Hazel and Tec

We got our wedding video from Shierdan 2 weeks ago. Since he has not uploaded our wedding mtv to his site just yet, I uploaded it to YouTube for you guys to see. Pardon the quality as Tec had to reduce the video size for easy upload.



The song he used is "Umagang kay Ganda" as sung by Nyoy Volante, I can't think of any other song fit for this MTV.

This morning Tec was browsing Paul and Ivy's blog to look at the pictures of our friends Bong and Nenet when I noticed that there's a link to Angie's new website. So I clicked it and first found my sister's picture on her services page. O di ba? Sosyalin.

Then I checked the rest of the pages here at work and found that I, too, was presented.. sa beauty gallery!!!

So what are you waiting for? Check out Angie's website now and if you like what you see, book him agad and you won't regret it.

Labels: make up

Hello, everyone!

I've been pretty quiet on this blog and am regularly updating my other blog. Anyway, last night I got an SMS from Paul and he said that our album layout is finally done. You can check it out here. What do you think? Suggestions are welcome...

We got our DVD of pictures from Paul and Ivy, here's a preview, you will get a feel of the wedding itself. The album will be available in December daw. Until then...

Below is the speech prepared by one of our principal sponsors, may you also be blessed by it.



Marriage nuptials are made colorful by wedding traditions during the ceremony and the reception that follows. Flower-strewn red carpets for the bride, unity candle lighting (dyed sands in yours), the cake, the “wine”, the dove (and your butterflies), and the bridal bouquet/garter—these wedding symbols have each their unique meanings. Alas, these symbols end their tasks at the end of the wedding day.

I choose for my gift to you something that would always remind you of what your marriage should be—the scissors. There are two messages for you to keep in mind each time you use it.

In order for scissors to fulfill its intended purpose, the two blades must always work together. Separately, the blades can still be useful for the user, but never as scissors. The same is true with your marriage. Remove togetherness in your marriage and will it still be marriage? You must not, therefore, allow anything and anybody to separate you from each other. And this brings us to the second thought.

A pair of scissors is a very useful cutting instrument (specially this multi-purpose scissors I have chosen for you). It cuts anything that gets between its blades. So should your marriage be. Cut everything and everybody that gets between you two. And cut immediately!

This scissors, then, must always say to you, “Let no one separate them, for God has joined them together.”

In your marriage, as in all marriages, there are countless mountains to climb. Always climb them together and with God! And don’t forget to bring this scissors with you.

Being a W@Wie, most of our suppliers were contracted because of inputs from other W@Wies. To pay back what we owe from the group, below is our wedding kwento with our supplier ratings. We hope that what we have to say will help you plan your wedding and assist you in getting your suppliers. Ratings are on a scale of 1 - 5 with 5 being the highest. Text in aqua are links to our vendors' websites.


The Manila Hotel
One Rizal Park, Roxas Boulevard, Manila, Philippines 1099
Contact: Mr Lawrence Rosal
Tel: 527.0011
Rating: 4

We chose Manila Hotel because it's the closest hotel to Patio Victoria. We checked-in at the Manila Hotel on Saturday afternoon. The hotel in general was ok, but sayang. We were given rooms at the 17th floor - the floor below the penthouse, so medyo ok. However, in going up to the rooms, you will realize that the hotel smells. For some reason it was not maintained as it should be. Pagbukas pa lang ng elevators alam mo na agad na luma na ung carpets, amoy mo kasi agad e.

Anyway, we did not have any problems in booking rooms and getting the rooms that we want (low season ata ngayon). Check-in procedure was also a breeze although they messed it up somehow because they tagged one room (we got 3 rooms) as comp when it was, in fact, prepaid. Ganito kasi yun. All rooms had breakfast for two included in the rate. The breakfast coupons for one room got lost so we asked the reception to have it changed, when they were checking, they told me na the room was comp so hindi included ang breakfast. Siempre ang kilay ko umakyat ng penthouse and told them na hindi pede yun. I explained that for the prepaid room the hotel issued a gift certificate which I gave them during check-in. Everything was settled after about 15 minutes, pero hassle.

