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A few months after graduation, I went to Canada for an extended vacation. The first month alone, I gained 20lbs (Dito ko na-prove na nakakataba ang Doritos dipped in Tostitos! Nyahahaha!)! The second and third month, I gained an additional 5lbs. At 130lbs, I was super slightly over the recommended weight for my height but 1.) I never really cared about my weight and 2.) my friends, though VERY shocked, told me the added flesh suited me better.

The weight gain really didn’t worry me much kasi I was never one to obsess about my weight or hair or skin, etc. It didn’t hurt, too, that Jojie, having seen me at my 105lbs best and then at my much heavier frame, preferred me with a bit more flesh. (We were mere friends when I was thin. He courted me when I gained the weight! Hahaha!)

Then, I got married and of course, after all the wedding stress and all the exercises associated with the wedding (DIY stuff, supplier meetings, etc), I was suddenly doing nothing, ergo no exercise! Add to that, Jojie and I love eating! So we’d eat so much every night! We had cake every week. We had pizzas delivered at midnight at least once a week…. Well you get the drift.  So of course, I gained so much weight.

After three years of that lifestyle, you can imagine what became of my weight. Hindi ko na sasabihin… sabi nga ni Veluz, away na ito! Hahaha! Basta alam ko di hamak na mas mabigat ako kay Pacquiao! Haha!

Ito na, buntis pa ko ngayon, which means I would really gain weight! The recommended weight gain is 20lbs. It’s not that I feel bad about my weight pero hindi ko naman ibo-broadcast sa lahat.

One time, while in the doctor’s office, I was seated by the secretary’s desk. Sabi niya “O, Clarice, mag-weigh ka na.” So of course, I went to the weighing scale and weighed myself. Jojie looked at the scale and was feigning shock at my weight. Tawa kami ng tawa. Anyway, after weighing, the secretary was already attending to another patient so I decided to sit down first. Since the seat beside the secretary was occupied with a newly-arrived patient, I went to sit across the room (malaki yung room ha kasi common waiting area ng mga five doctors). After a few minutes, Ate Thelma, the secretary, remembered me, and asked, in a voice heard by everyone in the room, “Clarice, ilan ka nga?” I replied by murmuring my weight. Ako lang ata nakarinig. Sabi niya, “Ano?” So I murmured again. “Ano?” In a louder voice, I told her my weight again. “Ano nga?” So I answered, in a voice loud enough to be heard across the room (ergo, by everyone in the waiting area), “____ lbs po” There was a blank look on her face and she replied, “Ha? Hindi, tinatanong ko edad mo!” Ay juice ko! Nakakainis di ba?! Hahaha!

P.S. Yeah, I just realized I could just have walked up to her to answer her question instead of proclaiming my weight to the world! Hahaha!

Mistaken Inquiry 1

Through email:

Hi Clarice!

This is ______ and I am getting married on ___________. I would very much like to get your services. How much is your hair and makeup for bride and 2 moms? Hope to hear from you soon!

O di ba, nakakaloka! Sana lang marunong talaga akong mag-makeup! Eh marunong lang ako tumingin ng maganda at ng pangit! Hahaha!

Mistaken Inquiry 2:

This happens quite a lot but this particular caller stands out in my mind.

Through phone:

Me: Hello?

Caller: Hello! Mag-i-inquire lang sana tungkol sa wedding. Ikakasal kasi yung brother ko.

Me: Oh hi! When’s the wedding?

Caller: It’s on ________________. Nagkaka-problema kasi ako sa simbahan, sa <name of church> so iniisip ko nang kumuha ng coordinator.

Me: Oh okay. Are you looking at Full Coordination then?

Caller: Ha? HIndi ko alam eh. Pero oo, Full Coordination. Full.

Me: Okay. Our Full Coordination package includes…. (me enumerating all the package inclusions)

Caller (mukhang hindi nakinig masyado kasi mukhang hindi interested): Ah okay. Basta iniisip ko lang kung maayos mo yung reservation sa church, kukunin ko na rin sa iyo yung catering at yung gowns.

Me: Hmmm…. I can help you with the church kasi processing of ceremony requirements is part of our package.

Caller: Eh how much ba?

Me: It’s _______________.

Caller: Ano kasama dun?

Me: The things I enumerated po kanina.

Caller: Walang pagkain? Walang gown?

Me: Ay wala po, coordination lang po talaga kami. What we do, we’ll refer you to reputable suppliers for the other wedding items like catering, gowns, photo, video…

Caller: Ah yun lang?

