hey hey hey

It's been a crazy three weeks. Ive been busy -

- spending the long weekend in Bacolod to attend a fabulous wedding

- catching up with the demands of my "extra job" and ending up on TV for a noble cause (naks!)

- negotiating a serious mishap at work, which I am still on up to now

- dealing with a nasty viral infection, but I''ve recovered already

- comforting my best friend who just lost her father

- cooking up a Christmas feast in my mind, excited to come to Aklan for the Holidays.

I'm still alive and trying my hardest to stay happy, confident of God's love and that of my family's.

Wonderful Wedding Weekend Part 2

Something’s Pretty Fishy

The L’Fisher Chalet Tower II opened just 3 months before the wedding. We were impressed at its simple and sleek façade, its small but stylish and functional lobby, cozy yet airy interiors, and relaxing roof deck.

We were among the lucky ones who got booked into one of its budget rooms. For PHP 995 (USD 22), we've got a very good deal.

Only when I realized that the pillows were too firm, and that there were only 3 of them on our bed did it feel that we were indeed in a budget room. Apart from that, we were comfortable.

Favorite Things: the hangers that won't get stolen,

and the pretty murals in the elevator area

After the pre-wedding dinner we decided to hang out by the lobby and have a little chat with the friendly desk people.

We also looked around the roof deck and stayed for a while because it was nice up there. The pool looked so tempting, but we'd rather not be the subject of someone's dinner conversation at the cafe right beside it.

So we woke up at 5 am the next day, when the cafe hasn't opened yet, so Noy could take a few laps in peace.

I just dipped in for a while, looked at the rainbow-embellished Bacolod sky while sharing a pretty glass of fresh OJ with my husband. I thought it was a little too cozy for some serious swimming.

But I did swim a little. It's exciting to use the new cam underwater for the first time.

When company went up the roof deck, it was time for breakfast.

Noy checked out the gym, which hasn't really opened yet, but the gym guys let us in.

The hotel also has a neat little salon on the roof deck. Rhona and I had our hair done there before the wedding, but I wasn't able to take very good pictures since we're too pressed for time.

When they said Bacolod is the City of Smiles, they meant it. L'Fisher has helpful and courteous people who don't reserve their smiles to the rich-looking. Would I come back to L'Fisher the next time I'm in Bacolod? Definitely.

Tremendously Terrific Tour

The morning after was a big rush, because we had to check out of the hotel before joining the tour. We almost just swallowed our breakfast because as usual,we were running late. Thankfully, we were provided our own ride since the bus was already full.

First stop: First Farmers Sugar Mills.

Yup, we got to see how sugar is made – from the moment the sugarcane plants are harvested, up to refining until the whitest possible grains are made. There showed us an AVP of the company

profile before they brought us to the factory proper. While I wasn’t that interested in their machinery, I enjoyed the snacks they served – piaya and various other sugar-coated things =)

The factory is huge, but it didn’t take long before we got to that part when the machines were churning out what was recognizably sugar. It was quite fun, seeing the sparks from the furnaces, smelling all kinds of smells from musty, woodsy, sour (almost rotten, actually) and of course, sweet.

The storage area was one big coliseum of all kinds of sugar. They piled the sugar sacks so high I was afraid they’d fall on us if one just goofed around mindlessly.

With fresh sugar still sticking to our hands we were whisked off to Balay Negrense, a centuries-old house kept impeccably strong and beautiful so we the unfortunate city dwellers may ogle at it today.

While everybody else joined the tour guide/keeper, I sat at the living area and took it all in, picturing in my mind the people who once lived there – how they gathered to eat dinner, how they prepared for the working day ahead, how children played, how they served their guests, how couples spent their nights together when only a thin piece of wood with vertical holes on top separated their room from the other 11 bedrooms.

I’ve always been fascinated at the mysterious aura of old houses. It’s my little dream to be relishing in one. It pertains to no personal issues of mine, I just find it a simple thrill, like driving a manual in high heels.

The house is huge. There were old house-things everywhere – piano, telephones, vases, couches, framed photos, dressers, personal stuff, kitchen tools, and loads of other interesting things that withstood time.

Looking at the bedrooms in perfect condition gave me the goosebumps, like the owner would just turn up and take his place at the bottom of the bed and tell us stories.

Too bad there were a lot of us, and there was so little time to really get the feel of the house. But I’m happy nevertheless. It’s a magnificent house.

Next stop was The Ruins. This one’s bigger, a little older than Balay Negrense, but as the name implies, the house was ruined and all that remained were the walls and the founding structures. It was awe-inspiring in its own way, but not as enchanting as Balay Negrense, at least in my opinion. I guess the mystery thing is a little downplayed here since the structure looked too modern for me.

It was too clean to be “old”, if I may, and it had lavishly manicured lawns, a mini golf course, and a captivating fountain.

