I'm Back!

Bad bad bad blogger... I saw that my last post was dated 01/2009. Oh my!!!!

Finally, after more than a year of not opening my blog.. I'm back and I'll try to backtrack the happenings in my life!

H.S. Christmas Party (12.14.08)

As usual, ako na naman ang nag-organize ng lakad ng barkada. Since madami ang nag-vote for Dec 14 -- eto ang sinet kong date for our annual xmas party. Although merong hindi pwede (JM and Yitz), itinuloy na rin namen ang plano dahil pag dinelay pa to.. baka hindi pa matuloy.

Details:
Lunch at 11:00am G-squared (dampa), Home Depot
Inuman at Gerry's Grill (3:00pm, Tiendesitas)
Attendees:
Kaye
Gem and Mike
Nenz, Karl and Dime
Amae and Joaqui
Mart and Donna
Ryan S.
Feli and Jaja
Butch and Christel
JR, Tina and Luk-luk

Galing sa Baguio si Tim kaya hindi na sya nakasama samen, nainitindihan ko namang pagod sya sa byahe kaya hindi ko na rin pinilit. Sumabay kami ni Gem kay Amae ng papunta sa dampa. As usual, late si Amae - 11am ang usapan sa ortigas, 11am nya palang kami dinaanan ni Gem sa Mcdo concepcion. Nagulat ako pagsakay sa kotse na kasama nya Mommy nya and si Chil. Wow! Kasama ang family nya samen ha. Okay kasama ang mommy nya, super daldal ang kwento samin.Ü

Kahit late na kaming dumating, kami pa rin ang nauna sa G-Squared kaya kami na rin ang namalengke para sa kakainin namen - tahong, pusit, liempo, and tuna belly. Buti na lang, pwede muna ang "charged" sa kakainan namen kaya hindi na kami naglabas pa ng pera. Dumating na rin si Feli and Jaja, Mart and Donna, JR's family, Ryan S. and Butch and Christel. Nagtext si Nenz saken na nasiraan sila sa may Marikina kaya baka ma-late sila.

Pagdating ng pagkain, nagulat ang Mommy ni amae sa dami ng order namen.. eh madami rin naman kasi kami..Ü May sinigang na hipon, tempura, baked tahong, calamares, adobong pusit, inihaw na liempo and grilled tuna belly w/ butter and lemon sauce. Sarap!Ü Sa dami ng pagkain, halos wala ng malagyan sa table.. pero kita ko naman na enjoy na enjoy ang lahat. Galit galit muna dahil busy sa pagkain, ang maririnig mo lang ay "paabot naman" at "pakipasa naman ung.."Ü

Successful lunch.. bukod sa nabusog ang lahat, mura lang ang binayaran namen kasi 17 kaming naghati.. ang bill namen ay Php5080.00 kaya tig-300 lang kami. May konting natira sa pagkain kaya pinabalot namen at inuwi ni Amae.n After ng lunch, lumipat kami sa Tiendesitas para makapunta sa Fun Ranch ang mga bata and ang mga "kids at heart" naman ay sa Gerry's Grill.

Ang kinagulat ko ay ang madaming regalong nakita ko na nakalagay sa isang sulok. Wow! For the first time, may dalang regalo ang mga tao! Iba talaga ang nagagawa ng mga bata sa barkada.. kung dati okay na kaming walang regalo basta magkita-kita lang, ngayon hindi na pwede.. dahil Ninong at Ninang kami ng mga tsikitings (Iñaki, Dime, Joaqui and Luk-Luk).

