the grand debut party

May 31, 2009

 

Debut party is a big affair in the part of my relatives in Pampanga, Philippines.  This affair had been plan and scheduled years before and the preparation is mind boggling, I believe it’s almost the same as a wedding minus the groom. What I understand that it was a dream of my niece Nicole Irish and his Dad to have a memorable Debut Party, ever since she was a child, they have already practice the first dance with her Dad.  After the demise of my brother her dad, I never realized it would push through. However they made all efforts to become a reality.

We were informed last December 2008 about the party and the fix date. We are all excited to attend and that’s the reason we booked our tickets three months before to avail the promo fare. We planned everything as to the clothes to wear, the gifts, the place to stay, the group who will attend coming from Cebu and Surigao. The RSVP invitation arrived few weeks before the Party requesting all guest to wear only black / silver gown or cocktail dress for the female and coat and tie for the men.  

We made a reservation at one of the villa of Funtana Resort and Hotel.  We arrived in the afternoon Sunday (May 24, 2009) at the said hotel; it was a well designed three bed room one story house a Mediterranean style, complete with amenities and very spacious with a parking space.   We hurriedly prepare ourselves for the party, my sis jean who will do the opening remarks and me the ceremonial toss of the wine and together with the kids went ahead to the venue.

 

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It was a few kilometers from our Hotel, the entrance  of  GRAND PALAZZO ROYALE was awesome, a fountain with a carriage drawn by  four horses  as big as the real one, with a flowing fountain  and  the  Arch is beautiful and well designed  it’s like an entrance of a castle, well lighted  with beautiful  lady statues and so many beautiful  plants and trees. The grand entrance of the building was artistically designed and the lights made the place more impressive.  The camera and the video men were busy taking on the arriving guest, at the entrance of the main lobby.  When the doorman with a warrior uniform, opens the big door, I was mesmerized by the elegance and classic beauty fitted for a royal family. The different designed of gold moldings from walls to the ceiling with a white background. The classic artistic gold furniture’s, the big crystal chandelier is a sight. The main ballroom is equally beautiful. We registered our name in the lobby and we were assigned to table number two in the main reception area, we were closed to the main stage and the dance floor

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The program starts at exactly 7:30pm the emcee of the evening was very articulate with a very masculine voice.  The debutante  made an entrance to the main door with smoke and bubbles coming on the sides … with only the spotlight directed to her and the entire guest where standing welcoming her, clapping together…  She is unquestionably beautiful and tall, walking with grace like a princess smiling wearing with an elegant yellow gown.  Immediately followed by the Royal Dance start with the 18^th Noble Lords… I was third on line… she seems nervous that I could hardly dance the waltz but she keep on smiling… then picture taking each table to the main stage, followed by the buffet dinner, the food was excellent but I like more the salad and the sweets,  The debutante changes her gown to yellow green embellish with flowers in front. Then the 18^th Estrella Ladies, 18^th Mystique Gems and followed by the Regal dance by the Dukes and Duchess with the debutante, wearing a blue  sexy mini skirt ”the cotillion” with a touch of modern dance, it was lively and fun. Some trivia games of the celebrant with some prices.

 

And finally the celebrant speech, she was thanking all the guest and people behind who help one way or the other to make the affair a huge success.

It was a great experience to attend such a very formal and lavish party, I was totally impressed and mesmerized to the whole affair.

Manila escapade 2009

May 29, 2009

 

Going to Manila for the nth time is still exciting after all the years, the main reason for going was to attend the grand debut party of my niece in Angeles City, and we have booked our tickets three months before to avail the discounted fare.

We left Mactan International Airport 6:30pm May 22, 2009 via Cebu Pacific Air, after the routine security check up, the plane departed on time and the travel was smooth , and I noticed that it was fully booked, after an hour and ten minutes, we landed in Manila through NAIA-3 at around 8:00pm after picking up our luggage, we went directly to the exit area and my sis Jean was kind enough to meet us outside the lobby  at bay 2 and we proceeded to the parking area. We went directly to Roxas Boulevard, seeing the tall and well designed buildings endowed with different colors of light that glitters the early night making the place more amazing and exciting. We made a stopover at the Bay Park, a place with rows of small restaurants for coffees, drinks and grilled food. We ordered chicken barbeque for takeout and then I roamed around the neighboring places and noticed that displaying in front is the beautiful Manila bay.

 We finally reached the place of my sister at the JRB Apartments in Tayuman, we met all my nieces and nephew, we made some pleasant greetings and we immediately ate our dinner, feeling hungry and thirsty. Later we had some conversation with Jean about the activities scheduled and after we slept for the night at around 10:00pm, feeling exhausted.

I woke up early as I used too and went directly to the CCP complex to take some pictures, it was Saturday with so many joggers around; some are doing aerobics and tai-bo. I could remember  that I used to jog here years ago together with my brothers, from Luneta to the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Although there we some changes like the lamp posts in different shapes and the tall offices and condominium buildings on the other side are awesome. I walked up to the Rizal Monument and reminiscence the good old days, it was a beautiful feeling.

I went directly to 168 Shopping Center a very popular place in Divisoria for cheap but durable clothings. The group was eagerly doing some shopping, and I was just seating in the food court eating for my breakfast /lunch at the same time. I strolled around and bought a t-shirt. We stayed a little bit longer for the reason that the girls took too much time in deciding what to buy. Then back to the Apartment.

