Parting is such sweet sorrow...

Tonight my honey is going to Ilocos… without me! He has been asking me to go with him for the fiesta for the longest time but alas! wasn’t able to go on leave at the office. Also, he would be painting their house and since I have Asthma, Idont want to risk having an attach there when I smell the fumes from the paint.
We started the day early by going to Baclaran to buy “pasalubong” for Nana & Tata (Charlie’s parents). we also bought new curtains to complete the house in Ilocos’ new look. At around 3pm we went home (my house) to pack what we bought properly then at around 4:30pm we said our goodbyes then he went home (espana, manila) to get his things and then went straight to the bus terminal. :(

Hazelle's Debut

Yes! Although there were several hitches, like some of the guests getting to the party later than the assigned time (for a more surprising effect), Hazelle's (She's the girl in the picture... the dog's Nafnaf) Surprise Party was all in all a success. There was enough food and drinks for everyone. Our Tito Rey and Tita Janet pinched in with the softdrink flow, Mom ordered special pancit, I took care of the 4-course buffet, my cousin Dette and sister Mae helped out with the invitations and giveaways and Zelle’s friends spread the word (in whispers, because it’s a surprise!). There was singing (we set up our magic sing), a bit of dancing, and a lot of merry-making! Charlie even brought videocam to document the affair. My dad even brought out his black label and had a couple of shots with his friends and Charlie. Wow! My honey’s really slowly starting to be part of the family!

Gift Hunting

Went to SM Manila to look for possible gifts for Allan’s and Hazelle’s birthdays and for Lichelle’s upcoming wedding. We were able to buy a portable organ for Allan (he belongs to a band called “5 leaves left”) then we bought paper and ribbons for Hazelle’s Debut/Surprise Party invitation. We were not able to find anything for my cousin, Lichelle’s wedding though… the wedding would be in Batanggas, first week of May… will we be able to attend?

Progress on the Ring

Mom’s jeweler Cynthia took our ring sizes and promised to look for a smaller stone for the setting. We told her that the ring was pretty expensive and we would not be able to afford it anymore if there would be an increase in the price (you know, in case the gold gets more expensive or the stone setting is bigger!). She informed us that we could get our rings on installment basis since the wedding won’t be for another year… (hmmm… good?)

The Ring

Here is a picture of the ring we picked...
Doesn't it look classic?! Anyway, my mom volunteered her jeweler friend to make the rings but we're still awaiting the final price quote from her. The first quote was quite expensive plus the stone she showed us was a little too big for the design we chose.

Me, The Godmother...AGAIN!

I was chosen to be a Ninang again by one of my friends/officemate…Again! (I have now 35 “inaanaks” and counting…) Edwin (my new kumpare) and Jaybee (my other officemate) picked me up from my house so I could attend the seminar for Aliya’s (my new inaanak) baptism tomorrow. The seminar took longer than expected so Charlier was already in SM Southmall (we had a prior agreement that he would meet us there after the seminar) by the time we got there. Anyway, Charlie was already starving so we ate first at Sorabol then strolled around the mall for a while. We then inquired at Acclaim about a butterfly release for the wedding. We also saw several items that we are thinking of getting for giveaways and souvenirs that would be ideal for our principal sponsors as well as our parents. (Mental Note: compose a short “thank you” poem or quote to put in the souvenir!)

Baywalk

Although it wasn’t mine nor Charlie’s first time at Baywalk, it was our first time there together. We watched the regatta race (It was some kind of celebration in manila, I forgot what it was!) and then stayed on for the show in front of Malate Church.

St. Andrew's Cathedral

Charlie and I went to church today, we attended the usual Wednesday novena then heard mass. Wow, the St. Andrew’s Cathedral really brings back so many memories (of course it wasn't a cathedral then). I know that aside from my parents having gotten married there (I think I have browsed through their wedding album more than a hundred times!), I was also baptized there. I remember the many Sundays my family and I attend mass there together when my siblings and I were still in grade school… in high school I would attend the afternoon Sunday mass with my cousins and then when I started working, I frequented the Church every Wednesday for the novena (aside of course from attending Sunday Mass, usually with my youngest sister, Mae)…. and then… hopefully, sometime next year, I would walk down the isle as a BRIDE!

Valentines 2005

On Valentine's Day (February 14, 2005), the day started out like a typical Monday workday… hectic and chaotic! (You know as the song goes… “just another manic Monday…”) And although most of my officemates were asking if Charlie and I had a date, I kept saying that we don’t… well, because that’s what I thought! We were talking just last Saturday and he asked e if I wanted a romantic candle-lit dinner date but I told him that although I like all that mushy stuff, we really don’t need to do it on Valentines day when restaurants would be teeming with couples wanting to celebrate the day. So I thought the “Happy Valentines honey” text I got that morning and the usual lunch time phone call was all the celebration we were going to get… but… lo! and behold! At exactly 5:30pm, he appeared at my office door to pick me up from work (with a single long stemmed rose in hand) and then we went to church to hear mass. Then had dinner at KFC. Yeah! I know, it’s not the most romantic of venues but, who cares?! I love surprises! I love my honey!

Tulips

I fell in love with this bouquet... I have aso seen flowers for the entourage party that I would like to have mine to have but I still have not finalized negotiations with any florist yet... But definitely whatever flowers we get for the rest of the entourage, my one requirement is that I would carry tulips for my bridal bouquet.