Then the next night, after the wedding, when my family went to the hotel after the wedding reception, the vingcards they were holding won't work. They had to request another copy from the reception, it took them 20 minutes to replace the vingcard. Since two of the rooms were interconnected they only asked for one vingcard for the two rooms. Eh ganun din nangyari for the room that was used by Tec's family. So another 20 minutes. Imagine the hassle of having our wedding stuff at the hallway while waiting for the vingcard.

So come Monday, upon check-out, I brought it up with reception. I asked them what happened or kung talagang may procedure sila na every night eh pinapalitan ang code ng doors so guests have to check with reception to get new keys. The lady at the reception said that it's because I had our stay extended by one day. Ang kilay ko nagtravel na naman to the penthouse, tumaas na rin ata ang boses ko. Sisihin ba ako? Anyway, I once again explained that when we checked-in, all 3 rooms were for two nights. So I'm guessing that the lady who checked us in Saturday afternoon is either new or has some problem causing her to mess up our registration. Buti na lang sa 'min nangyari di ba? Pano kung sa foreign guests? How will Manila Hotel keep up to it's old glory of being the premier hotel in Manila? Pasensya na po, this is the Tourism girl in me speaking.


Teresa Hagape Creations
Green Park Village, Pasig, Metro Manila
Contact: Tet Hagape
Mobile: 0917.832.5285
Email: tet_hagape@yahoo.com
Rating: 5

Saturday evening, my folks went to the SM Mall of Asia to look for the Wedding Library where they will pick up our butterflies the next day. I stayed at the hotel to wait for Tet to deliver my and my sister's gowns. It was Araw ng Maynila that Saturday so the traffic was really bad. A stretch of Roxas Boulevard was closed to the traffic for the celebrations. Instead of the agreed 5pm, Tet arrived around 8pm na. She made some minor adjustments to the gown after I fitted it. Then she came back the next day to press the gowns and help me dress up.

I initially wanted to get a gown off the rack. Ayaw ko kasi gastusan masyado ang isang gown na hindi ko na masusuot after. I wanted something simple that I can wear for other occassions, but my friends convinced me otherwise. Minsan nga lang naman ako ikakasal.

We went to three designers with the designs I got off the net but decided on getting Tet as she's the most professional and most affordable compared to those we've met and spoken to. As I've said in a previous entry, we liked the fact that she had her dressmakers (mananahi) on site.

We got a total of 6 gowns from her: bride, MOB, MOH, 3 flower girls. We didn't have any problems with most of the gowns, especially with my sister who was abroad. She just sent us her measurements which I forwarded to Tet. She made the gown accordingly and when my sister arrived we went to her shop and have my sister fit it. Ok ung first fit with very minor adjustments.

I thought we were gonna have a problem with my Mom's gown. Somehow, sobrang sikip ng gown nya sa first fitting samantalang hindi naman nag-change ang measurement ng Mom ko. The 2nd fitting ganun pa rin, parang walang pagbabago. My Mom's on the heavy side kasi and she wants the gown loose so her love handles won't show. After the two fittings, we were ready to buy a gown off the rack for her. However, on the third fitting, lo and behold, ang ganda na ng fit ng gown ni Mama, at ang ganda pa ng beading! I also love the beading she made on my sister's gown. I never had any expectations siguro (I just wanted them to fit) kaya I was so happy with the outcomes of our gowns.

All's well that ends well, I must say.


Paul Vincent Photography
Contact: Paul Delos Reyes
Mobile: 0918.415.3195
Tel: 410.5126
Email: paulvincent_photography@hotmail.com or paul_ph2@lycos.com
Rating: 5 [hoping this won't change after receiving the wedding album]

Paul and Ivy (with kuya Noel) were the first to arrive Sunday. When we got to the room after breakfast, nandun na sila and they have started shooting pictures, looking for angles, etc.

