson, got married to Michelle at the Church next to Miriam School. I am sorry but I forgot the name of the Church.

I was assigned to be the commentator during the ceremony. Omar followed at the reception. Kuya and I played with their photo booth.

Reception followed at Gazebo Royale. Had a feast, of course. Congrats Eson and Best Wishes Michelle!

Don-Aina

We attended Don's and Aina's wedding held at St. Joseph the Worker at Clark.Reception followed at Mimosa Convention Hall, it should have been at Mimosa Hills but they couldn't risk the weather condition. But it stopped raining during the event.

Congrats Don! Best wishes Aina!

Mel-Bebet

Mel and Bebet got married at a church in Valenzuela. The reception followed after the ceremony within the church grounds.Bebet is Ate Bing's youngest sister.

It was a simple, yet touching ceremony. Kuya and Ate Bing was the cord sponsor.Congratulations Mel and Best Wishes Bebet!

Lizarondo-Loreto

The groom, Rex, is my cousin from my mom's side.

Daddy is one of the principal sponsors. But since he is out of the country, Kuya Dojoe represented him.Summer was the smallest among the 5 flower girls. She loves her dress, her shoes, her hairband, her flowers, everything!And she walked gracefully! I asked her who taught her to hold her dress, and she said 'me lang!' Ang arte!She loves having her photo taken. There was a time when a photographer was taking a shot of the flower girls and she happened to seat farthest from the camera, so she stood up and moved to the seat closest to the camera. And at the end of the wedding rites when all the relatives of the bride were being called to join for the pictorial, she joined them too and refused to leave. Ang kapal ng mukha hehehe.I was the host for the reception and had fun doing it. Cousin Jon serenaded the couple and the guests with a few song numbers. Summer had fun playing with her cousins. Winter joined us at the reception.I am a stage mom not only for Summer but for Winter as well.

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888

It's a ghost month for the Chinese calendar but yet a lot are getting married and scheduled their CS on this day.

Early morning today, we went to Dangwa to buy flowers for the wedding tomorrow. Upon getting there, no flowers were available. I thought I was too early. Since I'll be having my check-up in the afternoon, I decided to just go back in the afternoon.

After my check-up and tests from the laboratory, we went to Dangwa. And, no more flowers available!!! Roses came in at 11am, before it used to be at 4pm. And their prices!!! It was like Valentine's Day! Not enough flowers, and prices were soaring high. Good thing our client was not so metikuloso which flowers to use. I was even happy to get a weekday wedding since flowers are cheaper on weekdays over on weekends. I was wrong, a lot are getting married on 888.

Though, at the back of my mind, I also wished to give birth on 888. Pero okay lang kahit hindi kasi wala pa si Mommy =). Di naman si Mommy ang OB ko. I am just most comfortable giving birth with her around =).

Golden Anniversary

It was my uncle's golden anniversary. My dad's eldest brother.

They renewed their vows at the Shrine of St. Anne at Hagonoy, Bulacan and had the reception at Barcie International Center.We had buffet dinner. The grandson played a piano, the granddaughter recited a tagalog poem, some danced to the 60s, and a pair sang a love song. They had avp too.Good health and many more happy years together to Tito Pining and Tita Zeny!

Noel-Lyra

It was Lyra's D-Day!

Noel and Lyra's wedding was celebrated at The Coconut Palace. The rites started at 5pm, though Omar and I were late.
Vicky, Efren, Jusy and Nick also came to witness the celebration. We were seated at Table No. 1. Yipee! We were able to eat ahead for we were hungry already. We were served sumptuous dinner from Josiah's Catering. They had mongolian and tempura tables too, aside from the dessert table.

Omar and I were even called to join the game for the couples. They had fireworks too. I also got to meet a blogger mom, Jody, who coordinated the event.

We did not finish the program anymore since our baby was still waiting for us at Bulacan.

Congratulations Noel and Best Wishes Lyra! Looking forward to your mini Noels and mini Lyras.

Jim-Edhel

Dec. 16, 2007

Edhel, the bride, is my niece to my cousin. She is a resident doctor at PGH.

St. Rita Church, Phil Am VillageGazebo RoyaleThe bride and her parents had the same celebrant on their wedding day. Fr. Albert, a family friend, is the official priest of our family. There was never a wedding in our family without him at the altar. He wished not to be the celebrant for Edhel's first child's wedding.

The wedding was attended by almost everybody in the family. Some even came from the US just for the wedding. We had fun eating and laughing the night out.Omar and I had our wedding reception at Gazebo Royale too. I just had to have our photo taken at the rotonda of the place.
Congratulations Jim! Best wishes Edhel!

Odie and Carla

Odie and Carla became Mr. and Mrs. Reantaso yesterday, Nov. 30, 2007 at Vivere Suites at Alabang. They had a Christian wedding so the rites was done at the function room next to the reception area.

