OUR JUNE JOYRIDE

Wow, two months nalang. That’s all we’ve had to tell ourselves as we look back at the overwhelming sort of voraciousness that defined our busiest June yet (if not, ever!). It explains why, despite our most earnest intentions, we haven’t followed up our Pre-Nup teaser with a far more extravagant, if somewhat self-important, entry. It explains why, everyday, we are seeking medication for the occasional loss of memory, muscle fatigue, and the gradual obliteration of our bank savings. It explains why a full year of planning has already gone by without us even taking notice in its entirety!

60 days nalang, and, ayun. Joy. An absolute and fittingly comforting joy

As our families, friends and followers are undeniably our closest witnesses, the demise of June marks a little over 8 weeks before the Wedding. And with the obvious toll and growing feeling of anticipation this last couple of months, Gab and I still wonder: how do our last 8 weeks as bachelor and bachelorette play out? What are our remaining priorities? Will we have any last-week alterations, choices and changes? Will we punctuate our planning on a bang or on a whimper? Our excitement at the moment is equaled only by our anxiety; a kind of natural anxiety that comes with having accomplished and planned about so many details, and, having done so, expecting only the finest, truest and happiest returns. (Is it asking too much??) All the thankless days and nights we’ve spent wracking our brains, scrutinizing our to-do-lists, reshuffling our clutter and mess, and probing the shallow depths of our wallets hoping we’ve accomplished everything and not having left anything out– it’s a godsend that we’ve managed to find our equilibrium in each other amid lovely chaos. :)

But June was such a JOYRIDE. I’m mighty proud to claim just how effective and productive we were since our last and only June entry. I’m enumerating TEN accomplishments here in order to keep everyone abreast and to tag along kindred spirits in the swirling, heavenly caffeine of our Choc-Frappe Wedding story

1. June definitely graced us with our proverbial 15-minutes-of-fame. Our pre-nup pictorial within the historic Walls of Intramuros and inside a most rustic Starbucks outlet was an inspired, appropriate and beautiful experience. We had anticipated gorgeous results, especially with our choice lensman Rupert Ramos of NICEPRINT (he, of Ogie-Regine and other celebrity nuptials’ fame) taking over – but even the resulting pictures surpassed our expectations! In a span of under 4 hours, we managed to generate over 500 pictures using 4 different sets of clothing, spread across 4 different venues – drawing oohs and aahhs from us and onlookers at every occasion. Our shoot wouldn’t have been as memorable without having been granted by Starbucks Philippines the clearance and opportunity to use their unmistakable, classic interiors. Last but certainly not least, I also have to thank without end my ever-fabulous, H&M stylist Cherry Pacheco for fleshing out the vintage and Hollywood-ready glamour in me, and for having Gab and I look fresh throughout the prenup activity even under the cruel, cruel noontime sun and irritation from tall wild grass. Ms. Cherry, we hope to see you again soon! Master Rupert and the generous people of Niceprint, see you in September!

Engagement Redux @ the ooolest Starbucks outlet in Manila

Ol' country charm always works

Celebrity moment: Paparazzi right behind our trail :)

Chocfrappe with the NicePrint Ladies

At Starbucks, with our idol Rupert (in green) -- see you in September!

"Love & marriage..love & marriage.."

2. Last June 4- Gab & I attended our whole-day Pre Cana Seminar at Sanctuario de San Jose. We felt it was a much much more practical alternative to the popular but pricey Discovery Weekend paraded often by other wedding vendors. A “teacher-student” type classroom lecture, it was the first we’ve ever attended as an engaged couple. It was a warm feeling to see other couples – young and young-ish alike – be provided an avenue where we could be informed of, and openly discuss and be challenged by the rigors of married life. And who else better to expound on the up-and-down realities of marriage than our speakers/moderators Tito Jun and Tita Gina whose 30-year experience became a fountain of knowledge, insight, wisdom and humor? Their vignettes permeated with patience, graciousness and responsibility – the kind of motivating stories Gab and I would want to draft ourselves in the next chapters of life.

