In one week's time, we will be artista for a day - its our pre-nup pictorials in UP Diliman. We have limited props, but since I will be out of the city by mid-week next week, I have to finish our pre-nup props.
LOOKING FOR A PRE-NUP SHOOT VENUE
For the past months, I have been scouting for our pre-nup pictorials venue. Since Louie and I were both UP Diliman alumni and our love story started here, we decided to go with UP Diliman. There have been tsismis that UP charges na for pre-nup shoots, we scouted for yet replacement venues. Louie is very mapilit that we try on UP Diliman, and good thing we did ask. Alumni are free when they shoot around UP, but in particular areas only like the lagoon, acad oval and other public areas. Within colleges, they have to write the respective colleges for permit.
Since we are both UP KEM (our college org) alumni, we decided to take a chance if we can ask for a permit to shoot in our tambayan, inside the College of Engineering (Melchor Hall). We just wrote a letter to the College Dean, indicating the location, time of shoot and number of people that will be there during the shoot. Gladly, we were permitted and just settled Php 250 for 3 hour shoot at our tambayan. :) We can even shoot at the College stairs.
DIY 1: BLOCK LETTERS
We haven't received our script from our P/V supplier, but I already prepared some of the props that we will be using for our pre-nup shoot. I bought paper mache block letters in Divisoria for Php 25 a piece. This is for the medium-sized letters.
It was a crafty afternoon this holiday and I decided to work on it. I bought 4 colors of poster paints - cobalt blue, white, green and silver gray that will be our colors for the wedding. It is actually aqua blue, mint and gray and all I have to do is to mix white and blue and green and white to get the right color combination.
And here are the materials and final outputs.
original paper mache block letters
My materials: Dong-A poster color in silver gray (Php 34), Best Buy (national bookstore) poster colors in green, white and cobalt blue (Php 28 each color) and 3 inch brush (Php 34). Total cost = Php 150.00
Final output - L in blue, & in silver gray and D in mint green
This week, I still have to look for a vintage luggage since I wanted to recreate a shot I found online. :)
One week and I am sort-of-ready to be an artista. :)
Writing my side of the proposal has been a disaster for me. In fact, long overdue na ang revision one ko ("you can do better than that no?" ang nareceive kong comment doon sa una). Kapag hindi pa ako nagsubmit e may mapapalo na pag-uwi this golden week. :(
Mas kumportable lang talaga siguro ako na ikwento ito ng personal. Almost all of my friends here in Yokohama knew the jist: I proposed on a pirate crew ship in Hakone, on our 7th anniversary and we are getting married on our 8th year on November 8 this year. Ganun lang kasimple, pero I would see in their faces light, hear the "astig/sweet/galing naman ninyong dalawa" remarks, and feel proud first hand. Enough na yun para pumalakpal ang tenga ko. :D
Writing about it? Sablay talaga. Hindi ko alam kung bakit. I'm just happy na natapos ko din at panalo si Pacquiao (Pacquiao-Bradley fight - April 13, JPN time).
ABOUT THE PHONE GRABBING INCIDENT
Nabasa ko na din yung proposal story ni Dheng. So proud! And jealous at the same time. Galing nyang magsulat e.
And I really didn't have a clue na upset siya nung inagaw ko yung phone ko sa kanya. And now that I think about it kaduda-duda nga naman yun. To be honest takot naman talaga ko mabuking noon, but for a different reason.
Yes, I planned the proposal myself but I asked help from friends. Choosing the ring, setting up proposal scenarios, and I even had a spy photographer kung natuloy yung proposal plan A ko.
(I would like to thank Mark and Namu for helping me choose the ring, Gert for the ring size estimation, Jo for being my emergency photographer, and for my Ozie/BS/Sueyoshi family for all the love and support.)
Pero dahil hindi talaga fixed ang sched namin (also accounting for weather changes during our vacation), gumawa naman talaga ako ng mga contingency plans. At yung iba doon ay nakasave sa phone messages ko.
Takot lang ako na mabasa nya ang mga tips from my bubwits about my plans kaya I grabbed my phone away. And I know my hands are clean kaya madali ko naman naexplain kay Dheng after. +)
PLAN ABCDEF
"You'll hate his methods but you gotta love the results." - Gibbs on Dinozzio, NCIS
The proposal contingencies in a nutshell
- Ang proposal plan B ay dapat sa Disney. Kaso noong nag-aayos kami ng schedule at di ko sure kung may fireworks noon. We even planned to stay overnight on the Disney Hotel but it was out of the budget. Oh well.
- Proposal plan C: At Osanbashi. I planned to spend our time sightseeing at Minato Mirai tapos sa sunset ako magpo-propose by the bay. May kinuntsaba na din akong photographer. Just in case hindi kami makagala ng malayo.
- Proposal plan D: Tobu world. Kaso hindi naman kami natuloy doon.
