Academic Excellence

One of my friend's post for today is about a certain speech delivered in UP Diliman Hall from a DLSU College of Engineering.  It was "The" Summa Cum Laude Speech.  I find it odd to have a DLSU gather in Diliman for their commencement exercise.  Though, I've researched a little bit and some say that it was from UPD student.

The gist was all about a student, who was inadvertently been insinuated by professors that he can't make it; a student who is trying to prove himself to the world that even if he just had some flunked some subjects, he rose  to be the Top Notch of his Class.  He also said that he'll cast a middle finger to everyone who said he can't.  It was his rebellion.  He questioned as to why nobody gives an award for hanging on, but only for those who has been the Best.

Clap!  Clap!  Clap!  Bravo for expressing such.  I was happy to know one could really say this infront of the crowd and from a Catholic Private School.  No offense meant, what I am just trying to point out is, it is rarely to see a student coming from ADM or DLSU to say this stuff and God knows why it was a speech with Tagalog as the medium.  Unlikely.

While I am reading it, I rode back to my memory lane way back when I was in College.  Oh, all the cramming and deadlines,  org dramas and dorm issues, gimmicks and homesick with heartaches along the side, it was really a dooms day for me.

I, too experienced the unwary words coming from my professor; telling me that I can't make it.  But that's the beauty in UP System.  They will tell you to strive for the best even if it takes to break you into pieces.  They want you to be on top; to excel because they too came from the same system and they are also proud to know you've strive.  Yes, they can't give you a Best Hang in award because we strive for excellence and if they do that, I am certain that Isko and Iska will be stoic, just accepting a mediocre life.

" Ayoko nang puntahan yung pwedeng mangyayari sa mga Cum Laude. Baduy. Alam mo namang may patutunguhan ang buhay nila e. Pero dun sa mga lumagpak, ano ang meron?"

Yes grades are very important.  But knowing my fellow Isko and Iska out there, they continued to fight.  I fought, I have flunked numerous subjects but I've achieved.  I became a Program Director of an International Company.  I have few friends who were not just flunking but really a delinquent one; but where are they now?  They did not stop.  They are in Singapore, Australia, and some are in the Philippines working for a prestigious Landscaping Company.....Ayala, BTG, and what have you's.  UP cooked us to be strong and stand even when everything else fail.  It taught us that whenever you fall to the ground with your face first, you can still stand up and say to everyone, "ok lang, nakatayo pa naman ako".

To all Isko and Iska, I am soooo Proud of you.  Continue to strive for excellence and continue to battle the world!

Iskolar ng bayan, ngayon ay lumalaban!!!!

the Character

Earlier this morning, as I browse through the shouts in FB I stumbled upon a post that is somewhat like a loudcry. It was about a gift given to someone and there was a complaint about the gift.

On a first thought, you can say this is so "lame"; a petty thing because it is just a gift, about kids, about a small stuff.

But when you try to ponder on it, it's really not a small stuff, it is something big. The reason--- it's about RESPECT.

Nowadays, when the younger generation can stand up on their feet, make a living for their family, they think that they are on the same page with their dads, moms, or even their neighbors who are in their 80's. they speak as if they are just buddies; just dudes. I am not saying that is bad; what the crummy part is, this younger generation tends to forget the whole essence of being mindful; mindful about the feelings of others, mindful of how you treat others.

Let's just say it is just a gift, it can do no harm. But giving a gift like movie character parodying a wierdo James Bond nemesis to someone whose parents are so sensitive with their child's well-being (hmmmm how should I say this, not sick but slow learner and has speech problem), is really disconcerting.

And for the mother of the kid, I wished that she had kept it to herself. She should also understand that not all people will comprehend to their brain cells of their situation; if you say disability. As what Buddha said: do not speak, unless it improves silence!

Good thing me and my husband were thought by our beautiful parents to keep our feet on the ground, to have our lives in private though we have social media around us, to be mindful of others and be cautious of the words being thrown upon and lastly to respect not just the elders but to the people around us!

To them, it's such a shame that no values were instilled to them.

#justsaying

50 shades fifty

It's all about a hunk named Christian Grey whose powers are ultimate, nope guys not the super hero thing but reality powers, like so nice eyes, pretty face, demure man, silent type, tall with a fat, thick wallet and has his own Company that is named after him. Sharing the limelight with him would be Anastacia Steele, brunette, tall, oh so sexy lady, and her goddam wits!  Such a nice description of these two!  Everybody got hooked up!  Forgive for this blatant confession and I know many would despise my comment by it's just a threelogy of Fifty shades of blah.