 

Refined tastes converge: with Jonathan of Sarto

3. 2nd Saturday of June was FULL. Finally met with Gab’s ever-articulate and jolly tailor Jonathan Te (or Jote) of SARTO MANILA to decide on the fabric, design, and color of Gab’s tux. We all hit it off great, exchanging several laughs and insights in the process. Simply put, I can’t wait to see my groom wearing his bespoke tux while waiting for me at the altar; I’m sure he’ll look nothing short of ravishing and even more gentlemanly. My Sarto man, as it were. After our meeting with Jote, we RUSHED to JOSIAH’S CATERING for one final selection of dinner menu (food tasting), and to discuss with Josiah’s Maui our final table floral arrangement / other creative elements. The food tasting as usual, delighted our stomachs and taste buds – we even got to add an appetizing Spanish dish for the guests to savor! Dear God, we’re thankful for so many things – but we just have to underscore the absolute win of free multi-course food tastes! :)

With the zany Purchasers of Digitel

4. After extended bouts of heavy preparation and restlessness, Gab and I, together with the Purchasing group of Digitel, finally took some well-earned time off and enjoyed a one-day trek to the rocky but placid beach of Punta Malabrigo in Lobo, Batangas. We tagged along young Cyril as he loves nature trips. It was a very tiring/long and unpredictable day trip – but the shore and calm seas, the grilled food, the company of friends, and the well-spent recharge, were all worth it. We stopped by Starbucks SLEX with my boss and a few colleagues on the way home.

SLEX frappes with my Boss (cap), and my partner

two souls strolling along a shore strewn with a million pebbles @ Malabrigo

5. We concede that we always look forward to each and every public Holiday – especially considering the minute number of weekends left before D-Day. But as much as we want to rest on precious holidays, any proactive couple like us would use them to make progress on a host of details and commitments. On Rizal’s 150th, for instance, Gab & I drove around Ortigas and Quezon City for our first ocular and attempt at  the BRIDAL REGISTRY. Our visit to the bridal register elicited opposing emotions: the exuberant rush of excitement over selecting some very neat items for our condo, and a distinct feeling of restraint for needing to be very prudent and mindful of our guests who’d be competing over a limited number of gift choices. It’s not merely a free-of-charge window shopping coupon that we ladies dream about every time!! Going through the potential gift items, in fact, Gab and I faced a constant battle of “want” vs “need,” “what’s affordable” vs “what’s impractical,” and “what can fit our place,” vs “what can’t.” This July, we’re already scheduled to choose our items so we only hope our beloved guests would agree to our exceptions and decisions! We even sought my Mommy’s advise in choosing the items :)

Licensed to Wed. :)

6. Finally – got our Marriage License! Since Gab & I are both unavailable during weekdays, I had to ask my mom to pick it up at Quezon City Cityhall. Very fortunately, she got it without any hitch and needless drama. Government efficiency was something we did not expect! Haha! Thank you Lord!!! :)

7. Our earlier due diligence for the Church has did us a good turn as we’ve managed to accomplish most of the SSJ’s requirements way ahead of schedule! A few more things to work on though, which includes the wedding banns and canonical interview. We’re also planning on reeling in our favored priest based in QC for an appointment and formal encounter. Bless us this chance, father!

8. Yey! After a few weeks of indecisiveness, we’ve finally booked our florist slash stylist! 15-58 FLOWERS & STYLES is a well-known and sought-after florist and event stylist that boasts an excellent affiliation and history with Fernwood Gardens. The moment we went over their elegant floral designs and proposals together with proprietor Rommel one time at Coffee Bean, we instantly fell in love with them! We already discussed and finalized with 15-58 the subtle, classy garden look we wanted for the Church, for the reception, for the entourage, and my bouquet of course. Rommel’s group has such an intimate feel for Fernwood – from every parcel of land, vine and foliage – that it will surely accentuate its earth, luster and magic. 

are YOU invited?

9. The last weekend of June elevated our level of excitement as we finally met with PAPER FLAIR in Ortigas to trigger the process of customizing our wedding invitations. First order of business was to submit several selected pictures to add personality to the invites. But since we really wanted our ChocFrappe theme to stand out, we had to upgrade and enlist the graphic design prowess of affiliated Adworks. The best part of which, my fiancé, my ever-capable writer, will be providing prose and other texts.

