Kuting and Djay

Finally, one of our dearest friends has tied the knot! Well, Kuting, as we call her, is one of my last, single, friends.

Kuting and Djay have been together longer than anyone else in our group and they have been engaged for more than a year.  They've kept their wedding details up to the last minute and all we had to do is be there. Our role: ninang and ninong. Yes, Denden and I are one of the principal sponsors.

Thumbs up on the venue, I have always wished to attend a beach wedding and this my first time. It was held at Matabungkay Beach Resort in Lian, Batangas.  This is also Euen's first beach out of town.

My wish for them, I hope Giulia and Euen will have another playmate soon!

We're very happy for the newlyweds.

Instant MakeUp Artist

I can count on my fingers the few times that I had makeup on my face: my wedding, special friends’ weddings, my college graduation, a party night out my best friend just made fond of me… Note that on my 29 years of existence, I never touched… moreso, learned how to use makeup.
But last Wednesday, because of my unconditional love for Kuting, I was taught how to apply basic makeup. The reason, she has a part on a wedding that we are supposed to attend. Due to time constraint and the event location, she couldn’t get anyone to put makeup on her. I was actually kidding when I volunteered, but she took it seriously. Thus, the practice makeup session with a professional artist. Most times, I just followed the instructions, laughed when she looked too white.. or when the lines where too dark. But I got a thumbs up for my masterpiece. Not bad for a first timer. Here are my notes.

1. Moisturizer using bare hands.
2. Foundation on face and neck.
3. Concealer on the eyes. (Too hide the eye bags.)
4. Eye brows. (Like combing upwards the first half and downwards the second half.)
5. Eye shadow, lighter color below. (Hard part.)
6. Eye liner. (My favorite, it’s just like drawing.)
7. Mascara on eye lashes, base color first then dark color, zigzag coat.
8. Make her smile, apply blush on in her cheeks in circular motion.(Smile, smile, smile.)
9. Lip liner on the lips.
10. Lip stick and lip gloss.
11. Bronzer on the sides to blend with the skin.
12. Apply face powder.
I am keeping my fingers crossed. I hope I could do this again for the event.
Thanks to Toni, our teacher.
And to the Samsons, for the pasta.

Dubidoo..

Masaya.
Wala nang iba pang salita.

Masaya.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2007

CBTL: The Day Before

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One day before. We needed a meeting for the tasks and they came. The prettiest coordinator that one could ever get. Being her sister is just a bonus. The baby sister and baby brother (belat!) with her lovely bestfriend who will be a special singer. Mommy and daddy to the rescue with all the surprises. My favorite couple and favorite couple's family. Ate and Tita to tag along. Bubbles and Kuting with their betterhalves.

It was a meeting but more came than expected. It felt more than a meeting. These people knew that I needed to be calmed and entertained. These people came and had their share of conversations, smiles and laughters, and more. They made me feel that they are here for me, for us. Always.

10 days to go

Here is a snapshot of the missalette. After much thought and effort on where and how to print it, the answer came down to one of the photocopying shops of UP Shopping center, plus the wits and charms, of me and Kuting combined. We got a good deal. It was frustrating at first, with the paper, the price.. and the colored front page. I didn’t want the butterfly to just be black. Thanks to my “resources,” I was able to print the colored butterfly, for free.

We got all of the entourage gowns last weekend. And mine, last night. For the 6th time, I fitted it and it was perfect. I think.

With everything going into its proper places, with final details on its way, with 10 days to go, I am still hoping and praying that everything on that day will be perfect. That’s too idealistic, alright. But that’s the least that I can do. That’s that least that I can complete, with perfection.

Pink and yellow... and blue.

We found our way to the small, busy streets of Dangwa to meet our florist, one rainy Sunday afternoon. After some test and tries on the flowers, we finally found the right combination. Light yellow gerberas, pink carnations and yellow green button mums. Of course, the roses should be there. And white roses added the contrast to the package. Yes, the ribbon is blue.

Serendipity

I knew what I really wanted but I am not sure if we can find one. To try our luck, we went to this specialty store and found just the girl. But we needed the right partner. Then, we saw the boy. But the saleslady said she couldn’t give it to us because it was paid already and it’s just waiting to be claimed. I was this close to buying a different partner but something inside, stopped me.

So, we said we’ll just come back. A few hours and a couple of strolls after, I felt uneasy not getting them. So, we came back and pleaded the saleslady to let us buy them both. It’s just waiting for us, and nobody else. I even let her use my phone so that she call her co-worker that wasn't there. After some time, some wits, and charms…(and pleas) Yes, we bought them. Serendipity? Or out of mercy? It doesn't matter.

25 days to go.

For the pretty ladies who will play a part on our special day, we made this ourselves. Okay, not get the pearls from the ocean... But anyway, we are very grateful, in advanced.

How he makes up for it

Last night, we met a family relative that we’ve never really gone out with, purposely, for a chat. I was a little nervous at first because of past, not so pleasant, history. As people say, you should expect for the worse. And what I got is the exact opposite.

The better part. He was proud of the “do-it-on-our-own” work of art. Far more than that, out of the blue, he explained the reason behind the church. And this, made my day.

