Look at what I just bought!

A canon all-in-one (print/scan/copy) photo printer from courts (an IT store here in SG) and a paper trimmer from Popular bookstore.
 
I'm so excited to start my DIY projects! As of this writing I'm almost done with my Will You be Cards. I'll post about it later, my body is already crying for sleep. =)

By the way the paper trimmer costs 19 SGD (around 600 php, depending on the current exchange rate. Hehehe!) while I bought the printer on sale at 119 SGD. The printer also comes with free gifts - a 20 dollar takashimaya voucher and an OTO spot massager (Jay will definitely love this item!) but I have yet to redeem them in Funan maybe before I go to church. Definitely a steal!

Happy sunday friends! =)

Our Families will Meet in Few Days

Since I came here in Singapore last December 2008, I have been traveling a lot - to Philippines! Thanks to airfare sales, I so far have 15 (and still counting) itinerary flight tickets to Philippines inside my 'Flight Tickets' yahoo mail folder . Haha! =) And due to being frequently seen in my home country (and in my facebook status) I've been and still a subject of gossip, specially in my home province - 'May trabaho ba talaga yan?', 'TNT yan kaya laging umuuwi para mag-exit' - At some point I would get so upset, but I respect their judgment, if that satisfies them - and I put the blame to airfare sales. Hahahaha! Okay, let's go back...

I am again scheduled to go back home on the 3rd of February for Jay to formally ask for my hands from my family, and the thought of it gives me an electrified feeling inside. I don't even have an idea of what will gonna happen. We are expecting about 20 - 25 persons present in the 'pamamanhikan' and I am quite nervous, since it will be their first time to meet.

Will our families instantly jive? This we will find out.

Meanwhile friends, I'm appealing for your prayers. I've always been a believer in its power.

Thank you and may God be glorified!

Kate ♥

SG W@wies Mega-EB Featured in w@w

http://www.weddingsatwork.com/wawnewsblog/2011/01/25/wwsg-rocks/

W@Wsg is a community of Filipino soon-to-weds and newlyweds based in Singapore.
Last January 14,  a mini-EB was organized at Starbucks Raffles Place in City Hall for them to finally see the faces behind the emails.  But when the original venue proved to be small for the turnout, they moved to a bigger venue (New York New York in CityLink Mall), essentially turning the mini-EB into a Mega EB.
The SG-based W@Wies exchanged tips and stories about their wedding preps.  Those who have recently gotten married shared feedback about their chosen wedding suppliers.
A favorite photo of ours was this collage of the W@Wies showing off their respective engagement rings.

from left to right, top to bottom: Joanna, Cathy, Nicky, Donna, Analyn, Rona, Sugar, Russel, Jeddah, Kathy, Laarni, and Maan

More photos from this EB of W@Wies in Singapore are posted here.
Mabuhay ang W@Wsg!

Story About Love and Marriage

This article left me in tears. It was so touching.

My husband is an Engineer by profession, I love him for his steady nature, and I love the warm feeling when I lean against his broad shoulders.

Three years of courtship and now, two years into marriage, I would have to admit, that I am getting tired of it. The reasons of me loving him before, has now transformed into the cause of all my restlessness.

I am a sentimental woman and extremely sensitive when it comes to a relationship and my feelings, I yearn for the romantic moments, like a little girl yearning for candy. My husband, is my complete opposite, his lack of sensitivity, and the inability of bringing romantic moments into our marriage has disheartened me about love.

One day, I finally decided to tell him my decision, that I wanted a divorce.

“Why?” he asked, shocked. “I am tired, there are no reasons for everything in the world!” I answered. He kept silent the whole night, seems to be in deep thought with a lighted cigarette at all times. My feeling of disappointment only increased, here was a man who can’t even express his predicament, what else can I hope from him? And finally he asked me:” What can I do to change your mind?”

Somebody said it right, it’s hard to change a person’s personality, and I guess, I have started losing faith in him. Looking deep into his eyes I slowly answered : “Here is the question, if you can answer and convince my heart, I will change my mind, Let’s say, I want a flower located on the face of a mountain cliff, and we both are sure that picking the flower will cause your death, will you do it for me?” He said :” I will give you your answer tomorrow….” My hopes just sank by listening to his response.

I woke up the next morning to find him gone, and saw a piece of paper with his scratchy handwriting, underneath a milk glass, on the dining table near the front door, that goes…. My dear, “I would not pick that flower for you, but please allow me to explain the reasons further..” This first line was already breaking my heart. I continued reading.

“When you use the computer you always mess up the Software programs, and you cry in front of the screen, I have to save my fingers so that I can help to restore the programs. You always leave the house keys behind, thus I have to save my legs to rush home to open the door for you. You love traveling but always lose your way in a new city, I have to save my eyes to show you the way. You always have the cramps whenever your “good friend” approaches every month, I have to save my palms so that I can calm the cramps in your tummy.