It's the same story. 2 people fell in love, with dark secrets unveiling and there would be people trying to set them apart and oooh, there's the climax, either someone has been stabbed or nearly died with a gun! then heroic kiss and saving either the guy or the lady.  Then live happily ever after.  phew!  it's a 5 second story of the 3 book of shades.

I can't deny that Christian Grey is the ULTIMATE "crush ng bayan", a good looking man with a fat wallet and whose heart only beats for -- Anastacia.  To be honest I got a crush on him too.  But, reading and understanding more about his behavior; this guy is a beast, making every woman with hair like his mom as SUB (subordinate); treating women like a toy or just a puppet! for crying out loud I don't need a man who can do all his stuff!  I don't need to be descriptive but all those whip, those buttplugs, it makes my stomach twitch.  I am not apt for that even for an experience.

Women, even if she's your wife shares an equal of respect.  Women should not be perceived as an object; they too have feelings and should never be deprived to have herself dignified.  Letting her crawl into you if you would snap and say: hey let's have sex! It's like a dog obeying his master when being told -- FETCH!

This goes out to each and every woman out there:  never let anyone treat you as their subordinate, never let someone make you feel the second best.  We may be frail physically but we should not be treated as weak.  After all, study shows that most geniuses are women! ;)

For this best seller book, I give 3.5 stars.  It's a nice storybut definitely not a must-have for me.

pre nup

Who says that an ordinary Juan and Maria cannot be as glamorous as any other actresses or actors even just for one day.  Let me share some of our Prenup photos taken by DLS team at The Greenery, Baliuag, Bulacan.

Should you want to have your prenup photos taken here in The Greenery, you'll expect:

1. Cottage Houses (Single Detached), these houses look like some american houses that you seen on TV.  If you'd like to rent it for a day so that you can have your hair done, eat your lunch packs or just have a room to leave your things, the fee would be Php 1500.00.
2. a 1-hole Golf course - this area looks great if you'd like to have a Wide Picture or you have a picnic shot.
3. A small train - They usually use the train as a wedding car when they have a reception.  Don't expect too much, it's quite small (hihihihi)
4. Lake - there's not much view in the lake but the area is so solemn and the balcony is so nice, a place to contemplate.

The rent for 4 hours is Php 5000.00.  Not bad compared to other places where you'll pay Php 10000 or even a big lump of Php 25000.00.  

Though, our 80's theme was not that depicted, (believe us when we say we really tried so hard :) )the photos were still a smash.  We looked great and of course, I can say, ang pretty pretty ko!  Thanks to Monique Perjes.  

of ratings and suppliers

I was not able to say thank you to all of our suppliers or give them a feedback.  This would be my chance to give my 2 cents about how they work during my wedding.  :)

The grading system I made is from 1 to 5 and 5 being the highest:

Ceremony:  Nuestra Señora de Gracia, 

                         Guadalupe Viejo, Makati City:  (4.5) 

Plus points: 

They're on time.

Kuya Ryck and his team are so supportive and very friendly.

They will help you do your misalette.

They will give you tips on every detail you need especially with the government papers

Very thorough in their pre-cana seminar

A very intimate area; good for 150-250 guests

Oldest church in Makati that would make your wedding historical; don't forget the pictures; they would look superb, very dramatic.
They have their coordinator to assist you inside the Church.

Mejo Nega:
They're so strict on pictorials.

Hmmm...they have a list for the gifts to be offered.

Reception:  Crowne Plaza Galleria
                         Ballroom CDE, ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City (4.5)

Http://www.crowneplaza.com

Plus Points:
Very good food.  Sumptuous.  an A+
Excellent Customer Service in the reception area
Very hospitable waiters
Nice Backdraft
CDE is a small hall but because of the ceiling; it created the illusion that the hall is so big

Mejo Nega:
The Event Organizer was not that in touch with us but in fairness, they're all friendly.

Strings:  SJT Strings (4.5)

Plus points:  
Barbie has an angelic voice.  Nanginig ako sa pagpasok, when she sang the chorus:  so it's you... haay.  :)
Very affordable
Their singers are very appealing

Mejo Nega:
Repertoire is outdated.

Sounds:  Rejectkrew  (3.0)
I believe they're good and they're affordable but what has been promised to my sister in law was not what we have paid.  I must say, the quality of sounds for a music was okay. 

