Discovery Weekend (Momon's Account)

I have to admit that I had my doubts with DW. I felt that it was going to be a waste of time and money. There are many successful marriages that did not go through DW. I felt that we could use the money elsewhere since there are cheaper and less time consuming alternatives.

Also, guys have a hard time sharing their feelings, even to their partners. I’m not exactly the expressive type. So why pay for something that I don’t even like doing?

Another thing, Ros and I have been together for almost 9 years. What else is there to know about her? What else is there to talk about and share? I thought that this was going to be a useless exercise.

After the DW experience, I admit that I was wrong with my initial impressions. First, regarding the fee, the organization is nonstock and nonprofit. The money will be used for future DW and other outreach programs. For two night’s stay and plenty of food and snacks, the fee is reasonable. The experience is also, as cheesy as this may sound, priceless.

Regarding the sharing of feelings, you won’t actually share with the other couples. You will only share your thoughts and feelings with your partner. There is no other venue or opportunity to share your innermost thoughts like DW.

I found out that length of time as a couple is relevant with DW. Ros and I are together for almost nine years. During the weekend, we affirmed our past experiences. We revisited special moments and determined what made it special for us. We also shared with each other our expectations for our future as couple.

I would recommend DW to all couples getting married or having plans of getting married. This experience won’t change your life, but it’s a start.


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For more information, please visit: http://www.discoveryweekend.org/

Monthly Amortizations, Done!

Finally, napuno na ang chart! Imagine, a chart that was started in December 2007--that's almost 3 years ago; a chart that we go to every month logging on payments and always making sure it balances with the bank records and keeps with the prescribed wedding budget.

Puno na! Dati we got excited that it's at 50% or 60%, now it reads 100%!

We have 3 months to go. We have also each made 50% payments to our deficit (discussed in previous entry). Pag nakabayad na kami sa deficit, all the rest we'll be earning will go straight to savings or as addition to the start up money we need. Hay, this is a nice feeling. Nung una akala namin we're in trouble, ngayon... it's looking positive naman. I am so proud of myself and Momon.

We will keep this system of making monthly amortizations. It's a great way to discipline ourselves with money, learning to prioritize savings, and living within our means. Perhaps the first months/year will be difficult since it's both our first time to live completely, as in 100%, apart from our parents and not relying on them for dinner, water, electricity, etc. But we are together, and that's what matters. :-)

Deficit

I'll say it straight: We have a P50,000 deficit in our wedding budget. ARUY.

Hindi kasi namin sinama sa original budget and honeymoon, documents, additional transportation, house, choir, pre-cana seminar and DIY items.

Meron kaming savings sa wedding rings at venue. Nagsponsor din ang family namin ng guest favors, wedding attires and cake. Pero all these savings went to the excess payment for the documentation and food. At ang dumali talaga samin are the items na di namin pinasok sa umpisa. So, in essence, wala kaming deficit, ng problem ay ang items na di pinasok.

Kaso lang hindi naman essence ang usapan dito.

But no worries, kaya to: P25,000 each. I am still thankful that Momon is an accountant who can figure out our budget deficit precisely, that I was and still am very diligent in writing down all our wedding expenses since we started in Jan 2009, and most importantly, that we have savings and jobs from where we can derive the deficit from.

Isa lang to sa mga pagsubok namin. Bring it on.

Solid.

It's now only 17 weeks or should I say 17 WEEKENDS till our wedding. Remove 1 weekend for a workshop our office is implementing, and another for Discovery Weekend, and possibly some more weekends for work.

It may seem like we have a lot of time, but when weekdays are spent for intense fitness regimen first thing in the morning, full-time jobs throughout the day, wedding research and tasks until we fall asleep at night, weekends are all we really have for the actual legwork.

Just this last weekend, Momon and I were supposed to be in Puerto Galera with Ben, Rhea and Vincent. But we were threatened by Friday's downpour so we decided to cancel. A blessing in disguise, I would say, cause we were able to send out our save the date cards, finalize our website for guests, visit two of our Principal Sponsor and start house-hunting.

I remember a line something like this in Bride Wars: The final weeks of wedding preparation is like a litmus test for couples. Others breakdown, while others draw strength from each other.

At this point in the preps, I'm proud to say Momon and I are the latter. Momon and I have worked on school assignments, reports, presentations, planning trips, etc. This is undoubtedly our biggest project yet, and I'm confident we'll ace it. Our teamwork is superb, our decisions on point, and our efforts focused. We don't feel rattled, but we know the urgency. We are no longer get swayed by new wedding ideas or comments by other people, because our vision for our wedding is clear, and we are confident with all our choices. And finally, we are also starting to feel not just our excitement, but also that of the people we are planning to celebrate our union with.

Save the Date: October 2!

Yahoo! Finally we are ready to release our Save the Date cards.

Thank you very much to our dear friends who helped us accomplish this task. We couldn't have done it without you. Grabe, para tayong bumalik sa mga project natin nung high school!

Photos by Ben. Styling by Rhea. Expressions-coaching by Ben and Rhea. Letterings by Vincent. Layout facilitated by Hanna. Cuteness by Cello.