10. As if we needed another truckload of monetary and time commitments in our hectic schedules, our entire wedding planning/doing in June had been counter-balanced by heavier responsibilities and decision-making as regards our very own condominium unit. While I’ve been spreading myself thin across different wedding details, Gab has been doing his part being super proactive ensuring the livability, value and aesthetics of our modest first residence. :-) Apart from weekly visits to the site to inspect progress and discuss any design or cost revisions with our contractor, majority of our condo-related activities went into canvassing goods and ready-made works at Wilcon and Home Depot, and pouring in hard-earned money on bathwares, wood tiles and wood variants, accents and other furnishings. Gab’s also out of his wits trying to find a perfect balance between imported, top-of-the-line wood floorings and pretty albeit cheaper alternatives. (i.e., vinyl). Still, we’re doubly happy that our “contemporary café and country” motif for the condo is literally taking shape, color, and within our budget :)

  

Gab's quirky love for louver

non-expandable WOOD TILES!

fyi, I helped handpick these gorgeous wood vinyls :)

our first lavatory :) [not included, rustic washbasin]

Our JOYRIDE is blazing on at full speed, taking away every breath and peso imaginable! And because Gabby remains adamant about his DIY items despite needing to cram these into his furious wedding, work and condo schedules, we have to labor twice or thrice as hard to achieve our targets and deadlines before August arrives. And August, ladies and gentlemen, is when we de-stress. Or intend to, at the very least, stress and fuss less over the many details that tend to drive each and every couple crazy days before their D-day!

Will Gabby ever pull it off?? :)

Oh and my Dad arrived three weeks ago hence the traditional meeting/ dinner of our families will be move earlier than scheduled. :) Can anyone say, “Meet the Fockers?”

The 2-month countdown is already on, and my office-mates, friends and family have already been doing the counting ahead of us. So we use their cute reminders as motivation to push us forward with a smile, even as the mounting pressure of a million plans and promises weighs us down.  So thank you June – you were a helluva ride! We enjoyed the cool gust of sea and wind on an otherwise tepid solstice, the sweet cups of coffee that got us through merciless days and nights, and the community of old and new friends alike, who’ve inspired and continue to inspire us to dream and live ON for another day.

Post-prenup shoot nightcap and Tito's birthday buffet @ 7 CORNERS! :)

BEAUTY meets the BREW: Our PRENUP Preview

Brewing next: here's a teaser of our country rock-meets-vintage, sun-kissed, azure- and coffee-tinged PRENUPTIAL shoot; ice-blended into a glamorous and perfect concoction of mocha and cream, cloudless skies, and breathtaking inspiration.

Hope everyone enjoys goin through these few snapshots as much as we did.  It was the craziest, sunniest whirlwind of a day, but we were thrilled to see the results -- even in their raw formats.  

So sit back and enjoy the brew, even if for a quick moment.  Because there'll be more to come.  More to douse your sunrise, and sweet hereafters with.

Whoever said busking didn't have to be fashionable?

love and coffee, flowing like water

the ever-chic and fabulous Kat

Care for a drink? Or a kiss?

Two hands and an engagement diamond

We stroll through this red, blistering earth together, You & I.

wrapping up a lovely story with coffee and stone walls

100-DAYS OF GRACE. (Like the falling of Autumn leaves, purposeful moments descending on a sunny pile of orange, yellow, crimson and bursts of sienna)

We no longer have to imagine it.   

We did, though, some 16 months ago. Some 480 days ago.  Some 11,520 hours ago.  Some countless sips-of-coffee and kilometers-worth of café receipts, ago – when we started this sweetest journey together.  Gab and I wondered back then, where would we be 100 days before the wedding?  What would we have accomplished?  What would have been our most unpopular decisions, and most creative triumphs, if any?

Today: officially, we’ve entered our 100-day marathon before the big day.  Unofficial, as of this writing, its 92 days. And that’s how quickly these prenuptial days burn up in a tireless, peerless, but glorious blaze.  It’s been well over a year now when Gab and I first toyed around with the idea of marriage.  How we felt so stress-free then: wading across the tideless seas of our assumed universe where time was not a factor; where 15 months seemed so, so faraway; where our list of ideas, themes and wishes could stretch on forever, with no rhyme or reason, or requited love from our wallets.