Me: Opo.

Caller: Ay o sige, wag na lang.

Sabay baba ng phone.

I think hindi ito mistaken inquiry, hindi lang siya sanay na yung coordinator eh coordination lang talaga.

Mistaken Inquiry 3:

Through phone:

Me: Hello?

Caller: Hello! Good morning!

Me (thinking, nakakatuwa naman ito napaka-perky and ang bait ng dating): Hi! Good morning!

Caller: An Event to Remember?

Me: Yup!

Caller: Mag-i-inquire lang… you have bridal cars?

Me: Hmmm… wala po.

Caller: But this is An Event to Remember? You rent out bridal cars di ba?

Me: Ay hindi po! Sorry!

Caller: Ay sorry…

Sabay baba.

Mistaken (or should I say, weird lang talaga na) Inquiry 4:

Through phone (this happened quite a few times so iba-iba dialogue but basically the same):

Me: Hello?

Caller: Hi! May I speak with Clarice?

Me: Hi! This is Clarice.

Caller: Oh hi Clarice, tanong ko lang, alam mo ba number ni Mang Boy Mahusay?

Me: 3145737.

Caller: Okay thanks!

Sabay baba.

Sayang hindi ako pwede maningil ng P2.00 for every caller na nag-i-inquire ng number ni Mang Boy! Hahaha!

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Marriage may be a two-way street, but that doesn’t mean you should travel in oppos­ite directions. Experts know what steers good marriages; here are some couple-strengthening  tips:

Talk, but don’t talk back. Tell your partner how you feel and what you need. When you’re the listener, don’t criticise, debate, dismiss or problem-solve. Recognise that your partner’s concerns are as import­ant as yours.

Be optimistic. Keep your comments positive - even when discussing problems - and make the effort to remember and appreciate the good in your relationship.

Learn to leave an argument before it’s out of control. Tactics include cracking a joke, showing appreciation and backing down.

Share your dreams. And find a way to help your spouse realise his or hers.

Be flexible. When your spouse asks you to be accommodating, try.

Go on a date. Couples need time as two­somes, to reconnect.

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This article can also be read in www.rdasia.com. Do register and visit their site. Super dami gandang articles!

When I called Ms. Belen, she told me that an ID was really needed (I forgot that SAC asks for an ID to verify the marriage license address). I explained na since overseas-based yung couple, wala ng Quezon City ID yung groom. She advised me to just procure a postal ID for the groom since postal ID yung pinakamadaling kunin na government ID. She also allowed me to just submit the ID after the wedding.

I called the QC Post Office postmistress and super accommodating si Ms. Rora. She explained everything that I needed to be able to get a postal ID for Angel.

The next day, I asked one of my messenger to start processing the postal ID (which meant going to the post office, the barangay hall, etc).  I, on my part, requested NSO for Angel’s birth certificate.

A few days before the wedding, Ms. Belen called me to verify something and she inquired about the progress of the postal ID processing. Told her I really wouldn’t be able to submit the ID before the wedding because the NSO birth certificate would be delivered after the wedding plus the postal ID might take a couple more days to process. My main concern na lang was to submit the ID before Toni and Angel leaves for New Zealand (about 4 days after the wedding).  Then Ms. Belen told me that if I couldn’t process the ID in time, then I could just submit a papel de ahensiya instead. I asked what that was and she told me to instruct the groom to pawn something and to just submit a photocopy of the pawn receipt. I was shocked!

I asked, “Ms. Belen, pwede po yun talaga?”

“Oo. Hindi ko lang sinasabi agad kasi nakakahiya naman sa couple.”

I replied, “Ms. Belen, ako naman po ito, okay lang yun.”

I immediately informed the bride what they had to do and asked her to just leave the pawn receipt at her house so I can have the messenger pick it up so we can submit it to Ms. Belen.

O di ba, kakaibang ceremony requirement!

Anyway, the reason I wasn’t able to blog for a loooooong time is…. tsadan… I’M PREGNANT! Isn’t that like the most ironic thing??? I mean, it’s ironic after that post “On having a baby”. Teeeheeeheee! But then, it just shows how things can not be controlled sometimes (which is such a big realization for me… mwehehehehehe!).

I find out I was pregnant on November 20, which was a few days before the W@W Christmas party. I didn’t think I was pregnant kasi I spotted but when my regular period didn’t come, I decided to take a pregnancy test and needless to say, it was positive.

