My Housemate's Wedding

Not really the first to be married in our merry little circle (we call ourselves Dramachine Beybis cos we're emo like that), but hers was the first CV Francisco girls wedding that I was able to attend . Among the five CV Francisco girls, 2 are now married which leaves us 3 more waiting to walk down the aisle. Wonder who'll be next!

Hanna, or Honey as her friends and family call her, got married to the love of her life last January 10 in a quiet little gathering at Nurture Spa Village in Tagaytay City. We were boardmates, and later on housemates, when she moved in at 37C CV Francisco Street mid-June. I have so many fond and happy memories with her and we, along with our other housemates, had so many adventures, mishaps, various highs and lows that we've shared throughout the years.

I consider her as my sister from another mother not because I spent a lot of sleepovers, Christmases and New Year's eves in their house with her family or sit down dinners, Sunday services and Bible studies. She's like a sister to me because she made me feel what it's like to belong to a family, she made me feel how it was to have a proper sibling relationship or at least something close to that.

So I wouldn't miss her wedding for the world, not even if it's a weekday or if it's in faraway Tagaytay. 

It was a great opportunity too as Che and I were able to catch up with our lives and gossip on the side. She's one of the CV Francisco girls, Dramachine Beybis, oldest friend in UP. I tell you, there is no dull moment with her!

Here we are posing with Tita Edna, the mother's bride.

Proxy lang talaga ako pero pinanindigan ko na :)

The bride was so pretty that day but if I had my way she should be called as bungisngis Honey cos all she did was laugh and laugh and laugh. Although she did cry a little too haha.

Here we were along with principal and secondary sponsors.

Honey and Deneb with the secondary sponsors

The newlyweds, Mr. and Mrs. Deneb Arriesgado!

Cake and cupcakes setup.

Table setup. The flowers were so gorgeous!

Corsage for secondary sponsors. I've no idea what the flower is but it's really pretty. The yellow one, believe it or not is real (not the ribbon).

Medyo star of the dessert table ang putomansi. Yes, it's textured like puto but topped with custard and calamansi. The combination was actually good!

Medyo blurred but required photo op with the newlyweds. 

Congratulations, Honey and Deneb! I'm so happy for you Honey because you finally found the one you would want to wake up with for the rest of your life. May you two love, respect and stay faithful to one another. Mini Honey and Deneb next!

So Long 2011!

2011 taught me to be more patient than ever. To wait for everything to come on its own full circle. It brought me to new places that once upon a time were only just a dream. I also attended 4 weddings and a funeral (no pun intended!) which made me celebrate and appreciate life more than ever and throw away immediate marital visions and predictions haha.

It ain't much but as long as I'm still breathing, enjoying God's wonderful gifts and creations, I consider everything to be a blessing no matter how small or grand. Allow me to share the highlights of my year through photos:

January. Marikina walkathon with friends. We've been meaning to do this for the longest time and finally it just happened.

February. Cebu! Probably next to Baguio, this place holds a special place in my heart. Whenever I'm in Cebu, my tummy and palate is home :))

March. Something inside this little fangirl's heart died after watching her favoritest local band's last gig. Sugarfree, o kay tagal din kitang mamahalin...

April. Kai Mykonos L. Fernandez. This little bundle of joy may not be mine but in a way she was and many others.

May. I turned 27. I also went back to Sagada aka the zen place up north. Although I didn't see any of those magical wild horses, the experience was pretty magical already.

June. Baguio aka my second home (even though I have no house there!) to visit my godchild Mykonos who's gotten pudgier, bigger and longer! gush gushing galore.

July. All hell broke loose (and BBoyd didn't even take his shirt off ha) upon news of Incubus' return in Manila (it's their third time here already). Thank God I finally was able to catch 'em live albeit still from the farthest seat in Araneta haha.

August. Good God of heaven, I did it! I conquered the granddaddy of Philippine mountains. And despite blistered, soggy feet, dead-stiff knees, chilly nights, I made it to the summit of Mt. Apo. Not without help, of course :)

September. I admire how the local government maintains local tourism in this part of the country. Puerto Princesa Underground River's promotion and maintenance is no easy peasy but they do it so effortlessly I never complained for the prices I had to pay just to get there.

October. Salunat-Franco nuptial. Second wedding I attended this year (well, I didn't attend the Diaz-Gonzales wedding ceremony but I was there on their wedding party so it counts!). What a beautiful wedding.

November. I waited 11 months for this trip and when it finally came I was so happy I almost peed on my pants. Joke lang! When I was watching the closing fireworks in Disneyland I almost cried. Standing there, I relieved my childhood dream - heck, every child's dream - of going to Disneyland and can't thank the Lord enough for this wonderful, wonderful chance. Not many kid/people gets to fulfill their wishes, and on that moment I know that I was one very, very lucky kidult.

December. Another wedding to cap off the year. This time, the wedding of one of my closest - sige na nga bestfriend haha - college friends. Despite the humps and bumps before her big day, everything went greatly. It was a happy day/night especially after most of the guests left because then the real party started :))

If I was ever frustrated or angered in 2011, well happier memories replaced them cos I can't seem to remember them now (or I'm just still drunkenly giddy from the joyous new year celebration hee). The bottomline is, they are not important. What's important are the lessons I learned, the people I met, people who brought significant changes in my life and made me a better person than 2010, experiences that taught me to be wiser, tougher and better in everything be it work, personal relationships, social life, travel mishaps, everything! You know it's a good year if you learned something new and brought it with you the next year.

Thank you Lord Almighty for the year 2011. I am ready to embrace 2012 now.

Hitched!

Lizzie McGuire err Hilary Duff just got married a few weeks ago, not to Gordo, who I would've wanted but to hockey player Mike Comrie. I loved her then, I love her still.

Now this made me wanna have a Lizzie McGuire marathon just for old time's sake. After all, I never got to watch the series' season ender (gasp!).

J9 and Toto

Somehow, I saw how their relationship grew. I witness how their love blossomed from one mountain to out-of-town trips and too many to mention adventures. You two are so right together. I love you both!

Wedding Reunion

Yes. Weddings are such a reunion. I missed you guys! From J9 and Toto's Tagaytay Garden Wedding, August 15, 2010.

Jog & Emma

One of my long-time friend, Jog, has just tied the knot with her long-time girlfriend, fellow Geologist Emma, last January 8 at St. Pancratius Chruch in Paco (yes, the same one where Jay and Sarah wed). Another January wedding for me too, just like last year when Rock married her long-time girlfriend Mau.

In this wedding, Honey and I realized a lot of things, so many things that it made our head hurts. Oh the intricacies of weddings, the preparations, the moment itself, the reception until the honeymoon stage.

But I realized this, weddings has a way of making a sentimental fool out of anyone. It makes you ponder about forever (and its implications) and definitely it makes you ponder about your own age.

Jog is the first guy and a friend I saw who cried while walking down the aisle which I was 100% sure was because of absolute happiness.

Congratulations! Your forever begins hereon.