But an even better part is that the larky, dream-like undercurrent of those days have been replaced by fantastic, like-minded people, beautiful events, plush ceremonies, and sun-kissed bliss – all of which have filled up the calendar pages of our year so far.  Somewhere up there, I know that God is smiling at us, egging us to push forward further and find grace as we bury ourselves deeper and deeper into the relentless prenuptial exercises that are already upon us these next 90 days.

It is humbling, for as active as we are, we realize that there is much left to accomplish and account for these last 3 months!  But, on the other hand, we’ve never been prouder of the numerous items we’ve already ticked off from our to-do lists. In addition, we’ve never been more excited than the way all our vendors have tailored their lovely designs to match our daydreams (and budget), and in the process, how they’ve become a precious piece in the wonderful jigsaw puzzle of our lives the past 9 months.  In a manner of speaking, we’re even thrilled of the way we’ve made a few savings here and there, so that we can focus on our DIY details.  (And trust us, once an irresistible DIY idea flies by, hold onto it; you’ll never know when that concept might be the darling of the crowd, so to speak.) Everything’s shaping up and all the pieces are falling into their places exactly the way we planned.   

Just the way we always thought we’d be. 

We already know that the next hundred days will brew up a storm past June, July and August like a hurricane. These next days, weeks, months will surely be the most memorable yet! But we feel like patting ourselves at the back, for April and May were such whirlwinds of a month!  Here are the things we checked off our To DO list the past months.

nabbed my confirmation cert, finally!

1. A few weeks back, Gab & I braved the local bureaucracy, as we marched towards Quezon City Hall to file our application for marriage license. To avoid aggravation, I made lots of phone calls to inquire about the forms, processes, submissions, to ensure that our requirements were complete without a hitch before going there.  Very fortunately, the gods were smiling, as we hardly went through the hassle most couples experience in processing their marriage license. Small queues and helpful tips from roaming staff/street hawks helped expedite our way. The efficiency more importantly earned us a few hours to spare – which we used to take trips to Immaculate Heart Cathedral (near E. Rodriguez) where I finally claimed my Certification Certificate; and to Sanctuario de San Jose, where we submitted our forms and signed up for a day-long family planning seminar.  And because Gab chose to accompany me throughout the process – windless skies and sunny streets notwithstanding – made the entire process an even more pleasant adventure.   

...Census says: we're ready to rock & roll!!!!! :)

bespoke suits and tuxes and good breeding

 2. This month Gab & I finally visited and met the cool crew behind Sarto Manila - a custom tailoring shop in New Manila that Gab’s been keeping an eye on since he read through their very articulate and on-the-button blogsite.  Gab had been taking increasing interest in their bespoke suits, which looked stylish but not overly stylish.  Roguishly young, I think? Conversations started over email, and there was immediate rapport/chemistry between Gab and his couturier – so much so, that one of the Sarto partners had wondered if Gab was an old friend! Sarto’s partners-in-crime Jonathan and Albert immediately reeled in my fiancé’s sense of style and without missing a beat pegged down every bit of nuance and detail that Gab was looking for. He’s now very much a Sarto man himself.  Dressed to kill, not to be killed. Haha!

3. In May, we also twice met with Kim of Jeanel's Handicrafts, to discuss and go over the design of our wedding favors.  For those who aren't familiar with them, Jeanel's is very talented group who does carefully hand-made crafts, embroideries, and an array of export-ready decors.  They're based in Daraga, Albay - a faraway, sleepy town w/c has a fantastic up-close and personal view of the majestic Mt. Mayon - so there was definitely an authentic, country feel to our interaction.  It took us all the way to the Bicol Region to find the people who would provide our guests with well-made souvenirs.  This item, we can honestly say, is close to our hearts, and has a brilliant design that's uniquely ours. So unique, in fact, that Kim gave us exclusivity over it. :-)

4. It took us a long time to decide on one of the few missing suppliers for our wedding: the musician.  We’ve seen several in fairs and local websites, but couldn’t decide on one because they all appeared the same.  We also wanted a chorale group since we both enjoy a well-sung song, but we don’t want too many voices drowning out reception chatter.  Finally, with the help of Gab’s mom, we nailed down The Bernie Pasamba String Ensemble – highly-reputed, seasoned musicians, and legends in their own right in the industry.  We’re thinking of jazzing up their playlists/repertoire, by adding a few contemporary/pop-renditions to their mix.  The guests should have a fun time while being serenaded and  their old souls stirred up inside.

making the music last through a lifetime...