First time din na may exchange gift kami - worth Php300 and ang sabi ko sa kanila, pag wala kayong dalang regalo, cash ang ibibigay nyo (walang takas noh!). Nung mismong xmas party, napagkasunduan na pag cash, Php500 ang ibibigay kasi nga naman, hindi ka nag-effort maghanap ng regalo at magbalot nito. Swerte ni Amae na si Gem ang nabunot kasi naglabas si Gem ng Php500, si Mart na si JR ang nabunot eh hindi ako sure if nagbigay ng cash. Masarap din ang cookies na bigay ni Mart and Donna sa lahat.Ü

Pagkatapos ng konting beer at pulutan, isa-isa ng nagpaalam ang mga tao. Syempre pa, konting picture-picture bago namen tuluyang tapusin ang party. Family na lang ni JR and Amae, Feli and Jaja and ako ang tumuloy sa Fun Ranch. Si Joaqui and Chil na lang ang nag-rides, habang kami, nakontento na sa pagikot sa loob.

Pagod na din kaming lahat kaya nagkayayaan na ring umuwi. Sumabay ako ulet kay Amae and kasama ko rin sa loob ng kotse si Feli and Jaja na nagpapababa sa Megamall. Naka-convoy din samen si JR dahil hindi nya alam ang palabas. Buti na lang kasama namen sya dahil tumirik kami! Ayaw magstart ng kotse ni amae! Nung una, si Feli and JR lang nagtutulak, habang sumisigaw ng instructions si JR kay Amae. Sabi ko JR, sya na lang ang mag-start ng kotse and tutulong na lang kaming mag-tulak! Eh pataas pa ung daan kaya grabe talaga ang effort namen para itulak ung kotse. Nag-cause na kami ng traffic sa lugar and pinagtatawanan ng kami ng ibang kotseng dumadaan kasi 3 babae (ako, Jaja and Amae) and 1 lalaki (Feli) ang nagtutulak. May humintong taxi and sabi hahatakin daw kami papuntang gas station, pumayag si Amae. Buti na lang, sinubukan nya ulet i-start and finally, umandar na ung kotse.Ü

Daming kwento for the day!Ü Till next year guys!Ü Here's to another year of love and friendship!Ü

Christmas Spirit

Super excited na ko for this year's holiday season... Naka-file na ko ng leave for Dec 24, 25, 26 and 31. So sure na ko na hindi ako mag-xmas and mag-new year sa office. Swerte na ring matuturing ang stay ko sa call center kasi never pa kong naka-experience na sa office mag-celebrate ng holidays.

Almost complete na ko sa shopping list ko.. hmmm.. wala na nga ba kong nakalimutan?Ü medyo napagastos ako this year kasi humaba ang list ng reregaluhan ko.. uuwi kasi kami nila papa sa probinsya. The last time na dun kami nag-xmas eh nung lamay ni auntie yolly (who passed away days before xmas). This time, ako ang nag-suggest kay papa na umuwi kami - and priceless ung nakita kong reaction ni papa nung sabihin ko to.. para syang xmas tree na inilawan.. nag-glow ang mukha nya.. hehehe!Ü pero sabi ko sa kanya non, hindi pa sure kasi kaylangan munang ma-approve ang ptos ko.. pero basta ma-approve, go kami.

Sa 26 namen balak umuwi, nagsabi na rin ako kay auntie min para naman hindi sila mabigla at susulpot na lang kami don.. natuwa si auntie min kaya lang baket daw 26 pa and hindi 25. nagreply ako sa text and sabi ko mukhang hindi kami pwedeng umuwi ng 25 kasi walang kasama sila lolo and lola. Naisip ko din naman sila steph and mariel na wala silang kasama sa pasko pag umalis kami.

Naisip ko din na last xmas ko na sa family ko kasi nov next year ikakasal na kami ni tim. alam kong nalulungkot si kai pag naiisip nya yon, kasi hindi pa sure if sa kanila kami ni tim magxmas eve. alam kong un ang request ni papa, pero syempre kaylangan ko rin namang i-consider ang gusto ni tim db? Sa ngayon, i-eenjoy ko muna ang last holiday ko with my family.Ü

Wedding (photo and video)

Someone once told me that there are two things that you really have to spend on our wedding: the rings and the photo/video coverage. I asked why and she answered that after the wedding, you'll only have these as your souvenirs - which really makes sense to me.Ü

During the early preps of our wedding, Tim's mom showed me an album made by Tim's dad and I was surprised to see that it was like the albums we see in bridal fairs. You see, Tim's dad is a member of a Photo Club and he just had his own photo exhibit in UP and as for the album, he also knows how to do lay-outs. So Tim's mom suggested that we only get a photographer to take pictures during our wedding and it's up to Tim's dad to do the album. I was okay with the idea since it would mean saving a lot of money for us.