I had a not-so-nice week because of all kinds of stresses that I give to myself. But I have one good reason to smile. Father Mars is right, it is a much, much, much better feeling when you just “stumble on happiness.”

29 days to go!

36 days to go

Okay. Okay. In as much as I didn’t want to post anything here, I can’t help it.
I need to show off our labor-of-love masterpieces and artworks.

Invitations. Thanks to my pretty sisters, tricia and kuting, and their partners. “Belat.” I know! I made you factory workers for a night, but I least you have free KFC dinner.

Tokens.
1 Flower seeds from Bangkok. Thanks to our ever realiable Auntie. 2 Painting of the pots. 3 The tito-vic&joey session to put in the sticker designs. 4 Packaging.
Whew! I don’t’ want to elaborate, just take a look. Oh, I forgot, this has a bigger version. Whose idea is this again?

Here is a site that will be helpful for wedding ideas and needs: http://www.wedding-needs.com/photo.asp.

Surprise

Ang araw ng kasal ng bestfriend ko. Matapos ang isang taong paghahanda at preparasyon, sa araw na ito na magaganap ang lahat. Maaga ako pumunta sa hotel para tumulong sa mga kailangan pang gawin sa araw na yon. Napakaganda nya. Kahit na nakangiti at kalmado ang itsura ng mga tao doon, ay alam ko pa ding excited at kinakabahan sila. Bakit? Kasi ako, naramdaman ko ang kabog ng dibdib ko pagpasok sa hotel.

Sinubukan kong ilagay ang presentation na ginawa ko sa laptop nila. Pagtingin ko, 2007 beta version ang software na gamit nila. Sinubukan ko patakbuhin ngunit sa kasamaang palad, hindi sakto ang tugtog sa mga slides na ginawa ko. Sinubukan kong i-edit at ayusin pero nararamdaman kong hindi na ako aabot sa tamang oras. Alas-singko na, hindi pa ako bihis at wala pa akong make-up o kung anuman man, kaya naisip ko, bahala na. Inayusan na ako, nagpunta na sa simbahan.

Naglakad sya sa gitna ng simbahan na may napakagandang ngiti at tuwa sa kanyang mga mata. Para bang tagos hanggang sa puso ang kasiyahang nararamdaman nya. Sa ilang taong nakilala ko sya, ngayon ko lang nakita ang ngiting iyon at dahil dito, lalo pa ako naging kuntento at sigurado.

Ang vows. Nasa akin ang vows at nilagay ko sa upuan nila. Pero hindi ko nasabi sa kanya. Baka hinahanap nya, baka natataranta sya. Buti na lang ang role ko ay may karapatang tumayo at lumapit sa kanya kahit anong parte ng seremonya. Kaya’t lumapit ako, kunyari inayos ang belo sya at binulong, “Ang vows mo, nakita mo na?” At andun na naman. Tinignan nya lang ako at binigyan ng ngiting iyon.

Maliit lang ang simbahan kaya’t punung puno ito ng mga tao. Nagpalitan na sila ng vows. Kinantahan nya siya. Naiyak ako. Sinabi nya ang vows nya, mas lalo akong naiyak. At pagtingin ko sa mga tao, napakarami sa kanila ang naluha at naiyak sa pagpapalitan nila ng mga pangako sa isa’t isa.

“You may kiss the bride.” Napuno ang kalahati ng simbahang ng tinawag na mga pamilya para sa pagkuha ng litrato.

Sumunod na ang reception. Mabuti na lang at andon ang magaganda kong mga kapatid, bukod sa pagiging coordinator, sila pa ang sumalo ng mga trabaho ko dahil muli ko nang ginawa ang presentation. Sinubukan kong ayusin pa ng onti ngunit malapit nang matapos ang programa kaya’t naisip ko, “Bahala na si batman!” Tumayo at nagsalita na sa harapan. Nagpaliwanag pa ako ng madami sa mga tao at saka na nagsimula ang presentation ko.

Part 1. Nagulat sila dahil hindi nila alam kung saan ko kinuha ang mga laman non. Ngunit, natapos na ang kanta pero meron pang anim na slides na hindi pa tapos. Part 2. Sa isang mahalagang parte, tumigil ang slide at ayaw na tumuloy, tumakbo ako sa laptop, pero wala na akong nagawa kaya naputol at parteng ito. Kaya’t tumakbo na ako pabalik sa kanilang dalawa, lumuhod sa harap nila at sabay nag-sorry at itinago ko ang mukha ko sa harap nilang dalawa. Part 3. Hindi na ako umalis sa pwesto ko. Pinagdasal ko na lang na sana, wala nang kapalpakan pa dito. Sa kalagitnaan nito, naiyak sya at nagalit sakin dahil pinaiyak ko daw sya. At sa puntong ito, hindi ko alam kung umiiyak ako dahil palpak ang ginawa ko, o dahil na din sa naiiyak sya. Sa palagay ko, naiyak na ako dahil naramdaman ko ang hawak nilang dalawa sa akin. Ang mahigpit nilang hawak sa aking mga kamay, sa aking braso at dito, napawi na ang mga alala ko.

Natapos na. Nag-uwian na ang mga tao. Nagpaalam na ako, niyakap nila ako ng mahigpit at nagpasalamat. Isang masayang araw. Isang magandang simula.