We left Tayuman to Kabayan Hotel, a place catering for Overseas Foreign Workers to fetch my sister-in-law and her family.  We went to Manila Ocean Park, it was beautiful with a spacious lobby with so many shops and the park was amazing with an entrance of four hundred pesos.  Then we went to Manila Zoo and Botanical Garden, the place is not as beautiful and interesting as before, then at 6:00pm we went back to the Apartment.  We had a long conversation for the trip for tomorrow.  I accompanied my sister-in-law and her family back to Kabayan Hotel via Light Railway Transit, it was their first time, so they were excited and interested.

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Sunday, May 26, we attended a Holy Mass in Espiritu Santo Church in Tayuman, a very beautiful church.  Our group is going to Angeles City to attend the debut of my niece but unfortunately we are so many to the Toyota – Revo  car of my sis.  The five of us left behind decided to ride a bus,  to Dau Mabalacat part of Angeles City at around 10:00am.   Our group meets at the Shoe Mart –Clark for lunch. The kids went back to Funtana  Resort Hotel. The rest went to Duty free clark, we drop by at Oriental and Pure gold buying some shirts, sandals and chocolates.

Back at Fontuna Resort Hotel and everybody was preparing for the Grand debut party. The party was wonderful and the theme is medieval and the place is like a castle I believe it was very expensive but its worth it if you have the money. The party ended at 1:00am, the kids haven’t sleep for the night, talking and laughing of a never ending conversation at the resort. But some of our group left for Manila  after the party.

 

We left Clark Angeles City at around 6:00 in the morning the sun was about to shine. It was a tiring travel back to the Manila, Apartment in Tayuman .  We immediately sleep the whole morning  and after lunch  I went to Mall of Asia to buy  a book and a doughnut  at Krispy kreme , requested by my daughter.  And we went again to 168 Shopping Center for last minute shopping, some sandals and shirts. We sleep early after packing our bags for a flight early morning.

 We were send off by the driver name Bitoy of the Revo-Toyota at 4:30 in the morning to NAIA -3 for our departure,  Manila was calm with no traffic and full of glittering lights i believe somehow full mysteries and surprises  … it was almost twilight time  when we arrived at the airport.  We immediately go to the process and went to gate no.119 for our pre departure for Cebu passenger. The plane arrived Cebu ahead of time for 10 minutes and my brother in law Choy was waiting with our car.

The trip was memorable meeting all my relatives and some old friends; it was a nostalgic trip remembering the places I went through, during my college days and my first work in Makati.  I would always miss Manila  for it has been a part of my life.

thai massage

May 13, 2009

I ‘am always interested of this entire massage thing, just a week ago after doing some routine to the gym for an hour… I feel tired and stressed out, I remember, there was this massage parlor “Thai Massage”  nearby offering an  anniversary promo for 100 pesos body massage it’s a fifty percent discount, worth a try.  What I know this massage is popular in Thailand. I realized this would be a relief to my tired body.  I tried to avail the promo and to find it out the massage and the place.

It was second floor well lighted passage way, and the desk information was a little bet dim light with a native decoration with a soothing music, i was asking about the promo and enquire the different massage they offer.   I was told to wait for a while and was given a sleeper to use, I took off my shoes, the place is not that big small rooms surrounding a big area, with four black massage chairs in the center, I was ushered by the lady to one of the room with curtain door, the room is divided with a curtain good for two and a sleeping   mat on the floor and I was requested told to change my clothed to a cotton pajama they have provided.  After for a few minutes a male masseur came wearing the same kind of pajama and instructed me to lay flat. Then he started pressing my feet with pressure gradually and pulling it and he uses his palms, fingers and feet in pressing all my legs while lifting and then  my back, arms and head for an hour.

While he was doing the massage, I was enquiring about the owner, no. of employees, their training, working schedule, their kinds of clientele, age bracket, and advantages and disadvantages being a masseuse or masseur, their income, the tips, and if they are happy of their job. 

I know it was not easy job but the income is quite good, however  I feel they don’t have any choice, force by the circumstances in need  being unwed mothers or married women , helping the family who needs the money for the daily basic needs.

But I was thankful for a good feeling after a relief for my tired muscle no more….

 

 

 

reaching the age of forty:

May 6, 2009

I guess when time flies and we grow older we need to be physically conscious to our life style to avoid some health problems, which may arise in the near future.  As a typical human we tend not to listen to our immediate relatives who sometimes keep on nagging … like please stopped smoking or drinking too much wine.  We need a Doctors warning to make an abrupt change to stop our vices.  I have a bad experience of the demise of my love ones, my brothers, which somehow I believe that they were not too keen and conscious about their health, which lead to serious problems.

When your age reach forty, signs and signals of your body shows, from back ache, fatigue, easily get tired you seems less active, your need reading glasses, you like simple  life, home  body, clannish and you don’t want any complication  and  hate changes especially to the latest trend and technology and one more thing you like mellow and ballad music.

What I’ve learned to maintain a healthy life style, one should have a regular checked up we must exercise, eat more fruits and vegetables, less sweets and fats, take some supplements, have a positive outlook of life, be passionate in what you do, learn to accept pain and failures, as part of life and learned to move on, have a group of friends or close relatives to share and have faith and leave it all to GOD.