I was impressed by their friendly assistance when Eman and I inquired about the wedding packages offered at Cebu City Sports Club. Katrina showed us the Sinulog ballroom and formally introduced us their banquet services. The venue was ideal with attractive outside pool area and the banquet room looked impressive table set out. In short, we truly loved the place. It is just the way we want it and right then and there, we made a reservation for the 3-ballroom for a 150-pax. And it happened way back 2009, the 9th day of September.
A week before the wedding (2010 January 10th), we had our food tasting. We bought along a friend, Diday, who is much too picky with the taste. And here is our menu:
Mixed Green Salad with Condiments and Choices of Dressing
Fresh Lumpia with Peanut Sauce
Spicy Fried Tofu with Spanish Sardines
Soft Rolls and Butter
Peppered Chicken
Breaded Fish Fillet with Aioli Sauce
Pork Cordon Bleau
Buttered Vegetables
Pasta Tuscana
Steam Plain Rice
Seasonal Fresh Fruits
Leche Flan
During the wedding, the quality of the food together with the professional service of the staff was excellent. We even received many positive comments from the guest about the catering and the delightful venue.
“We cannot afford it!” A firm and strong words came out from Eman’s mouth after I discussed a separate budget allocation for the photo and video. This gave me a pull-back but I won’t step-out without a fight, no! the right word? a debate.
I know Eman was too tight in terms in financial activities. It’s too hard for him to throw-out his cents out in the streets. Of course, who should want get broke after the wedding? I even don’t want it myself. But, the thing is, I can afford it. I just want to make our wedding close to my dream. Well, to cut this story short, he allowed me to shell out some of my savings to cover the expenses.
For 5 months, I’ve checked every wedding photographers available in Cebu City, compare their prices and their unbelievably talent in photography. Getting Rolando Pascua (Eugene’s wedding buddy) is too hard for me to decide since I have to consider the budget itself (yes! parang nakita ko si Eman na umu-usok ang ilong). When I spoke with my co-officemate, Mr. Danny Ybañez, the founder member of LightZone Photography Club, he gave me a huge discount and I coudn’t say “NO” to the offer. I’ve seen their portfolio and it’s really a work of art.
During the prenups and preparation until the end of the wedding, I feel like a Hollywood star surrounded by paparazzis. The four (4) photographers with a least 2-long bazookas hanging on their neck was really a great feeling. They really made me think “YES! THIS IS MY DAY!” Even one of my bridesmaids says “Wait, asa mi mutan-aw? Daghan kaayo mo”. They are really a hobbyist whose in dire need to capture a great photo coz I can see their passion in getting the picture right.
By the way, LightZone Photography Club is composed of professionals in the field of medicine, architecture and engineering and they have won several awards. The following pictures will vouch for that.
Red Cross donation through SMS: text REDAMOUNT to 2899 (Globe) or 4483 (Smart). bury me in this dress has a comprehensive list of means to send cash/check donations:
TXTPower.org
will forward donations to Red Cross
Paypal
Smart Money – 5577-5144-1866-7103
G-Cash – 0917-9751092
Red Cross
1. CASH or CHECK
Please send cash or check donations to the PNRC National Headquarters in Manila. Checks should be made payable to The Philippine National Red Cross. We can also arrange for donation pick-up.
2. BANK DEPOSIT
Account Name: The Phil. Nat’l. Red Cross
METROBANK
Port Area Branch
Peso Acct.: 151-3-041-63122-8
Dollar Acct.: 151-2-151-00218-2
Type of Acct. : SAVINGS
Swift Code: MBTC PH MM
BANK OF THE PHIL. ISLANDS
Port Area Branch
Peso Acct.: 4991-0010-99
Type of Account: CURRENT
BANK OF THE PHIL. ISLANDS
UN Branch
Dollar Acct.: 8114-0030-94
Type of Account: SAVINGS
Swift Code: BOPI PH MM
For your donations to be properly acknowledged, please fax the bank transaction slip at nos. +63.2.527.0575 or +63.2.404.0979 with your name, address and contact number.
Credit Card
Please fax the following info to +632.404.09.79 and +632.527.0575:
Name of card member, billing address, contact nos. (phone & mobile), credit card no., expiration date, CCV2/ CVC2 (last three digits at the back of the credit card), billing address, amount to be donated.
For online donations you may also visit our website at www.redcross.org.ph .
Donations in kind to the Red Cross:
LOCAL
Please send in-kind local donations to The Philippine National Red Cross – National Headquarters in Manila. We could also arrange for donation pick-up.