- Proposal plan E: Sa tapat ng luma naming bahay sa Maita. Siguro kung nasa Pinas ako, malamang naisip ko dinmagpropose sa UP Bliss.
- Proposal plan F: Ilagay ang singsing sa laruang panda (favorite kasi ni Dheng ang panda). We went to Ueno Zoo pero hindi ko alam kung paano ko tatakas para bumili ng panda stuff toy. :(
I always had the ring in my bag tuwing lalabas kami. Baka kasi may mangyari at sa plan G ako matuloy e, yosh!
HOW I IMAGINED MY PROPOSAL WOULD BE:
Sea turtles, mate! :p
ACTUAL PROPOSAL FACTOIDS
What I really wanted was a simple and intimate proposal.
But since we were on a cruise ship, I decided to look for a secluded spot on the upper deck for us to have our moment away from prying eyes. At wala akong nakita doon. I weighed my options: una, lalayo kami sa front side kasi maraming nagpipicture. May isang pamilyang Pinoy pa na panay ang selfie doon kaya pasimpleng iwas ako. I don't want our proposal to be going on someone else's Facebook/Instagram page first, gusto ko sa amin na muna ang moment na iyon.
Luckily, yung pinuwestuhan namin ay konti lang ang tao, a few foreigners na gusto lang enjoy ang view. Walang camera, swerte.
When we were almost near the middle of the lake (Dheng was complaining about the cold and the wind and the cloud hiding Mt. Fuji), I proposed. Without kneeling and saying the proverbial "Will you marry me?" right away.
I never knelt for sole purpose of not catching everyone's attention. Baka kasi maglapitan yung may mga camera e. Mahirap na.
Then, I told her na "seryosohin na natin ito, Mi."
For all the years na long distance relationship kami, madalas ang hirit namin e matagal na kaming naglolokohan. Virtual and emotional support lang madalas ang nabibigay namin sa isa't isa. To some outsiders, our relationship may look like a joke.
And I want them all to know that it is certainly not.
What we have is REAL.
Our moment that time may seem simple but for me it really felt surreal. Iba talaga ang saya ng salitang "yes" nang mga sandaling iyon. Sobrang saya.
Then bigla akong kinabahan, 'sinong nakakita'?
As we turned around, we saw an old tourist couple (probably Canadian but I wasn't sure). They may have watched us the whole time, but instead of shouting or clapping to gather everyone's attention, they just whispered "congratulations" and gave us their sweetest of smiles. And with that I was very thankful. Wish granted.
Siguro after nyo mabasa ito e naconclude nyo na sablay talaga ako magkwento. Walang ayos, walang denoument, walang sense.
And the proposal was really planned on the fly. Dahil nabigyan si Dheng ng opportunity na pumunta dito e noon lang umikot ang gulong ng proposal plans ko.
But there was never a doubt. I knew she was the one. If parallel universes exist (kung saan isa sa mga proposal plans ko ang nangyari), I would still be equally happy.
RSVP is really NOT a norm here in the Philippines.
First, guests, especially those who are close to the family or the hosts ASSUME that they do not need to answer any RSVP. They are invited in the first place.
Second, nobody decides until the last minute unless the group (of friends, officemates, neighbors or relatives) confirm each their attendance. So there should be a mini-"pulong-pulong" before everyone decides. We are so Three Musketeers - ONE FOR ALL, ALL FOR ONE.
Third, despite the unacceptability of it, FILIPINO TIME is still in our culture. We confirm our attendance a day before, giving the couple another sleepless night since they have to revise their table.
Fourth, we are really respectful people. Working in the marketing research industry, I have been witness to several instances that we do not say "no" just because we are shy to decline. Ayaw nating mapahiya ang nagtatanong.
We, as soon-to-be weds, with the help of our wedding coordinators, wanted to give our guests something that they can remember. We planned very much ahead - look for a reception venue that can house our "favorite" friends and families, scout for a good coordinator that can deliver what we need, plan for games and activities so that the guests would have fun as we wait for us, find a good souvenir and aside from the fun of food tastings, our search of a good caterer so we can see you have a second run to the buffet table. These are just some of the things that we have to deal with, so please, as our guests, you can bet that one of the best gifts that you can give us is to RSVP.
But since this is not normal, how do you RSVP?
1. As soon as you receive your Save-The-Date invites, kindly plan your schedule. We are giving them 6 months ahead (expect them next month - as of writing) so we hope you can write us to our planner, calendar or post us on your cellphone calendars.
2. We will be giving our invites 2-3 months before the wedding. We would hope you can send us an email, FB message, a text message, a twitter shout-out or a direct screenshot of you in IG to confirm your attendance. So wala kayong lusot. We have accounts to all social networks. :)
3. Deadline of our RSVP will be three weeks before the wedding so we can carefully plan your seating arrangement. You don't want to sit beside somebody you don't know and far from the rest of your group, right?
