Last Saturday we bought our first batch of souvenirs from Tabora St. at Divisoria.
It's amazing how this place looks during Christmas season -- double the usual human and motor traffic, generators were set up to keep almost all sidewalk stalls lit up so brightly till late night, and more foreigners mixing it up with the rest of the bargain hunters.
Good thing we had an agreement with the salesperson a month ago -- the price of our chosen souvenir is now Php8.00 higher than our agreed price.
Monday, November 14, 2005
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
Pamamanhikan in Roxas City
October 30, Sunday
Roxas City, Capiz
It's like a game of poker: you're never sure what cards are at hand. But everything went smoothly, and it was quite an experience for both our families. ^_^
Roxas City is about an hour and a half away from Batan. We got there in time for lunch. After some introductions, welcomes, and niceties, we carried the affair to the dining area. Joan's parents also prepared a little feast for us, so it's food galore. Yum!
I was told to bring an elderly relative so there will be someone to keep the conversations going with Joan's parents. No need. I was confident my brother and godbrother, both accomplished businessmen, wouldn't run out of things to talk about with Joan's father, while our mothers are both teachers.
And true enough, the conversations about business would have gone on and on had the group not decided to change the topic and finally get down to discussing our wedding plans. (Hey, don't let us spoil the fun. Haha!)
Our opening spiel was brief and straightforward, getting over with the date, church, and venue as quickly as possible.
It went unchallenged, to my surprise. I was somehow expecting to hear objections with the venue (ESPECIALLY the venue), as local traditions would prescribe that we be married at the lady's hometown.
The church got some comments here and there about being a cemetery, but the concern was immediately addressed with a promise to cover the word "cemetery" at the Paco Park's entrance with a banner or something. As to the reception venue, the only concern raised was the traffic condition.
I felt a little chill when the folks started discussing the costs and budget. Thank goodness my brother seemed to have forgotten what he told me when he got drunk at the ship, and didn't challenge me as he had promised. Also, I was grateful my godbrother was there to help us explain our choice of suppliers with his own wedding experience.
The entourage, principal sponsors, souvenirs, and gown designs ate up most of the afternoon. Our folks shared suggestions here and there, and Joan and I agree that they've been really open-minded about the whole thing.
By 4pm, we were relieved to have settled most of the items we were unsure of. By 5pm, it was back to non-wedding-related kwentuhan (and more kainan). We left Roxas City at around 6pm.
All in all it was a memorable meeting of families. I wish my sister, my father, and Joan's brother were there, the picture would have been complete. But just the same, it was a first for us all. ^_^
Roxas City, Capiz
It's like a game of poker: you're never sure what cards are at hand. But everything went smoothly, and it was quite an experience for both our families. ^_^
Roxas City is about an hour and a half away from Batan. We got there in time for lunch. After some introductions, welcomes, and niceties, we carried the affair to the dining area. Joan's parents also prepared a little feast for us, so it's food galore. Yum!I was told to bring an elderly relative so there will be someone to keep the conversations going with Joan's parents. No need. I was confident my brother and godbrother, both accomplished businessmen, wouldn't run out of things to talk about with Joan's father, while our mothers are both teachers.
And true enough, the conversations about business would have gone on and on had the group not decided to change the topic and finally get down to discussing our wedding plans. (Hey, don't let us spoil the fun. Haha!)
Our opening spiel was brief and straightforward, getting over with the date, church, and venue as quickly as possible.
It went unchallenged, to my surprise. I was somehow expecting to hear objections with the venue (ESPECIALLY the venue), as local traditions would prescribe that we be married at the lady's hometown.
The church got some comments here and there about being a cemetery, but the concern was immediately addressed with a promise to cover the word "cemetery" at the Paco Park's entrance with a banner or something. As to the reception venue, the only concern raised was the traffic condition.
I felt a little chill when the folks started discussing the costs and budget. Thank goodness my brother seemed to have forgotten what he told me when he got drunk at the ship, and didn't challenge me as he had promised. Also, I was grateful my godbrother was there to help us explain our choice of suppliers with his own wedding experience.
The entourage, principal sponsors, souvenirs, and gown designs ate up most of the afternoon. Our folks shared suggestions here and there, and Joan and I agree that they've been really open-minded about the whole thing.