At the ground floor is a semi-fine dining restaurant-bar. The Ruins is a popular events place. It’s perfect for weddings and prenuptial pictorials. It’s also a charming and romantic location for special dates and proposals. Unfortunately again, it was so sunny and hot it was a challenge to take good pictures. Here we are, nevertheless looking great, with the lovely couple in the restobar area. Note the beautifully tiled floor.

We could have stayed to enjoy it some more, but it was just too hot and people were hungry already.

Mel’s parents treated us to lunch at the Chicken House. Back at the sugar mills the events coordinator tool our orders already, so by the time we got to the restaurant we found chicken inasal and rib steaks waiting for us.

Each of us in our group had a wonderful thick slab of juicy firm sweet rib steak that I personally found in no need of dipping. It was a terrific way to end the tour.

So where's that part where I'd tell you about that teasingly yummy cheesecake? Kindly read on to the entry after the next, which I will post in a few days. Thanks to you who always check my blog out! =)

Wonderful Wedding Weekend Part 1

Amongst the many long weekends this year, we only got to have fun during this one that we spent in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. More than spending quality time with each other, Noy rekindled friendships with his med school friends, while I got to really spend time with them, knowing them more than ever before; we rubbed elbows with some really nice cool people, got thrilled at realizing connections with previous acquaintances, and most of all we were witness to the start of a beautiful couple’s happily ever after.

Warm Welcome

Before anything else, let me just say that we love Philippine Airlines. Putting the bias aside (my father in law & sister in law work for PAL), I think PAL gives the best service still. Aircraft and amenities-wise, the other airline companies might have gone equal, but service-wise they don’t come close. It makes a big difference when the flight attendants hang your coat, store your luggage ever so carefully, smile a lot, and take the time to make a little chat to make sure you’re comfortable.

We were picked up at the swanky new airport in Silay City by this nice guy.

Since the Cebu Pacific plane just landed, we decided to wait for the wedding guests that were coming in from that flight. Much to my surprise, my colleague Hannah and her family ended up on our van. Hannah and I are both with GSK’s HPV Vaccine Clinical Trials in PGH. As it turns out, her husband Boyet is one of the groom’s Best Men. Obviously we didn’t know we were invited to the same event until that exciting Friday morning. We giggled our way all throughout the 30-minute drive to the hotel, realizing how small the world we live in is, and that we both didn't formally inform our bosses about this leave.

with Hannah and her little Brayden on the way to the hotel

Checking in at L’Fisher Hotel, one of the friendly girls at the desk handed us a cute tote bag full of thoughtful goodies from the couple.

Welcome Tote: piaya, muscovado packets, hand sanitizer,
Dove mini, Cetaphil moisturizer, some ideas for pasalubong

It also contained the weekend itinerary. Actually it was more of Sunday’s, since the entire Saturday would be devoted to the wedding.

It was not difficult to get settled in in our comfortable budget room. So we slept the entire afternoon. Waking up, we found a little note on our doorstep inviting us to dinner, informing us of the time we'd be picked up from the hotel.

I didn’t have anything proper to wear! Bad traveler, I know, so I almost panicked. Noy and I headed to the nearby Robinson’s to buy myself a pair of pants. I needed one for Sunday's tour, too, so I really needed it.

There was a nice-looking pair of denims on sale which fit me quite well. Since we're pressed for time, I checked it out at the counter without taking it off. Cashier here thinks it's funny. I thought so too! I wished to the heavens no one tried it on yet before I did. Or at least someone with some scary skin disease didn't.

We went to dinner in style, aka Nissan Patrol. Note Noy’s big grin.

The Balay Kalinangan at De La Salle Bacolod was elegantly simple. Personally, I was almost overwhelmed. The entire setup could make for a wedding reception already.

I mean, I didn't even consider putting up a carving station in my wedding reception because I thought it was too expensive. But here it was, looking good, stinking fragrant, definitely inviting.

The carving station at rhea & mel's pre-wedding dinner:

This lousy photo doesn't do it justice.

Let's just say the roast beef was that good

Noy didn't want to leave the table in the middle of enjoying it.

Dinner was great. I especially loved the salad. Everyone in our table did. I honestly forgot what it was called, but it was so refreshing I went back to the buffet table a couple more times just for the salad (greens, bacon, olives, goat cheese, walnuts, herbed light dressing)…

Okay I got dessert too. Here we also found one of the best-tasting baby back ribs we’ve ever had. I remember myself having seconds too.