You like to stay indoors, and I worry that you will be infected by infantile autism. I have to save my mouth to tell you jokes and stories to cure your boredom. You always stare at the computer, and that will do nothing good for your eyes, I have to save my eyes so that when we grow old, I can help to clip your nails, and help to remove those annoying white hairs. So I can also hold your hand while strolling down the beach, as you enjoy the sunshine and the beautiful sand… and tell you the color of flowers, just like the color of the glow on your young face… Thus, my dear, unless I am sure that there is someone who loves you more than I do… I could not pick that flower yet, and die.. ”

My tears fell on the letter, and blurred the ink of his handwriting… and as I continue on reading… “Now, that you have finished reading my answer, if you are satisfied, please open the front door for I am standing outside bringing your favorite bread and fresh milk… I rush to pull open the door, and saw his anxious face, clutching tightly with his hands, the milk bottle and loaf of bread….

Now I am very sure that no one will ever love me as much as he does, and I have decided to leave the flower alone…

That’s life, and love. When one is surrounded by love, the feeling of excitement fades away, and one tends to ignore the true love that lies in between the peace and dullness.

Love shows up in all forms, even very small and cheeky forms, it has never been a model, it could be the most dull and boring form.. . flowers, and romantic moments are only used and appear on the surface of the relationship. Under all this, the pillar of true love stands… and that’s our life… Love, not words win arguments…

2nd DIY : WYB Cards (Again!)

I just can't move on.. :p

 

 

 

 

My First DIY: Will You Be..

As I mentioned in my previous post I plan to do a lot of DIY stuffs for our wedding. Arts is not innate in me but it is really my desire to be a hands on bride-to-be. And not to mention the amount we're going to save. (Jay is very strict on sticking with our budget) =P.

So here's the first installment..our will you be cards for our lady entourage!

I did them in the office using Microsoft Powerpoint.The photos and poems I used were just googled and enhanced using paint application.

SG W@wies Mega EB - January 14, 2011

I remember last year when Rona (a co-w@wie) and I were planning for a mini-EB for Singapore-based w@wies. But it was Rona who took the initiative to organize the EB (I never helped. :p). Thanks girl! =)

The mini-EB turned out to be a Mega one because more than 30 w@wie grooms and brides to be came. I'm so glad to have met these new friends! I'm looking forward for our next EB. =)

P.S. Thanks sis Donna for bringing your cam!

My Tablemates, Analyn, Lou and her h2b

SG w@wies

Good thing Analyn's fiance doesn't live here, I have a partner. :)

After few days of unraveling...

I'm back on track. ☼

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

~John 14:27 

Let me..for just one day..

Like what the Bible said in Proverbs 11:14,

'If there is no guidance the people fall, but in abundance of counselors there is victory",

I am but a thankful soul that as early as now we are already receiving such overwhelming support, encouragements (and tips!) from our families and dearest friends. I know I can't thank them enough and they are worth mentioning here, but I opt to do that after the big day. =)

But I am also deeply saddened whenever I perceive a not-so-good reaction about how we wanted to execute our day. I mean criticisms are good, and I am taking every bit of it into considerations. But finding faults on every detail of the wedding tears me down to a negative self-esteem. The damage it does to me is just as despicable as a real knife. =(

I spent much of my prayer times lifting up all the wedding details to the Lord - from all the DIY stuffs we'll make up to the suppliers we'll get. Everything is well-thought out and carefully planned. For months, I did my share of thoroughly researching all the possible venues and suppliers, trimmed down and filtered the most potential ones and presented them to Jay for approval. I am a self-confessed impulsive but I always know my boundaries. And definitely I won't submit to my instant impulse on this once in a lifetime event.

It is also pleasant to see that there are people who would remind us not to spend all the resources we have. I really marvel at their wisdom and concern for us, and I am in awe of these guys. But it was just heartbreaking that some are just not careful with their choices of words - or perhaps am I just too sensitive?

But please, mull over my side:

a. I am not a Veluz Reyes or Cecil Abad Bride. Of course I'll be happier to wear one of their gowns but it never came to my mind on spending so much on what will I wear.

b. I am not a Jayson Magbanua bride. If you'll check my previous post, you'll see that we just won the auction and we were able to save ALMOST HALF of the original videography package price.

c. We got the photography package at a special rate.

d. I admit that the price of the venue is quite steep, but the wedding ceremony and reception will be done at the same place. When you calculate rates for a separate ceremony (church) and reception, the difference will not be that remarkable.

e. To save pennies, I plan to do DIY (Do it your own) stuffs (monograms, save the date cards, placecards, map, thank you card, invitations, growing up avp..etc)

Few months back, before Jay's proposal I remember on telling him that if we are to get married, unless they will offer we should not ask financial help from our families. So we had allotted an amount we will use up on the big day. Of course we're not spending everything we have! We still MUST see non-zero figures in our savings account, enough to spend for rainy days.