Thank you again! Mwah!

Birth Certificates

Feel ko na talaga na malapit na ang wedding kasi inaayos na namin ang documents. This is really is it.

Here are our pretty NSO-issued birth certificates ordered through NSO Helpline 737 1111.
Very easy ang procedure:

1. Call 737 1111
2. Provide the following information:

• Complete name of person to be certified
• Complete name of father
• Complete maiden name of mother
• Date of birth
• Place of birth
• Info if you were registered late or if there are corrections in your birth certificate
• Complete name and address of requesting party
• Number of copies needed
• Purpose of certificate

3. We applied for both birth certificate and CENOMAR. The customer service agent will just apply the same details to your CENOMAR application.

4. They will ask you to note down the reference number. 1 reference number per certificate. So, for us it was four reference numbers, 2 for birth certificates and 2 for CENOMARs.

5. Pay for the service in any Metrobank branch. 1 birth certificate is P330, and 1 CENOMAR is P430. We got 2 copies each... tatlo palang birth certificate para sakin dahil sa baptismal certificate issue ko (Boo!).

When filling up your Metrobank payment slip use the green slip, 1 per reference number. Use NSO Helpline as Company Name, and the name of the requesting party as the Account Name.

You can also pay in Bancnet ATM and Bayad Centers

6. Birth certificate is processed within 4 working days, and the CENOMAR within 7 working days. Make sure to provide an authorization letter in case you're not the one to receive the package. The authorized recipient also needs to have an ID.


Ay salamat, nakuha na ito. And thanks to our parents who made sure all entries are correct!

Here they are!

Monogram

Parang requirement yata sa mga ikakasal ang pagkakaron ng monogram. Sige, sali na rin ako.

Actually, ang sakto:
RM = Ros and Momon
RM = Raymund Macachor
RM = Rosana Macachor, coming soon pa lang.

Pasok! So, hanap na lang ako sa mga logo and design sites ng mga monogram na RM. I wanted something na hindi tali sa wedding, at hindi sobrang feminine. We're going to use it beyond the wedding, kaya walang date.

Eto napili namin ni Momon:

In its original colors
Thank you sa original designer nito. Sorry sa aking plagiarism moment.

Just trying it out with some of our colors.

But here is what really led me to looking for a monogram--having it applied in a DRY SEAL. Parang kumpanya lang! Magagamit ko to sa mga libro, mga sulat, Christmas card, etc.

Here are possible applications in wedding paraphernalia: table napkins, place cards, missalette covers, invitation envelopes and other stuff on paper. Love it!

I have to go to Recto/Quiapo para magpagawa ng dry seal. I'll update when I finally get it. I'm sure maa-addict ako sa pag sa-stamp.


UPDATE: June 30

Yahoo! Nandito na ang DRY SEAL! And it's so cute! I can't wait to apply it na sa mga DIY namin.

I had it done sa Recto for P1,800. :-)

Hanna and Joseph

Hanna and Joseph
Candle Sponsors

No, hindi sila mag-boyfriend or mag-asawa. Uma-acting lang sila dito sa eksenang 'to na parang bagong kasal sa kanilang bagong kusina. Hahaha! Ang totoo, lagi silang nagkukulitan nagbabarahan, at nagbi-bitchesahan. Sino kaya sa kanila ang mas bitchesa? Pero ang mas totoo, kami ay magkakaibigang tunay, na hinubog ng aming mga karanasan mula sa Kabataan News Network, mapunta man ng Astoria, Antipolo, Malacanan, o saan mang dako ng Teacher's Village.

So, pano ko ba sinabi sa kanila?

HANNA
Si Hanna una ko talagang naisip para maging commentator. So, sinabi ko na sa kanya yun. Mega-enthusiastic ang lola, kailan daw ba kami magpa-practice. So, one night... kumain kami ni Hanna sa Timog Food Plaza dahil meron akong ipapa-abot sa kanya sa isa pang katrabaho. Sunod kong inabot, isang card na madrama na makwela. Na-touch naman sya. Ngayon, may kapantay na yata ako sa excitement dito sa wedding na 'to. Gusto ni Hanna lagi mag-meeting sa progress, kailan daw ba kami magpupunta sa divisoria. Grabe, heaven sent!

JOSEPH
Inisipan namin ni Hanna ng gimmick. Sabi ni Hanna, gawan ko rin daw si Joseph ng card. Sabi ko naman, baka di ma-appreciate. So, katapus-tapusan, ginawan ko na lang sya ng matchbox na may magandang pabalat, na nandun ang sort of invitation na maging candle sponsor sya. E kaso binigay namin to sa kanya sa habang kumakain ng isaw, sa dilim. Natural di n'ya mabasa! Hahaha! Akala tuloy n'ya binibigyan ko s'ya ng gagaba na nasa loob ng box ng posporo. Imagine, ako magbibigay ng gagamba!

Tapos nung pauwi na kami kinwento namin kay Joseph na dapat sana card ang ibibigay ko sa kanya. Dapat daw nakalagay, "Joseph, I love you. That's why I have chosen you to be part of my entourage." Hahaha, classic Joseph 'to! Magawa nga!