By 4pm, we were relieved to have settled most of the items we were unsure of. By 5pm, it was back to non-wedding-related kwentuhan (and more kainan). We left Roxas City at around 6pm.
All in all it was a memorable meeting of families. I wish my sister, my father, and Joan's brother were there, the picture would have been complete. But just the same, it was a first for us all. ^_^
[l-r: Bimboy (Leo's godbrother), Kuya Larry, and Fr. Glen B.]
[l-r: Tatay Jack, Joan's cousins Belen and Malba, and Nanay Rose]
[l-r: Joan, Tatay Jack, Nanay Rose, Leo, Mommy Vi, and Kuya Larry]
Sunday, November 06, 2005
"Pamaeayi": Preparations
October 29, Saturday
Batan, Aklan
The title is the term for "pamamanhikan" in Aklan. But unlike pamamanhikan which derives its root word from "panhik", meaning to go upstairs, pamaeayi gets it from "bayi", which means woman, lady, or female.
There's no difference, though, with the value my fellow Aklanons place on it compared to the ones commonly practiced anywhere else. On the day of pamaeayi, the event and feast prepared by the man's family must be nothing less than the best to honor the lady and her family.
My mother's friends and elder relatives dropped by our house, bringing foodstuffs and insights on how the meeting should go. Since my father is left in Batangas to recover from his recent cardiac arrest, the role of family spokesperson went to my mother. She was even given a formal speech that she's supposed to say to the lady's family.
I learned that pamaeayi, in our small town Batan, is a community affair. Friends, colleagues, and even neighbors would want to tag along to provide moral support for the man (I needed that. *kaba kaba*). But we had to apologize to most of them because it is going to be a small gathering.
Let's me just go through my list...
From my camp: my mother, my brother, my "igsuon" (God-brother) who was married in Manila (I need to bring someone with experience in urban wedding), my brother's friend priest (for divine support?), and two of my mom's friends to help us with the food and to lay-out the table.
For my bride-to-be: her father, her mother, and two of her cousins who are staying with them.
In the food department:
Lechon de leche
Chicken binakol and chicken adobo (All native. No bird flu, promise!)
Beef steak
Steamed Bisaya rice
Equipment: 2 still cameras, 1 handycam (Got to document those pledges! Haha!).
Joan and I will have these props for tomorrow: photos of the church and reception venue laid out in a scrap book, a sample of our proposed souvenir, pictures of gown designs, swatches of cloth for the motif, short list of the entourage, some rehearsed scripts and fallback statements, lots of courage, confidence, and loud voices so people will hear us. ^_^
Batan, Aklan
The title is the term for "pamamanhikan" in Aklan. But unlike pamamanhikan which derives its root word from "panhik", meaning to go upstairs, pamaeayi gets it from "bayi", which means woman, lady, or female.
There's no difference, though, with the value my fellow Aklanons place on it compared to the ones commonly practiced anywhere else. On the day of pamaeayi, the event and feast prepared by the man's family must be nothing less than the best to honor the lady and her family.
My mother's friends and elder relatives dropped by our house, bringing foodstuffs and insights on how the meeting should go. Since my father is left in Batangas to recover from his recent cardiac arrest, the role of family spokesperson went to my mother. She was even given a formal speech that she's supposed to say to the lady's family.
I learned that pamaeayi, in our small town Batan, is a community affair. Friends, colleagues, and even neighbors would want to tag along to provide moral support for the man (I needed that. *kaba kaba*). But we had to apologize to most of them because it is going to be a small gathering.
Let's me just go through my list...
From my camp: my mother, my brother, my "igsuon" (God-brother) who was married in Manila (I need to bring someone with experience in urban wedding), my brother's friend priest (for divine support?), and two of my mom's friends to help us with the food and to lay-out the table.
For my bride-to-be: her father, her mother, and two of her cousins who are staying with them.
In the food department:
Lechon de leche
Chicken binakol and chicken adobo (All native. No bird flu, promise!)
Beef steak
Steamed Bisaya rice
Equipment: 2 still cameras, 1 handycam (Got to document those pledges! Haha!).
Joan and I will have these props for tomorrow: photos of the church and reception venue laid out in a scrap book, a sample of our proposed souvenir, pictures of gown designs, swatches of cloth for the motif, short list of the entourage, some rehearsed scripts and fallback statements, lots of courage, confidence, and loud voices so people will hear us. ^_^
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