During the W@W auction, there were items for Niceprint "photo service" only and Parkershot "Pre-nup". The actual cost of the photo service Php12,000 and the pre-nup costs Php5,000. If we win, we can actually save a lot since we'll only need the "video".

As posted on my w@w auction experience blog, we won the said items. Tim's dad suggested that we get the videographer from the same company. We inquired with Niceprint and they gave us a quotation for an additional photograper (kasi I want 2 photographers) and videographer. Here's the list:

Additional photographer - Php12,000
Videographer and edited copy - Php15,000
On-site Video - Php12,000
LCD - Php4,000

The later two on the list are just nice-to-haves for us.Ü So for the additional photographer and videographer, it will cost us Php27,000. Tim's Dad then suggested, why not get a complete package and then just ask for a discount since we already have one photographer from the w@w auction.

We checked Niceprint's package and the cheapest package was the "Superior Package" for Php42,000. This already includes the following:
- unlimited shots stored in CS
- 2 photographers
- 1 videoman + lightsman/full video coverage using digital video camera
- 150 to 200 photos for lay-out in 8x10 digital album (40 pages, photos are laminated; scratch proof)
- 1 pc 16x20 blow up photo with special frame
- complete non-linear video editing MTV style inclusive of photo flashback
- 1 DVD edited copy
- free pre-nuptial shot
- free unique digital guestbook
- free digital signature frame
- free 2 sets parents' album

We then inquired with Niceprint to ask for the rates in case we'll upgrade our w@w package. The assistant said she'll just call us back since she still need to ask Charisse about it. The secretary called Tim that day as well, to tell us that we can avail of the "Superior package" for Php32,000 instead of Php42,000. Not bad right?Ü

Tim's parents told him that it was already a good price for the package and his mom even gave us the money for the downpayment.Ü

We now have our photo/video and I just remembered that we'll be having 2 pre-nups: one for niceprint and the other one for parkershot.. yipee!Ü

Wedding List (update as of 11/20/08)

Church: Malate Church -dp
Reception: Villa Immaculada- dp
Souvenir: Partypics - dp
Band: The Sentimental Groove- dp
Photo: Niceprint (auction), pre-nup by Parkershot
Video: most probably Niceprint
Rings: Meicel or Suarez
Invitations: QP designs, Cardprints or Printlane
Hair and Make-up: Trial with Val Villarin
Gowns: Agrin
Flowers: most probably Mang Boy and Mang John (Dangwa)
Preps: most probably Diamond Hotel

w@w auction experience

The items up for bidding are products and/or services donated by various wedding suppliers to help us raise funds for mounting the upcoming W@W Christmas party (happens this Friday!) and our 10th Anniversary Celebration in March 2009. The annual auction is open exclusively for W@Wies who are given the chance to get the donated items at a fraction of its actual market value.

Being a w@wie, this announcement from Ms. Benz immediately caught my attention in one of her messages. I told Tim that since i don't have access to the internet 24/7, he needs to helpme with this.

Ms. Benz provided a list of suppliers and items that we can bid on. Here are some items that I'm interested in bidding:

Threelogy Digital Video
Full Wedding Video Coverage
55,000

Phoeben Teocson Videography
Full Wedding Video Coverage
45,000

ParkerShot Digital Photography
2 PreNup Session in MM with JR Sebastian
10,000

Events by Clarice
50% off on OTD Coordination
12,500

Nice Print Photography
Photo Package Labor only
12,000

Unity Coins
Two Tone Set
2,300

Val Villarin
7 Trial Hair & MakeUp
1,500

Since the photo and video is not our priority, I disregard the items for Threelogy Digital Video, Phoeben Teocson Videography, ParkerShot Digital Photography and Nice Print Photography. And since we haven't decided if we'll get a coordinator for our wedding, the OTD from Clarice is also scratched off the list. The unity coins.. well, we can still get that next year. So that leaves me with the item from Val Villarin.