Another W@Wie find, we felt at ease with Paul the first time we met him. He provided us with his rates, which we found reasonable at the quality he's producing. We checked out his website before meeting him kasi. On our meeting we realized that we agree on a lot of things, like not wearing bathrobes during preparation pictures and not putting our faces on glasses and other stuff.

We had our prenups scheduled and working with them made us at ease on THE day. We got his Budget Package 1 with one photographer, kaya we were so happy when Ivy was also shooting pictures, so parang naka-2 photographers kami for the price of 1. It was drizzling the whole day of June 25th kaya hindi kami masyado nakahataw sa pictures. Nonetheless, from what I've seen sa pictures, ok pa rin ang mga kuha niya. Although mas ok sana kung hindi umulan, we missed the chance of taking pictures sa M/S Philippines, I was looking forward to it pa naman.

He has uploaded some of our pictures on his website the same day we arrived in Puerto Princesa so super excited kami to go home to view the pictures. We've yet to receive the cd of the rest of the pictures. Excited na rin ako to get the album.


Angie Cruz and Ogie Rayel
Contact: Angie Cruz
Mobile: 0916.386.8307
Rating: 5

I loove Angie and Ogie! A number of people have commented on how beautiful I was during the wedding and I owe them all to Angie and Ogie. Teka nga, on second thought, aren't everybody supposed to say how beautiful the bride is during her wedding?? So is everybody just being polite?

Anyway, Angie and Ogie arrived on time as usual. They work fast and had us all made up and ready to go to Patio Victoria by 2pm. As earlier agreed, Ogie set my hair up during the ceremony and set it down during the reception. Hehe the only vanity I have for the wedding.

Angie can be easily contacted through his mobile. Mabilis din sya magreply. Kung hindi man sya makareply agad, it's because may raket sya, but he will surely reply as soon as he's free. An SMS is enough to contact him.


Enchanting Blooms
Contact: Tet Uy
Mobile: 0917.540.4455
Email: enchantingblooms@yahoo.com
Rating: 5

Tet called me out of the blue at work and asked for an appointment. She said she got my name from the Themes and Motifs guest book. We have not engaged any florist yet so I agreed to meet with her. She went to my office and I liked her the first time I met her. She showed me samples of her work and we talked about what I want for the wedding. After two days, she sent me a quotation na super acceptable sa akin, so I signed the contract and agreed to pay her in full to avail of discounts.

About 2 months before the wedding, we decided to add one more flower girl. So I contacted her and discussed the changes I wanted. I required bigger baskets for my flower girls kasi. So definitely magchange ang price. Naghanap pa muna sya ng baskets then she gave me a quote. Siempre I don't have any choice but to agree di ba? Although ok naman ang quotation nya.

Sunday morning, she was at the Hotel before 11am, as agreed. Sobrang love ko ang flowers ko, especially the way she dressed up my flower girls' baskets. Communicating with her was never a problem.


Acclaim Butterflies
4th Level, SM Mega Mall Building B
Rating: 5

We got our butterflies from Acclaim Butterflies. We never had the chance to really canvass for suppliers and just got from the most convenient butterfly supplier.

Sobra din ata natuwa ang guests namin sa butterflies. Instead of releasing them during the recessional, I was told that some of our guests chose to bring the butterflies home.


Patio Victoria
Sofia Garden
Gen Luna cor Victoria Streets, Intramuros, Manila
Contact: Johna Manalansan
Tel: 527.8006
Email: patiovictoria5435@yahoo.com
Rating: 5

This is where it all began. It was during Tec's brother's wedding that we saw the place made up for a wedding ceremony and reception. We went in, looked at the setup and talked to Johna to inquire about dates. When we decided on a date and it was still available, we had made the reservation fee and tried to come up with enough funds to pay the downpayment so that we will keep the rates to 2005.