Oh – and June will be the month when a most difficult aspect to music comes around: the selection of wedding songs and background tunes! HELP!!

important detour to get our pre-nup permit :)

old Manila coffee and emptied bread toasts

5. What has made us even busier and PAINFULLY spend-foolish these past weeks amidst our crazy wedding-meets-condo carnival, is our pre-nuptial pictorial. Last month, Gab & I already made an ocular inspection of our preferred venue – and a couple of weeks ago, we made a side-trip to obtain requirements to shoot. We were confident our specially requested photographer from Niceprint (same guy who did Ogie+Regine’s popular wedding) would do an awesome work on us, so it was just a matter of donning chic and cool clothing that matched our themes. So the weeks that followed, we went around major malls and tiangges, and SPLURGED on tops, blouses, jeans, hairdresses and other accessories to perfect the look we wanted. We had an entertaining time dressing the part and imagining our poses, even if Gab had a distaste for mall-based fitting rooms and needing to take his pants/shoes off. 

pre-nup splurge! several more shopping bags and receipts not included here

 

5. And the finishing touch? About week ago, I got an appointment to meet with and reserve the services of a very fabulous and classy lady in Cherry Pacheco – who committed to do my hair and makeup for the prenuptial shoot.  Hip and fashionable, her portfolio is amazing, especially at such a young age!! And her charm and cheerfulness just exudes throughout her work and dialogue.  I couldn’t be any more glad that Cherry gets to bring out the drop-dead gorgeousness that all brides want for themselves.

We are getting closer and closer to the big day. The planning is coming along very well and we are almost done with everything as scheduled. Few months more and you’ll already smell the Brew. 

A few months more, and we don’t even need to imagine or blog about imagining it, anymore. :)

Watch out world – there’s so much more in the NEXT FABULOUS ENTRY.

BLISTERING, MADDENING & BEAUTIFUL

What a difference a day made, twenty four little hours
Brought the sun and the flowers where there use to be rain
My yesterday was blue dear
Today I'm a part of you dear
My lonely nights are through dear
Since you said you were mine
Oh, what a difference a day made…
And the difference is you, is you”

"What a Difference a Day Made," by Dinah Washington

We hardly ever, if at all, copy and paste lyrics in our entries.  Which can be sometimes intriguing, ironic and regrettable as Gab and I both have such different, voracious, and accessible tastes in music – i.e, my experience as a performer with Center for Pop, and Gab’s as a bassist for three amateur bands. We’ve only managed to share a handful of eclectic/pop/sentimental renditions in our wed-site, although surely, the remaining weeks before September should allow us to swoon everyone with an additional wholesale inventory of Videoke hits. :-)

Gab in his revered den

Banyo talk w/ the architect

  …But the lyrics to the song perfectly capture our present Manila State of Mind. That – despite the extra-ordinary, super-sized, bottomless busy-ness surrounding our blistering days/nights/in-betweens, we’ve kept at our sweet, lovely miracle like two little engines that could.  Every week is a heatstroke-worthy trek to the condo, to a wedding fair, to Wilcon or Home Depot, to meet a vendor, to meet our contractor, to go over our priority list, to meet up with friends and guests, to the bank/parlor/dress shop/Church, or to have my lovely gown refitted, etcetera.  Our weekends these months in no order comprise city-wide searches for stylish (but reasonably-priced) lavatory/bathroom fixtures and floor tiles, canvasses for wedding favors, scanning the WorldWideWeb for prenuptial, reception and floral arrangements, and putting in the work for DIY items. WHEW.

DIY resumes at 38 degrees C.

 Oh. And gasoline prices be damned!