The whole pregnancy process (at least from the time I learned I was pregnant up to now that I’m in my 29th week) is one bumpy but happy roller coaster ride for me. For one, I was constantly in a threatened abortion condition (not sure if I used the term correctly) during the first couple of months. I spotted for almost one month so I was put on bed rest. Since Jojie and I live in a condo unit alone and he had to go to the office, we decided to move back to my parents’ house. Kasi dun sure ako na may mag-aalaga sa akin. I accomplished everything in bed. My mom and my sister (who were super duper supportive) would feed me in bed and would constantly deep me company para hindi ako ma-bore. Abie sent me bobo novels to keep my mind off things. Jojie bathed me. All these para hindi ako ma-stress at hindi makasama sa baby.

I didn’t miss a single wedding. There were times na hindi na ako nagsa-spot tapos dahil sa stress sa wedding, bigla akong magsa-spotting uli. In spite of all  the hassles and the worries I went through, wala akong bride na hindi ako yung nagpalakad.

Sa super stressful events, sinamahan ako ni Jojie. The most stressful was probably the W@W Party. It went great naman daw sabi nila… hahaha! pero super duper grabe abot sa ceiling ng Fernwood yung stress ko the days before that and OTD. Jojie was with me the whole time and I was clutching my tummy kasi masakit yung puson ko the whole day. (Btw, Mimi and Karl won the Supplier of the Year award. Very well-deserved, I must say. ) Nagsisi lang ako kasi I wasn’t able to have lots of post-nup picture taken despite the 20+ photographers present! Nakapagpa-picture lang kami kay Mel Cortez and kay Chito Cleofas (two of my “favoritest” photogs! ) pero hindi ko pa rin nakukuha until now. Hehehe!

Morning sickness was hell…. don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. And for the life of me, I cannot understand why it’s called morning sickness when it starts at 7am and lasts until 12 midnight! Pucha! One third lang dun yung umaga… dapat whole day sickness yun eh. Hahaha!

The transition to being a pregnant working person was very hard for me. Bigla na lang hindi ako makapag-meeting ng hanggang gabi unlike before. Kelangan may driver ako at may yaya na kasama forever.

In my post about having a baby, I think I discussed about being afraid of the changes I’d have to face if I were to get pregnant. I was so right! Totoo nga palang ang daming changes, ang daming sacrifices. I’m not saying I’m not excited to see my baby or that I don’t think the sacrifices are worth it but I have to admit that there were times I wasn’t too happy. For one, Jojie and I love to travel. We love the beach and goal naman to go to the beach at least once a year. Normally by this time, nakaka-dalawa na kaming alis. But because of my delicate pregnancy, syempre hindi pwede. Oh well, sabi naman ni Jojie we’ll travel next year, and since that would be with baby na, mas masaya!

Am giving birth in July. As early as now, I’m making sure all my June, July, and August (konti lang yan, don’t worry) weddings are fixed. Pati mga song lists, inaayos ko na. Before the month ends, I’ll make sure super konti na lang yung kelangan ayusin. I’m very grateful to all my brides. All of them were very supportive when I told them I was pregnant.

So there… this post is just basically to update you on why I wasn’t able to blog.

Till next time!

* – a crossover post; also posted in Buhay Misis, ATBP.

Sometime in February, I woke up one morning and saw that I had two text messages from a certain Alma Manabat. She said her wedding is on January 17, 2008 and she was inquiring about our wedding coordination packages. Since I was on a rush to go to the office, I didn’t have time to reply to her. When I got to the office, I only had five minutes to browse my email. I saw that she also emailed me, inquiring re our packages. I made a note in my TO DO list to reply to her and then went to my day’s meetings.

Around 9pm that night (I wasn’t yet done with my meetings then), I received another text from her, asking for our team’s availability on her date and for a meeting that week. Super na ako nahiya sa kanya. I called her and apologized for not being able to reply. I told her that we’re still available on her wedding date but I wasn’t available for a meeting since my schedule was really full that week. She said next week would be okay. We then set a meeting for Wednesday of the following week, March 5. The meeting was at Figaro in Podium.

The following Monday, as I was arranging my schedule for the week, I texted her, confirming our meeting on Wednesday. She replied “I”m sorry I already got another coordinator.” I was surprised and frankly, a little weirded out and angry that she didn’t even had the decency to cancel our meeting. But then, giving her the benefit of the doubt, baka busy siya eh. I replied “Oh okay. I hope you have a wonderful wedding.” She didn’t reply anymore.