4. Do not worry, if you said NO to us, we will not take it against you. You may have an emergency or plans way before we sent the invites, we perfectly understand. But please, we will appreciate if you can still send us your answers. A "no" is still an answer, right?
5. If you change your mind a day before (sana hindi!), please inform us or our coordinators ASAP. So we can include you to the rest of our groupies.
6. I may not be able to answer your questions a week before the wedding (ahem, I need the beauty rest. Nakaka-stress kayang magpakasal sa korni na lalaki. Peace, babe!), so please if you have questions, our coordinator or our sisters will be glad to assist you.
Do not worry, we will make this RSVP as fun as possible. :)
You may refer to this blog for more tips and suggestions:
I will have to post how to get to our reception venues, (1) for those who will be dissing the ceremony (hopefully in all the right and acceptable reasons) and (2) for those who will be coming from the church.
Our reception venue is about 15-20 minutes away from the church via EDSA.
Starred: PSE Auditorium
zoomed in: PSE Auditorium
1. NORTHBOUND (Quezon City, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas)
Via private car:
1. Head for Ortigas area. Take the EDSA Shrine flyover bound for Ortigas Avenue.
2. Turn right at Meralco Avenue.
3. Turn right as you reach Exchange Road (the road after Dona Julia Vargas Avenue).
4. Right at the hotel (Exchange Road is one way traffic). You may park at any parking area along Exchange Road.
5. Just walk across from the parking area to the PSE Auditorium.
Via commute: (THIS IS ALL WALKING)
1. Head for Ortigas Avenue MRT Station and transfer to the Northbound exit to Megamall.
2. Walk towards Megamall and walk towards St. Francis Mall.
3. Cross the bridge to San Miguel Complex, turn left at Dona Julia Vargas Avenue.
4. Turn right to San Miguel Avenue and left to Exchange Road.
5. Walk straight passing by the first intersection on your right. PSE is located at your right side.
2. SOUTHBOUND and FOR THOSE WHO WILL BE COMING FROM THE CHURCH.
Via Private car
1. Head for Ortigas center but do not take the Crossing underpass.
2. Turn right in Shaw Blvd (MRT Station) headed for Pasig.
3. Turn left in San Miguel Avenue (right after Lourdes School) and drive straight ahead.
4. Turn right in Exchange Road. You may park at any parking area along Exchange Road. PSE is just across the road.
Via commute: (THIS IS ALL WALKING)
1. Head for Ortigas Avenue MRT Station and exit the station.
2. Walk towards Megamall and walk towards St. Francis Mall.
3. Cross the bridge to San Miguel Complex, turn left at Dona Julia Vargas Avenue.
4. Turn right to San Miguel Avenue and left to Exchange Road.
5. Walk straight passing by the first intersection on your right. PSE is located at your right side.
Parking area is located just across PSE Auditorium. :)
Our church is sort-of hidden somewhere in Makati. :)
For the convenience of everyone, here is the map to the church.
NORTHBOUND (coming from Pasig, Mandaluyong, Quezon and Caloocan Cities)
Directions
Via Private Car:
1. Take EDSA Southbound to Guadalupe MRT Station.
2. Turn right to Guadalupe cloverleaf and then left towards JP Rizal Avenue (left at the traffic light).
3. Go straight towards Makati-Mandaluyong bridge and then left towards Makati Avenue.
4. Left turn at P. Guanzon Street (street facing A.Venue, second street from the traffic light) and right to P. Burgos. Church is at the right side corner.
Via Commute:
1. Take MRT to Guadalupe Station and walk towards Southbound EDSA side of MRT.
2. Ride a jeepney bound for Taft Herran.
3. Get off at Poblacion Barangay Hall or Poblacion Sports Complex.
4. Cross the street and walk towards DM Rivera Street.
5. Walk straight ahead towards St. Paul College Makati and Sts. Peter and Paul Parish.
SOUTHBOUND (coming from Las Pinas, Muntinlupa, Pasay, Taguig and Makati)
Via private car:
1. Take Northbound to Ayala Avenue.
2. Turn left to Ayala Avenue and right towards Makati Avenue.
3. Drive straight crossing Gil Puyat Avenue and turn right in Mercedez Street.
4. Turn left to P. Burgos Street and drive straight. SPPP is located at your right.
Via Commute:
1. Take MRT to Guadalupe Station and exit station at EDSA.
2. Ride a jeepney bound for Taft Herran.
3. Get off at Poblacion Barangay Hall or Poblacion Sports Complex.
4. Cross the street and walk towards DM Rivera Street.
5. Walk straight ahead towards St. Paul College Makati and Sts. Peter and Paul Parish.
Should you be lost, it never fails to contact any of us. :D Our numbers are posted at the RSVP section of the blog.