Initially, I felt na hindi ako inaasikaso ni Johna, our AE. Pero I soon realized na marami din silang clients so I really have to do my job of following up on schedules and the like. A week before the wedding is when the calls came from Johna. She was very diligent in sending me SMS and double checking all the agreements we have made.

Early Sunday morning, she was already on the phone with me inquiring on whether we should put up tents as it seems it wouldn't stop. I asked her to wait until 12noon, I believed in my heart kasi na hindi na uulan later in the day. By 12noon she was on the phone again and since it was still drizzling, I agreed to put up the tent. BTW, the rain stopped when it was my time to march and started again as soon as I set foot on the gazebo. The rain was our blessing from heaven.

Everything that we agreed upon was done except for my request to serve the wedding cake. It seems that they only have a number of waiters that night and they have two functions. For me this is not an excuse. Di ba dapat since they know that they have two weddings, they should've added more waiters?

Masarap ang food according to my guests! Buti na lang as I was really worried. Di ba sabi people will forget all the details of your wedding except for how good or bad the food is, buti na lang they liked the food. Additional comments from my guests were that Patio was slow to replenish the food on the buffet. Mabilis din daw sila nagligpit when the reception was almost done. Personally, I can't comment on this kasi wala kaming gana pareho kumain during the wedding!

Overall, I like the way Patio Victoria handled my wedding. Oo nga pala, pangit ang map na binigay nila to include in the invitations, kaya I asked Tec to make one. If you need it, leave a comment with your email address and I'll send you the map Tec made. Although naibigay na rin namin ang soft copy kay Johna.


SDC Video
Contact: Shierdan Pamintuan
Mobile: 0917.359.8492
Email: sgpbeyond@yahoo.com
Rating: reserved until we receive an MTV or the final DVD

Shierds is a friend of Tec from college. I saw the MTV he made for Angela Manalo-Lalas' wedding and was really impressed. It turns out that Angela, who I met through W@W, is also a friend of Tec's, small world. Before I can even talk to Tec about Shierdan's work, Shierds had already sent an SMS to Tec offering his services.

Shierds, I can't wait to see our video!


Bridal car: The Muros' reconditioned Beetle
Rating: 5+++

Ferdi and Ces, my college barkada, offered the use of their VW Beetle (sorry, di ko alam anong model) as our bridal car. Siempre, since it's free, we readily agreed!

They were so nice as to dress it up. Imagine, nakabarong pa ang aming si Ferdi who acted as chauffeur. See the pink dice on the rearview mirror? Ferdi and Ces gave it to us as a wedding gift and told us that marriage is a gamble so we gotta play it together given all the risks -- or something like that hehe.


Servi Domini
Contact: Heartwell Saramosing, Conductor
Rating: 5+++

Servi Domini is one of our church choirs and Heart, Servi's conductor, is one of my highschool best friends. Before the wedding, I just gave him the list of songs that I wanted for the ceremony. He was the one who arranged all the songs to fit the solemn yet fun atmosphere we wanted.

Super thank you, Heart and Servi kids! Sa uulitin ha.


Apple-scented Hand Sanitizers
Contact: Kate Macadaeg
Leave me a message for her contact number
Rating: 5+++

Kate is my classmate in graduate school. She's a chemical engineer and makes perfumes and hand sanitizers from home. I had a number of options for our souvenirs but decided on getting hand sanitizers from Kate to hit two birds with one stone 'ika nga. I'll be helping Kate with her business and our guests will have something practical and useful as a souvenir from our wedding.

The ribbon and the label are DIYs.

The following are the rest of our DIY projects, siempre 5+++ ang rating ng mga ito!

Paul has uploaded some of our pictures on his site. Ang galing ni Paul Vincent no? Pakiramdam ko ang ganda-ganda ko!!

The following are links to the pictures taken by my friends.