For 4 years, I've been providing for my brother's studies (He's now a 4th engineering student in a private school) and when I came here in Singapore I was able to help out 2 of my college student cousins (I fully support one of them since she's living with us) and was able to provide monthly allowance to my mom.Not even once that I failed to provide them on the things they need. I never missed on paying my room rentals and phone bills, and I have my auto savings account. This is not out of bragging or that I am too proud. I just want to let them know that I am doing the math, and at 25,  I am already financially responsible and I won't let this wedding use up all our funds.

I've been thinking of others since I was studying until I started working. Just for one day, let me think only of myself. Let me be selfish for just one day.

I'm not aiming for a perfect wedding, I just wanted to carry out my dream wedding since I was five.

Jay's Share of Mind: Meeting with Our Coordinator

December 18 we will meet Cecille around 10 AM sa Cubao. Since Sabado nun at malapit nang mag pasko gumising kami ng maaga, around 7 (maaga na to samin) then tinawagan namin si Cecille. Kakagising lang din pala nya, rather tulog pa ata siya nung tumawag kami. After preps around 8:30 kami nakaalis. Nung nakadating kami sa Divisoria grabe ang daming tao at napasikip and init pa! Talagang kung san san kami dumaan para makaiwas sa tao. Around 9:30 na ata kami nasakay ng LRT2 papunta Cubao. I missed riding LRT2 since maluwag and malamig pa. Pagbaba namin di din namin alam yung meetting place and we met up with Cecille ng 10:30 which is nakakahiya since siya pa yung puyat (galing lang pala siya sa 1 wedding the night before).

 

Sa French Baker kami kumain, I ate rice while both Kate and Cecille ordered a huge slice of pizza. Kate and Cecille talked about the wedding plans while I listened since di ako masyadong makarelate. Around 11 umalis na siya since may pupuntahan pa siyang 1 wedding while nag withdraw kami, kumain ng Dairy Queen (maliit lang yung size nung kay Kate since may ubo siya nun) and Timezone kami since we have a lot of spare time. Nanalo na naman kami ng toys which na ipamimigay ni Kate sa Isabela.

 

Nung maubos na yung pera namin umuwi na kami pero dumaan muna kami sa tindahan ni nanay. Ayun tambay lang, kwentuhan at kain miryenda. Tapos nun umuwi na kami sa bahay then relax lang, ako nanood ng tv while Kate checked the logs on our wedding site (un kasi yung relaxation time para sa kanya e). Tulog ng unti then dinner then we ended the day with a movie (kalimutan ko na yung palabas e).

Some Changes in our Team

Not because we had a bad encounter with them or whatsoever. In fact among our current suppliers they are one of the quickest to respond whenever we have concerns(actually we have no trouble in dealing with all our suppliers, they all reply to our queries instantly. hehehe..). From the package we availed we have to choose between mobile sound system/band and quartet. When we paid our reservation fee we chose the sound system/band (Livesound). Since then I've been exchanging e-mails with their contact person, Ms. Rona. She's actually nice and I have no qualms about how they will perform on our wedding day. But after deciding on our theme we felt that it is more proper and romantic to hire a quartet rather than a band. Ms Cecile, our OTD also told me that the basic sound system of La Castellana will already suffice. Yesterday I threw an email to Christian (La Castellana's AE) regarding the change and he called Jay minutes ago for confirmation. I am sad to let Livesound go but I am also excited to welcome Velvet Mood Musicale as the new addition to our team.

"Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass …” 

~Psalm 37:4

Our W@W Tags

I was exultant when I finally saw our w@w tags. When Jay received them, he refused to show the tags via webcam so when I went back to Philippines I straightaway asked him where are they. Hehe.

And now folks I present to you our w@w tags...

Tadaaan! :)

Jay's Tag

Here's mine!

God Gave Me a Happy Face ☺

Mama was actually telling me to get married about 3 years ago (LOL!) because she wanted to baby-sit her own grandchild already. Most of my cousins are already married that's why she felt she's kinda left out whenever she see my aunts looking after my nieces and nephews. So I wasn't really expecting a sad face upon telling her about our engagement. My only worry is that she might not want to have our wedding done in Manila. First, because it's an 8-hour travel from our home province. Second, because I am her eldest child, her only daughter and I'll be her first kid to get married and she might want to host the wedding in our area as per Filipino tradition (the wedding should be done at/near the bride's place)

But prayer really works!

It wasn't a formal convo actually. Jay just casually told mama about his marriage proposal to me while she prepares our lunch on the 24th of December. Then I started telling her our plans. I am so thankful that mama is a cool mom, we got her approval without any difficulty. :)

After my mom, I also needed to acquire consent from Mommy Mercy (Papa's eldest sibling and my guardian) and Uncle Leo (Papa's youngest sibling, my mentor and who stood as my father when papa died). I was so blessed that I have these guys in my life, they're full of Godly wisdom and they're just so supportive to me. I'm glad that they were also okay with the arrangement.

Indeed when you commit everything to the Lord, He will perform all things for you.

"A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps."

~Proverbs 16:9

Thank you Father for the happy face! ☺☺☺