SINGLE N.

This is not a "vent out" moment, although it may seem like it. I just want to share my recent frustration about acquiring documents from the church.
I am a non-practicing Catholic, but still Momon and I decided to get married in a church. First requirement: BAPTISMAL CERTIFICATE

We're now in the 6-month home stretch in wedding preps, and finally it's time to start working on the documents.

I went to Claret last week to get my baptismal certificate with the "for marriage purpose" seal. Lo and behold, my name is mispelled. My name is ROSANA. It is often mispelled with two Ns or two S's. I've gotten quiet used to it, actually, but I still find it irritating. I often find my name mispelled in almost everywhere when the one who types it down decides that s/he knows more than I or my parents do on how to spell my name. They always assume we made the mistake of removing one N, so they just correct it for us. Che! I usually applaud silently when new friends and colleagues spell my name right even if it's the first time I've introduced myself. Hay...

So, when I got the baptismal certificate, I think, "This is not really so bad. It's not a completely new name. It's just a typo." The church still prints out the certificate and I pay P50.

They tell me to come back with a photocopy of my birth certificate. And so I did. The church then issues me a series of documents: request for partial reconstruction, affidavit something, and attaches the photocopy of my birth certificate and baptismal certificate earlier issued. All for another P150. Then they tell me to go to the QC Chancery Office to apply for the reconstruction. Imagine, at this point pa lang, the cost of getting the baptismal certificate has quadrupled.

This morning, I called the QC Chancery Office to inquire about driving directions. Since I'm meticulous, I also asked the lady on the phone about the partial reconstruction. Buti na lang I called. She tells me that the aside from the endorsement from the church I need to submit the following:

1. Newly Issued Birth Certificate - So, di na pala pwede yung naka-attach.
2. Certified True Copy of School Records (Form 137 or TOR)
3. OR instead of #2, 3 valid IDs indicating my name and birthday. These IDs must be photocopied, and the photocopy must be notarized.

And the lady stressed, "Prelimenary requirements lang ito, ha? Pag sakaling di ma-satisfy ang magre-review baka humingi pa ng ibang proof of reconciliation." Wow. Bangko nga 2 valid IDs lang hinihingi e. This means I have to wait for the birth certificate with the "for marriage purpose" seal before I get my baptismal certificate. Not to mention the cost, of course. There's the additional cost for the notarization, transportation, and processing fees. P50 lang dapat to in the first place. Single N lang ang kaibahan. It does not change the number of syllables, the pronunciation, etc. Hay... they aim to complicate.

This certificate, which could have been easily crossed off our list may be the most difficult to acquire. :-(

I know other brides have more difficulties with documents than I do. This is just one bump in the road, nothing we can't handle. Go lang!

Joe San Antonio

6 months to go, and I've chosen my bridal gown designer: Joe San Antonio

The Story:
I've already written about my bridal gown dilemma/drama here:
http://rmacachor.multiply.com/journal/item/38

So, to finally zap myself out o that ditch, I met with two designers.

Gretchen Pichay
I went to Gretchen Pichay's house in New Manila, which is also her atelier. The whole basement/silong of her house is like her shop. Dun na rin nagtatahi.

She is very warm, simple lang, very casual. Unang ginawa n'ya was to review yung mga design pegs na binigay ko. Nagandahan sya particular sa neckline and train. So, from there, nag-sketch na sya agad.

Sketch Description:

* The neck/upper part is similar to my peg, with a sweetheart neckline. In the torso area, she put drapings in X pattern. She then put a pseudo belt with beadings. Lace with abound the drapings until the upper part of the skirt.
* At the back, she will execute my peg for the train, with electropleated cloth. She will also put a flower or ribbon at the waist.


My Choice:
JOE SAN ANTONIO
www.joesanantonio.multiply.com

I visited Joe San Antonio in her atelier in Eisenhower Tower, Greenhills.
Her office was more formal, more business like. She has all these colored pens and drawing tools. There were also a lot of magazine to browse.

From my pegs, she asked me which is my favorite--of course I say the neckline. She then sketched two designs, both applying the neckline I like.

Sketch 1
The bodice kas X pattered drapings, skimming the torso and ending in a horizontal line a bit below the butt. The skirt is a two-tiered bubble skirt, with the tiers moving in opposing directions.

Sketch 2
The neckline and bodice had the same concept, but this time she didn't have the horizontal cut. The X-pattern ended at the hips. Then, the lower portion is a combination of a-line and mermaid tiered chiffon.

Initial Thoughts:
I think what really appealed to me with Joe is her work ethic. She only accepts 4 to 5 bridal gowns per month to ensure the quality. Her office is neat. She has a cleint's info sheet, sample agreement form, rate card, her swatches were all in order, etc. In a situation where she and Gretchen were almost in the same footing, these things mattered.

The "this is it" feeling brides always refer to came to me after listing down my observations both for Gretchen and Joe.

I went alone to these meetings because I felt I needed to own this process. In the end, the decision will entirely rest on me. Since I consider this my waterloo, I feel will easily be persuaded by others, and I don't want that to happen. Therefore, I really just have to trust myself to know what it is I want.