Wednesday came. I received another message from her asking if I were still available on her date. I replied “Yes, I am.” She then asked if we could meet that Friday. I said I was available but I added “I don’t want to step on another person’s toes… I thought you already had a coordinator.” Her coordinator daw couldn’t accommodate her anymore. TO make a long story short, we set a meeting for Friday of that week, 6pm, Starbucks in Podium.

I wasn’t supposed to have a meeting that Friday but since I was meeting with Alma, I decided to make good use of my time outside so I arranged a couple more meetings.

Come Friday, March 7, my meeting before I was scheduled to meet Alma was at Coconut Palace at 4pm. The bride was late; she arrived 445pm and we were able to finish at around 530pm. Since it was a Friday and I wasn’t too sure about the traffic, I texted Alma, “Hi Alma! Big favor, I’m running late because my other meeting ran late. It is possible to move our meeting to 630pm or even 7pm. So sorry.” I was rushing to go back to the car while texting this knowing how impossible traffic can be on a Friday. A few minutes after, she replied “I’m sorry, I didn’t get a confirmation from you. I already got another coordinator.”

Hindi ka ba naman maiinis?!?!? I so wanted to call her and have her hear a piece of my mind but thinking that she was just another ill-mannered bride, I contented myself to calling my friend-suppliers to rant.

I called Benz (of W@W) first. She wasn’t answering her phone. I called Tisha (of Balay Kandila/Krafts Marina), she, too, wasn’t answering her phone. I then called Missy (Ferrer-Litao). When she answered, I simply said, “Can I just?!” Sabi niya, “Go!” So I proceeded to tell her everything. Galit na galit pa talaga ako! After hearing my kwento, syempre nagalit rin siya. She also made kwento about ill-mannered clients. After hanging up, Tisha texted, apologizing for missing my call. I called her and told the whole story again. Syempre galit pa rin ako. Syempre nagalit rin siya. We put down the phone, cussing rude people.

A few minutes after, Benz texted. She said she was having a massage when I called. So I called her and told her the story (o di ba paulit-ulit na). By this time, my energy wasn’t as high as when I was talking to Tisha or to Missy kasi it was my third time to tell the same story. Benz asked if the girl was a W@Wie. I replied, “Siguro.” She asked for the name and searched in the archives. Then she said “Hindi siya bride, coordinator siya!” I was shocked! And frankly, really, really pissed! Apparently, she was the owner of a coordinating group. She emailed Benz to be listed in the supplier’s directory around last year. Was it all a game? Nang-aasar lang ba yun? Nanghuhuli? I couldn’t understand why someone would do that. Or if she were a real bride, then she should have known better; she shouldn’t have been that ill-mannered to a fellow supplier.

We put down the phone with me swearing on getting my revenge! Hahaha!

I tried to gooogle Alma Manabat’s name but no valid search results came up. Baka hindi siya sikat, sabi ko! (Forgive my bitchyness, I was really pissed.) Eventually, I forgot about her.

Fast forward to today…

An hour ago, I got a text message from her, “Hi. Wuld just like 2 ask 4 ur inputs if Cherry Pacheco-Uy is ok as make-up artist. Tnx.” O di ba, the nerve?! She got some nerve to text me to consult! How ill-bred can she be? So, throwing caution to the wind (and I admit, stopping down to her level), I called her. Nagpakilala lang ako tapos siya naman “Hi Clarice. Just wanted to ask your inputs…” I interrupted by saying “Alma, aren’t you a coordinator?” Sagot niya something like “Oh yeah, I have a coordinator but…” “No, I said, aren’t you a coordinator?” She replied yes pero part-time lang daw yun. I said “You have some nerve to call me after everything that has happened, after our last encounter.” Deadma siya! Sagot lang ng “But oh we didn’t meet!” “Yes, we didn’t. We did set up an appointment but then a couple of days before, when I called to confirm, you told me you already had another coordinator. You didn’t even have decency to inform me. We set another meeting when you said that your coordinator couldn’t accommodate you. You told me an hour before our meeting that you got another coordinator. Now you have the gall to call me to ask me!” She replied “I couldn’t remember na what happened last time…” “You have some nerve to call me…” “Okay, I will just ask my cooridinator..” “Yes, you do that…” Then I put down the phone.

If I were not seven months pregnant, super talaga ako sisigaw siguro. As it is, I didn’t even raise my voice but I’m sure she could tell I was pretty pissed off.

She called after a few minutes. When I answered, she had the gall to tell me “I didn’t like the way you talked to me.” Pucha! She was asking if I had a landline she could call. I told her I was out. The line went dead. She called again, I rejected the call and texted her to remind her what happened before. I also asked her to never contact me again.