The bride, Rhea, was such a warm and gracious host. She, Noy and I were in the same Chem 18 class in UP Manila, but it was in Med School (UERM) that Rhea & Noy became groupmates and good friends. Here we are with their other groupmates, whom I got to be more comfortable around with as each year passed.

with the bride, Rhea (standing), and Rhona

Pat & Lizza just came in from the 5pm flight from Manila

Mel + Rhea

The wedding was set at 2pm Saturday, and at the desk upon check in Friday we signed up for the 12:40 pm service that would take us to the church. Since we had things to do that morning, our group lunch started late and took a while to finish. Rhona and I had to go to the hotel salon to have our hair done after that. We were about to hire a cab by 1:45, but luckily the handsome rides just kept coming for the other guests who didn't make it to their schedules =D

The church was decorated with white flowers and red-leaved beautiful plants on bamboo stands. There were pretty things like this all over the church.

photo by Pat Limos.

The entourage wore elegant dresses in deep red and olive green. The ceremony went on smoothly, thanks to Bacolod’s premier events coordinator, Clay Tan. Rhea was radiant in an exquisite satin, off-white, haltered gown by Kelly Cuachon, while Mel was dapper in his pina barong.

Noy participated in the offertory, as did their other groupmates. Noy said it's a nice way to participate at someone's wedding. I think so too.

photo by Pat Limos.

Here are some of our pictures during and right after the wedding. Noy looked really happy spending this time with his friends.

Lance came in the morning of the wedding

Dom and Nica took the 24+ hour merciless bus from Manila to Bacolod!

They made it just in time for communion.

The reception was held at the ballroom at the same hotel where most of the guests, including us, were billeted. It was nice to rest in the room for a while before heading to cocktails. There were canapés, pretty mini cupcakes, and a chocolate fondue setup. Drinks of every kind started pouring in.

We didn’t want to spoil our appetites from too much wine and bread, so we headed out to the pool to goof out.

There was an orange-clad rondalla playing a mix of native tunes.

I wondered what a banana heart hanging from half an entire trunk was doing with the other plants in the pool area. Inside, the stage was a grand rendition of a farm complete with a bahay kubo and all kinds of produce one could imagine. “The theme is Haciendero”, said Lizza. Oh I see…

stunning: the stage featured two life size bahay kubos

and a creative rendition of the rich farm life.

all plants & produce used were real.

photo by Pat Limos.

I like the fact that the centerpiece on each of the 50 or so tables weren’t all alike. On our table is a simple arrangement of bamboo and sampaguita, and white orchids. Love it.

photo by Pat Limos.

The boys headed to the open bar, getting themselves vodka sprites and us, margaritas. The drinks were splendid.

Pandan-infused lechon overflowed.

I never liked lechon, but this one smelled and tasted so great I had to eat - seconds! It's lechon alright, but it seemed like there was little fat. The meat was soft and very tasty, but not overpowering. The sauce perfectly complemented the meat, and it was never scarce. It was definitely anyone would have seconds. Like Noy very aptly described it- “Hindi sya masakit sa batok” ("It doesn't feel heavy on the nape" ~ "It doesn't feel hypertensioin-inducing"). That's why he asked for one more plate for himself. All the other guys did.

Have you attended events when you wanted more of a dish but the waiter won’t give you anymore for fear the other guests won’t get to taste it? In this wedding, the waiters kept coming back when we asked for more lechon. They even gave me another glass of red wine when I have my margarita, punch and water right in front of me.

The couple’s entrance was made fabulous by the dramatic lighting and the soothing voices of this singing group I unfortunately forgot the name of, who sang So In Love a capella, leading on to the couple's first dance. The couple was a sight to behold, the bride lovingly embracing her groom as they danced amidst subtle fireworks.

The reception party went about smoothly - excellent dinner (more lechon!), speeches, games - all short but sweet and thought-provoking. It was dotted with highlights from the videos made by SKT Digital. There were several - an AVP of the couple's childhood photos, a prenup video, and a prenup AVP. My personal favorite, and I believe most of all the other guests' too, is this on-site AVP (they call it Same Day Edit video). It's unbelievably good, and can definitely compete with Jason Magbanua's and the others'.

Mel & Rhea Wedding Same Day Edit from S. Kieron Tan on Vimeo.

See more of Mel and Rhea's wedding videos here.

It was a truly a fabulous night. Not wanting it to be over too soon, a live band appeared onstage to officially open the dance floor.

Meanwhile, Mel and Rhea each went solo to mingle with more guests at a time. The beautiful bride, already barefoot, took her time with us to have this funny photo taken at the booth with our boys.

There were drinks and more drinks, alcoholic and otherwise but all looking so expensive, everywhere. Rhona and I wanted to stay and dance the night away, but the groupmates were in the mood for something else. We decided to goof around in our pretty clothes taking photos of ourselves a la models. Noy was actually just excited to use our new tripod. I was surprised his friends were up to the task, I got challenged!

a very challenged me with Rhona near the ballroom entrance

Not wanting to drown in alcohol, we headed to this lovely coffee place, known for its smooth creamy mouthwatering chocolate cakes, right outside the hotel, but this I'm saving for my next entry.

In the meantime, here's a teaser -

Have a wonderful week, everyone!