During the week of the auction, I actually contacted Val with regards to having my trial hair and make up on Dec. 18. Since Tim and I will be attending a wedding of Joyce (fellow w@w) and Basti (tim's hs barkada) on this date, might as well, put the make up into good use. Sayang naman if wala akong pupuntahan after kong magpa-ayos. Unfortunately, Mama Val's not available on the said date (hmm.. baka sya mag-aayos kay Joyce).

When I saw that the trial for Val is included in the auction, I told myself, I would really try to win one of the trials. The rate for the trial right now is Php1,500, any amount lower than that is good for me.

I called Tim around 7am to wake him up. Initially, he'll only bid of Val Villarin's trial make-up, but later on I told him that I'm also interested with the pre-nup from Parkershot and the photo only package from Niceprint. We both agreed with our ceiling price for these items. I told him to concentrate first with Val Villarin since it's the first one to close. He said yes and that he'll try his best.

I was watching the bidding process while at work. I saw 2 items for Val closed already without me winning it. Oh noh! 5 more to go and the clock is ticking... I was watching if Tim will bid... When the last item is closing already and I still cannot see Tim's bid, I took matter in my own hands and bide for the next amount. As soon as I hit "Bid" the auction closed and I was the highest bidder! Yahoo!!!Ü I was so happy I called Tim right away. He was so sad and saying "sorry" that he did not win. I told him I won! He asked how and I explained that I bid in one of the items since I cannot see his bids. We were so happy about it, but I reminded him that the next item on our list is closing as well, so we have to go back to our computers and bid. This time, I told Tim I'll do the bidding myself.. ang bagal kasi ng computer nya.. hahaha!Ü The original price of the item is Php1,500 and I was able to get it for Php800.

The second item we won was the pre-nup for Parkershot Photography. I visited their website and immediately fell in love with their shots. This was really no contest, I just bid higher than the last bidder and waited for the item to closed. The original price of the item is Php5,000 and I was able to get it for Php1,500.

The third item on our list is the Niceprint photo package only. If you're wondering why we're interested with the photo only package instead of the regular package with albums, here's the only reason: Tim's dad is a photographer (and member of a photoraphers' club) and he knows how to do album lay-out and knows where to have it printed. I saw a sample album that he created and it was the same with the other wedding albums that we see in bridal fair.

Although I was hoping to get this package, the last time I checked the auction, the highest bid is already 3K and there still 10 hours left for the bidding. I told Tim he has to bid on this item since I will be sleeping already by this time. The actual price of the package is Php12,000 and I told Tim he can bid up to Php5,500 (kuripot ko noh?Ü).

By the time I woke up, I read my only message from Tim and it only states.. Mahal.. I was pretty sure we didn't get the item with the way Tim texted me. I called him and I was asking for some info like how much was the highest bid and if he had a hard time bidding. He cut me off and told me we won. What! I was so happy I suddenly sat up and asked him "how??". He said he bid during the last 40 seconds and by the time the system accepted his bid, the auction closed. Wow! Talked about good luck and right timing..Ü I was really happy because we won all the items that we wanted.

Here's the breakdown:

Original price
Val Villarin - Php1,500.00
Pre-nup by Parkershot - Php5,000.00
Niceprint photo package - Php12,000.00
Total amount: Php: Php18,500.00

Auction price
Val Villarin - Php800.00
Pre-nup by Parkershot - Php1,500.00
Niceprint photo package - Php5,500.00
Total amount: Php7,800.00
Discount of: Php10,700.00

I really love w@w!!!

Thanks Sir John and Ms. Benz!Ü