But we’re still smiling and shining ala Stevie Wonder and Friends, never minding the torturous perspiration and agitation.  I should be so lucky that Gab is very much involved in the fiery planning process (and I thought guys weren’t supposed to dedicate their time on these granular, petty details?? Awww.) – because I wouldn’t last another day without him :-) Our cash flow/accounts are also taking a s-e-r-i-o-u-s hit because of these regular appointments and disbursements; but luckily, we’ve been gifted with the occasional generosity of a few friends and family members.  God’s love still truly works in the ways of others. :-)

...with another Save-the-Date fan and fellow frappe-drinker, Ao.

Sometimes, our quieter moments at our respective offices provide stables for reflection and perspective.  Reflections and revisitations can never be mundane: what started out as an honest albeit playful “what-if-we-get-married proposition” back in February 2010, has become this epic, maddening kind of life-altering event that has pretty much consumed our every spare weekend and centavo over the past year!

We wonder to this day, less than 4 months from our D-day: how did we ever get here? How did we ever fall into each other’s place, countenance and comfort?  How did it happen – plunging headlong into each other’s ethereal daydreams and thick, ice-blended concoctions – that we’ve ultimately found ourselves joyous and resolute atop our very wishes-on-a-star? Was it the first kiss, or a crooked, circumspect smile, or the gentle tap of two fingers on the shoulder, that did us in?  Was it the first trickle of iced coffee intertwining with our first share of shallow stories as they ascended from our larynx and out of our lips? What made the difference?

with Gab's cutest nephew, Zeke

world's finest: bride, couturier, bridesmaid

A lot of conjecture can be thrown in and out of the furnace, and be wrought from its voluptuous flame, so to speak.  None of which would be entirely accurate, but, romance has its way of filtering out all logic and deduction, and to speak only through metaphor, if not, hyperbole.  And we are romantics, are we not?  What we can tell with some veracity is how, one slow afternoon in 2009, we ended up having drinks at a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf outlet in Q.C., and snacked happily on the remains of the day.  Fittingly, Gab and I turned from mellow acquaintances into good friends that day; although it wasn’t until a few months when our partnership took off in which we concluded our first out-of-town dinner (Bag of Beans) with memorable frappuccinos amid the cool palpable darkness of Tagaytay.  The smaller dates that would follow were no less evocative.  

Bag of Beans, baby

Starbucks Tagaytay (2010)

In hindsight, we sort of regret not to have taken pictures of our “older” events - particularly, as neither of us anticipated the momentum that would transform our cheerful friendship into a lifelong commitment – the greatest and happiest decision we’d ever made. :-) But while there are only a few photos to tread our just-friends past with, the places themselves retain their relevance, ambience, and indelible power.  For posterity’s sake, we’ve managed to somehow sneak into the thickets of wedding preps a few quaint dinners at those very cherished places.  (Sadly, the old Coffee Bean outlet’s been shut down, since)

Commemorating partnerships and sweet transitions at Chocolate Kiss Cafe, UP Diliman

But at the end of the day, we realize: we’d still much rather head home. We’d much rather find time to chat, lie down and relax, embrace, sleep, tug, dream and care about each other as if it were the most precious alibi for missing out on the many fleeting, immaterial urgencies of the waking world.  The beautiful difference had always been with us, no matter how sentimental, no matter how grandiose the world allows our metaphors to be.

---------------------------

And it always starts out best, as friends.............................

Summer 2009, seasons of true friendship

office sendoff, August 2009 - a larger destiny beckons...

Home Sweet Home, October 2009...our first official date @ Le Souffle

 

Celebrating our first "lavish" dinner @ Lemuria (November, 2009)

...followed by a most memorable Christmas (City of Pines, 2009)

High in the sky, on our first Valentines (Cebu, 2010)

Turnin' the tables: reminiscin' the friendship @ our old office (March 2010)

..and a well-deserved summer romance (Pearl Farm, May 2010)

Falling into place, the best Engagement dinner @ Tosca (end-August 2010)

... and a post-engagement weekend at Hong Kong (October, 2010)

2011 is LOVE -- as in the flourishing of greens and blues and earth (February, 2011)

...as in the inspiration we find and recreate everyday.... (Tagaytay, 2011)

As in the differences we celebrate every passing moment, w/ every cup of coffee (Cafe Ysabel, May 2011)