Odie is so loved by the kids. He is the konsintidor of the family. Tito Odie is the 'and the next chocolate goes to' tito. He is so matiyaga and so loving to his pamangkins.We had our family picture taken at the hotel before the rites.
My baby marched on her own! Yun nga lang sobrang bilis, muntik na di abutan ng camera for picture taking. Nasobrahan yata sa confident, tuloy tuloy, walang atras atras, ang galing! I am so proud! Halata ba?I was assigned at the gift table for the gift registration. Lots of gifts were delivered straight to their homes so it was not much of a job for me.
We were served with great food - mushroom soup with shrimp in lemon grass, vegetable salad with sun-dried tomatoes and salmon, fillet mignon with vegetables and steamed rice, and the best of all - dark and white truffles. I so love chocolates!

Then came our most-feared part - our song number. Haha! Di ako pumiyok! Di din daw ako sintunado! Or were they just trying to be nice? Everybody loved it! Nagulat kahit sila Kuya kasi they never heard me sing. Pumayat payat na sana ako e, natabi pa ako sa 2 kong SIL na paka-sexy. Ang taba ko na naman! Waaa!Summer, as usual, kept running the whole time. She was dead tired when we got to my in-laws house. And she would only sleep with his papa. She's so irritated when she sleeps after every busy day, just like this one.
Thank you Summer for marching like a good girl. You made me so proud once again!

Under Maestro

The Reantasos danced for Ojay and Yang on their wedding day.

The Reantaso brothers sang for me and Omar on our wedding day.

The Reantasos sang for Odie and Carla on their wedding day, this time with the inlaws! Yes, with the inlaws! Including me! Now I am allowed to post this since it was done already.

I never sang. At school, during competition, I would be assigned at the props just so I would not be included in the singing. With my own family, even if we were miles away from home and no one would recognize me, they would not hear me sing.

But I have to be a good daughter in-law and obliged.

We rehearsed for our song number for 2nights - 1 at our house and 1 at their house. Keat, Omar's very talented cousin, our maestro, taught us.The Reantasos were so supportive. They know that I don't sing. They did not make fun of me. They boosted me up. Thanks! But I'd rather keep my talent hidden hehe.

Bridal Shower

We were invited to join Carla's bridal shower hosted by her mom, Tita Cata, at Ayala Alabang.

We came in late for we came all the way from Bulacan. There were a lot of mommies there and we were 1 long table. Mama brought bibingka with monggo and everybody loved it.

We played games, had counselling on how to be a Godly wife, and opening of the gifts. We did not finish the event since Onnie still had to hear mass. We weren't able to see Tita Cata's gift for Carla which was a framed letter from Odie, sayang we didn't get to see her reaction.

That night, Omar and I had a talk. Looks like I'm not a bad wife after all. I just need to improve in some aspects.

Good luck Carla! I hope you like my gift for you!

Despedida de Soltera

My eldest niece with my cousin is getting married on Dec. 16 and she had her despedida de soltera yesterday at San Jacinto Panciteria at Libis.

We had lunch and, as usual, most of the Santiagos occupied the room over the guy's family. We are such a big family, and so intact at that too. It was a day filled with food and laughter. Syempre masaya kasi ako ang emcee hahaha, kapal! One guest even complimented me that I was witty and I was so flattered. Naniwala naman ako agad hehehe. The room was full of professionals kasi, considering that my niece is a resident doctor at PGH. E sanay lang naman ako mag emcee sa probinsya, di naman sa minamaliit ko mga taga probinsya. Mas at home lang ako sa home court.

I like her speech at the end of the party thanking her family, friends and relatives that everything came easy for her - from studies to career. And now facing her new life as a wife, she'll be on her own now. I truly wish I could give the same to my Summer and would-be children - an easy life, yet making them strong and not too dependent on us.Good luck Edhel! I'm sure you'll be a good wife to your hubby, Jim.

Wedding Day

'So it's You' were being sung when I walked the aisle on January 31, 2004 to my now-husband, Omar. As I was trying really hard to stop myself from crying when I saw Omar wiping his tears, hiding behind his best man and his mom. A surge of happiness swelled inside me that tears inside me froze and I smiled all my way to the altar.

I got ready for my wedding at Edsa Shangri-la Hotel. My bridal gown was from Patis Tesoro, while my make-up artist then was Cocoy. The photographer was Pierre Oliver Cruz and the videographer was Visual Studio.

We got married at Mary the Queen Parish at San Juan. The celebration was held at 3:00pm, led by Monsignor Flint and Fr. Albert.

My aunt generously offered me Gazebo Royale as venue for our wedding reception for free. It's a very nice place for events and it was new that time so it will be the first time for all our guests to visit the place! We grabbed it the first time it was offered. Hizon's Catering provided us with the sumptuous dinner buffet with lechon baka from my parents. Everybody loved the over-flowing food.

Ojay, Omar's brother, led the program. He prepared the AVP - I'll try to grab a copy so I can post it here, Papa Oka sang, my cousin and Omar's friend sang too, and of course the surprise number of all my brothers-in-law as they sang 'I do'.

It was a day prepared for months. A day that will make a difference. A day that will start the new chapter of my life. It was remembered, not only be me and my husband, but our families, friends, and relatives who happily shared the moments with us.