Doesn’t this just make your blood boil?!

Now, however, will tell you first what prompted me to blog again (aside from the fact that Jojie, my husband, has been making me kulit).

I was in Grade 6 when our class had a field trip to a gallery which exhibited the works of Ramon Orlina. I didn’t grow up in a “cultural” family; except for the occasional field trips, didn’t really get to watch plays or go to art exhibits. For some reason though, I appreciated Orlina’s glass sculptures. I was really hooked! Because of that field trip, I learned to spot an Orlina and whenever I would see one, I would always, always stop to lovingly gaze at it for a few minutes.

Fast forward to the time Jojie and I were already going out. Jojie basically had everything I was looking for in a guy… he was responsible, loving, supportive, sweet, could make me laugh, and hundreds other stuff, but until the night that we became steadies, I wasn’t sure if he could appreciate art (we went to a choral concert that night and when I saw him transfixed, I was so happy! At least alam kong nakaka-intindi naman pala siya ng “culture”. Hahaha!). We became “us” that night.

I can’t remember exactly how long we’ve been together when we first saw an Orlina together but I was so happy that Jojie appreciated the artistry of the glass sculpture. Since then, Jojie and I would daydream of having an Orlina some day. In the same manner that we would daydream about living in an industrial house, we would talk about where he would display our Orlina.

This morning, after a meeting in Makati, Jojie and I went to Rockwell Tent for the bridal fair. From the side of the tent, Jojie pointed out a stretch Volswagen Beetle. We both thought it was cool but paid no more attention to it. We went inside the mall first because it was raining and just went back to the tent after a couple of hours.

Upon entering, we followed a scientific path to ensure that we would be able to scour all the booths. After making chika to all the suppliers I know, we were on our way out when I realized we missed one aisle. I told Jojie “Last na lang, honey.” He nodded and just followed me. At the end of the aisle was the booth for the stretch beetle. We were so amused, I stopped to inquire and make chika for a while. I learned then that the owner of the beetle was none other than Ramon Orlina! Cool eh! Sabi ko kay Jojie, “Hon, claim to fame na yun, kay Ramon Orlina yung bridal car mo.” He agreed. Before leaving the booth, Jojie got one of Mr. Orlina’s cards from the table. Sabi ko sa kanya, “Wow, may calling card ka na ni Orlina!” We then left the tent.

Upon exiting, Jojie noticed that the stretch VW was parked in front of the tent. Natuwa kami pareho kasi ang cool nung stretch na VW Beetle. We went to inspect the car. Paglapit namin, may lalaki na nagpapa-picture sa kotse. He left as we got nearer. I told Jojie in a whisper, “Hon, si Orlina ata yun.” Sabi niya, “Ha? Siya ba yan?” “Oo, kamukha niya yung nasa TV eh.” He was so engrossed with the car, hindi niya na ako sinagot. Nakakatuwa pa yung kotse kasi may Orlina sculpture sa loob!

Since I wanted to ask more about the car, I went to the person near to the car handing out leaflets. I began, “Sir, yung rent po…” He interrupted me by saying, “Si boss po” while pointing to the man who was having his picture taken earlier. I went to that person and inquired. After a minute, I couldn’t help myself and I asked, “Kayo po si Mr. Ramon Orlina.” He said yes!!! I couldn’t belive it!!! I was almost teary-eyed. Sabi ko, “I’m such a big fan po.” By this time, Jojie was walking towards us, and I added “we’re such big fans po, my husband and I.” And then to Jojie, I said, “Sabi ko sa iyo siya yun eh.”

We stayed for several more minutes, chatting with him. He was really nice. He even autographed his calling card for us. We asked if the sculpture would be there if someone rents the car. He said no. Well, totally understandable.

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I met with Ritzi and Don the other day. They’re our May 28 couple. They were the ones who won the W@W Auction for our team’s 50% off the OTD package auction item. I had super fun in the meeting kasi super nice si Ritzi (hehehe! si Don din nice… tahimik lang… hahaha!). Plus it turned out that Ritzi was a Corps Sponsor of LaSalle. Jojie, my husband, was an RO officer so they knew each other. Small world!

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Need to go now. I have a meeting pa at Palms later.  At least may kotse ako at hindi ko kelangan umupo sa lata ng Alaska. Hahaha!

We had the photo shoot yesterday for the Top 10 Suppliers and I just have to share the picture Jayson Arquiza took of me. I am redefined!