Emcee:  Norly B. Dizon (3.5)

Norly is articulate, very professional.  It's just that, his program is so stiff.  He only does 1 meet-up.  And some coordinators  comment:  Mahirap makatrabaho...  good thing I'm his client, I'm not the coordinator wahahah.  

Cake:  Angeli Joyce Ocampo (1.0)

This is a hard one.  I was really disappointed with the outcome.
The cake was quite small, small for a 6" layer cake
The flavors agreed were:  chocolate moist cake (bottom), carrot cake in the middle and on top it should be red velvet; but to my surprise, everything was carrot cake, it's not moist, not the same as the taste test.  And the worst part is the middle part was STYROFOAM!  I met them in one of the Wedding Fair in SM Megamall.  They're friendly.  They gave me freebies; the cutting cake and the 50pcs cake pops.  then I asked her if I can placed the cutting cake on the cake instead of having it separated; and change the 50pcs to be replaced to a layered cake as well.  Everything was okay but nyay, lo and behold!  All the details were not there!  :(   Too bad,  it didn't meet our expectations....  I don't know about the taste, to me it tasted bland at that time and didn't get the chance to eat anything at that time.

By the way I texted her 3 days after our event but no text message nor call....haaay very negative attitude for a supplier.

Lechon:  Sabroso's(5.0)
E. Rodgriguez Ave., Quezon City
Should I say more?  :)

LCD:  Metrotech (5.0)
Contact Person:  Eleonor
They're very professional, on time and very accommodating.  The LCD was perfect, they gave me freebies:  splitter and wires (I need a splitter because we had 2 screens and we needed 2 lcd projector).  The other Projector was ours.

Photobooth:  Flickpix (5.0)
Contact Person:  Jan Kathleen Manglo
Jan is very nice and she's very accommodating.  The pictures and print out looks great.  The backdraft was what I had in mind and the layout,it's very beautiful.   One comment though, few hats and wigs??

Gown - Anita G. Yulo, Cluster,  Divisoria (3.5)
Uhmm...  Ate Vickie was kind and very accommodating kaso the dresses are quite odd..  Siguro sa measurements?  I dunno...  My mom's dress was loose so does my sister's and my nieces' pero happy naman ako pulido naman and all cute.  :)

Flowers - Elvy's Flowers, Dangwa, Metro Manila (3.0)
I wasn't expecting to have white flowers in my bouquet and soooo many green buttons, what I had in mind where purple hydrangea with green buttons as an accent.  But very cheap just Php 5000.00 for the whole entourage.

Make up Artists:
Prenup - Monique Perjes (5.0)

She made me so pretty and she was very helpful giving me some tips on how to put make up.  She has unlimited retouch, very plus points.
Location:  The Greenery Bulacan

Wedding Day - May Espinar (3.0)
She did okay.  :)

Wedding Coordinator - VIP Access (5.0)

Contact Person:  Charlene Vallejos
My package was On the Day (elite); but they've helped me since January and I was so impressed how organized they were and how patient they were in our day!  I'm so happy with their work.  :)


Tips for all the brides out there:

1. Have fun!  Hey it's your wedding day, you should be having fun picking your suppliers.  You don't need to be a Zilla.  
2. Be organize.  Small details like: veil, cord, food for the suppliers, etc.  play a big role on your special moment.
3. It helps if you keep track of your budget and be wary of how much you are spending for each supplier.  It doesn't mean mas mahal mas maganda.  Be sure to place the bulk of your budget on the most important thing for you; be it the venue, the food or the pictures.  Don't forget, it's just the beginning.  It would be more fun if you have something saved for your future.
4. Let people help you.  It doesn't hurt to ask for your mom's opinion sometimes.  People around you love you and will be eager to help you at all times; may it be your sister, your friend, your mom (especially).
5. Talk to the groom.  Always in all ways let him involve and participate in your supplier hunting.  You'll be surely surprise how creative your partner is.  (I remember our dance --- he choreographed it himself).
6. If you have a wedding coordinator, befriend him/her.  I am so lucky that my  coordinator has a soft heart and my lady in waiting, oh boy she had outdone herself.  They will give you what you want on your day.
7. Lastly, make it simple.  Don't complicate your life.  It will make your life less stressful.

06.16.2012

Ironically, it was a sunny day.  God may had smiled down upon us and lift the sun in the sky though typhoon "butchoy" is hovering around Philippine Peninsula.

I must say, it was an overwhelming experience; one of the happiest moments of my life.  :)

From now on, this will be our story...this will be.....an everlasting love :)