my first fitting

last weekend, k and i went to malou's shop in white plains for my first fitting.

to give you an idea about my designer, here's a write up:



Malou Castillejos is one of Philippine’s premier fashion designers. Her creations exude elegance and grace with very feminine details perfect for any bride. She specializes in fine embroidery and very delicate hand bead work.

Her presence in the bridal industry started in 1999 when she first showcased her talent for designing wedding gowns at the Rituals Bridal Show at Dusit Hotel in Makati in March of that year. Since then, brides from all over the country would come to see her at her atelier in Quezon City. Words came around about this young and talented designer and soon enough, international magazines featured her as one of the most promising designers of the Philippines. Her name gained recognition internationally when she got invited to showcase her gowns in many international bridal shops which opened great opportunities for her to serve brides all around the globe.

Address : 10 Cecilleville St., White Plains, Quezon City, Philippines
Tel. Nos. (+632) 9138993 or (+632) 9138936
Email: info@perfectgowndepot.com
Websites: http://www.perfectgowndepot.com/

here are some sample gowns on display:



sample work:





i wasn't able to take any photos of me fitting the petticoat and lining. perhaps i was too excited to put it on haha! but it felt so nice to have an idea how the gown will fit your frame. i felt like a princess!

she told me ever so nicely to maintain my weight. i'm serious - i am no longer allowed to gain an ounce from now until our wedding day. :)

here's k reviewing his notes while waiting for me to finish.



next fitting is two weeks from now. i know, i know. i promise to take photos this time. until then!

my bridal accessories

a month and 23 days to go. *nervous laughter*

am slowly but surely working on the small details.

here i have my DIY cord, the cross was from my paternal grandmother's sister who was a Benedictine nun.



our arrhae was a gift from my dad a few christmases back. there are actually 16 coins in all.



these are fifty centavo coins from the 1940s.





and our rosary. from my mother's collection.



can't wait for all these to come together. :)

wedding for two in lagen resort, el nido

beach weddings are so romantic!

more so if it's just the two of you. no frills.



i saw this on anton's blog. their group stumbled upon a couple who were getting married in the sandbar behind lagen island. they asked permission to take photos.

it was just the two of them. no make up artist. no photo and video teams. no coordinators. fuss-free. :)



i love the simplicity. after all, the word "wedding" starts with WE.



and the kiss. ooohlala.



i wish they stay together forever.

*all photos from http://www.ourawesomeplanet.com/awesome/2009/10/the-most-romantic-wedding-i-ever-witnessed.html

now if only i can find george tapan's photos...

moving up

after 5 fun and exciting years on the 8th, i moved one floor up.

been here beginning 1 oct. so far, so good.



thanks, gi, for the welcome. :)

after ondoy

it was saturday when the typhoon brought heavy, continuous rain in metro manila. about midday my sister-in-law texted, saying that water was rising fast INSIDE the house. they were trying to move as many things as they can up the second floor (including a 32 inch TV). unfortunately, they were not able to bring any of k's stuff from his room on the first floor.

everything happened too fast. the water rose above the first flight of stairs to the second floor. everything on the first floor was damaged, 3 cars totally submerged.

they stayed on the second floor, food was brought by neighbors. dry and safe.

we attempted to visit them the following day (sunday) but roads leading to cainta were still impassable. k was broken-hearted, he drove in circles but no success. we had to try again tomorrow.

before 6am on monday, my sister-in-law texted that the water has finally subsided. we took it as a go-signal.

and armed with water, cooked and uncooked rice, canned goods, noodles, candles and matches (would you believe i had to bring the candles for my candle sponsors??), adobo, bananas, fried chicken, pancit bihon, ice and softdrinks (their special request heehee), we took off for cainta.

this is what we saw.


furniture brought outside to dry


one of cars


dining and living room


living room


in the line of fire


water reached that landing


the scene outside


mudded streets


a school bag washed away, still full of books


the creek overflowed and reached the top of those walls


my sister-in-law's car, a snail comfortably perched on the windshield


the residents, trying to salvage what they can


trash was everywhere


on our way to binangonan to bring the in-laws to safer ground, cainta was still flooded in some places

ondoy claimed hundreds of lives, damaged thousands of houses, leaving people to pick up the pieces.

was it an act of nature of an act of man?

could we have done anything to prevent this?

let us not allow something like this to happen ever again.