INTERNATIONAL
1. Send a letter of intent to donate to the PNRC
2. A letter of acceptance from PNRC shall be sent back to the donor
3. Immediately after shipping the goods, please send the (a) original Deed of Donation, (b) copy of packing list and (c) original Airway Bill for air shipments or Bill of Lading for sea shipments to The Philippine National Red Cross–National Headquarters c/o Secretary General Corazon Alma de Leon, Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, Manila 2803, Philippines.
The PNRC does not accept rotten, damaged, expired or decayed goods. Though we appreciate your generosity, the PNRC also discourages donations of old clothes as we have more than enough to go around.
Relief goods for Red Cross (drinking water, baby formula, canned goods, clothing):
Red Cross Rizal Chapter operations center 635-0922, 634-7824 needs drinking water, canned goods, clothing for Cainta, Marikina, San Mateo, Pasig. or go to Red Cross QC Chapter, QC Hall Gate 7 along Kalayaan Avenue, tel. 920-3672.
Relief Goods can be sent to Caritas Manila Office at Jesus St., Pandaca Manila near Nagtahan Bridge (tel.no. 5639298/5639308). Relief goods can also be brought Radio Veritas at Veritas Tower West Ave. Corner EDSA (tel no. 9257931-40).
Aquino volunteers: contact Jiggy Cruz who is organizing relief goods collection and distribution. Or call Ms. Clare Amador at mobile no 9285205508 or Jana Vicente at 9285205499 for more details regarding Noy/Mar relief efforts.
Roxas volunteers: donations for flood relief can be brought to Balay, Expo Centro, Edsa cor. Gen, MacArthur, Araneta Center, Cubao.
Relief Operations Drop-Off Center has been set-up at La Salle Greenhills. Beginning 9am, Sunday, September 27. Those nearby may bring their donations to Gate 2.
Ateneo de Manila now accepting donations for victims. Donations may be dropped at MVP Lobby.
Victory Fort is opening its doors to those affected by the typhoon. Call 813-FORT
Charo Limaco has posted a list of specific items needed and where to donate them:
Water, blankets, shoes, and clothes etc.. are being accepted at the Hillsborough Village chapel for families whose houses were washed out in the nearby sitios.
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Donations of any kind for Payatas communities affected by Ondoy accepted at ARANAZ stores in Rockwell & Greenbelt.
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TeamManila stores in Trinoma, Mall of Asia, Jupiter Bel-Air and Rockwell shall be accepting relief goods (Canned Goods, Ready-to-drink Milk, Bottled Water and Clothes) for distribution by Veritas to displaced countrymen due to Typhoon Ondoy.
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Caritas Manila Office and Radio Veritas (see above) appealing for the following goods: Canned food, rice, used clothes especially for children, milk
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From Kuya Ed Ramirez: SLBTFN is accepting donations already. Please drop it off sa Ateneo Cervini Dorm. Then we will work with groups around the area to assess w/c evacuation center needs help immediately. SLBTFN is Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan Task Force Noah, a disaster response arm.
The news is grim. People on their roofs, people losing their homes, loved ones separated, refugees everywhere, the most recent report is 5,000 people stuck in the Trinoma Mall in Quezon City. I have yet to confirm this but have heard this is the worst deluge since 1967; PAGASA reported that in three hours, as much rain as normally falls in two weeks soaked the Metropolis. Reports from the rest of Luzon -with most of Luzon’s provinces, including the National Capital Region placed under a State of Calamity by the President- are only now trickling in. Rescue and relief efforts over the years have gotten increasingly efficient, but this is one of those events that happen so suddenly, no one can possibly prepare for it.
Fellow bloggers may want to help on collating specific types of information they encounter online: appeals for rescue, traffic/flood updates, places to send relief goods, power failures, etc. This allows relief workers and media to focus on who needs help, while avoiding the risk that the ones who get rescued are those whose appeals are reTweeted most often, while others asking for help get overlooked, for example.
One person online is putting a Marikina map with updates: View Ondoy map for Marikina in a larger map. Contribute to, and spread the word on, Rescue Hub Info Central.
You will be a big help by collating information because relief/rescue workers and media can then periodically refer to your blogs to help evaluate what’s going on and what still needs to be done. Numbers are being collated here and in Sour Politics and Random Salt.
At a time like this, there is so much human compassion and so much frustration, too. So even if it’s by means of this small, online way, we can all pitch in.
Some photos/videos shared by people online:
(above: vicinity of Rustan’s, Katipunan Ave. Quezon City)
(above: underpass along Ayala Avenue, Makati City)
(above: Eastwood City, Quezon City)
Here’s what you can do even if you’re home
1. E-mail friends/relatives overseas to donate to their national Red Cross for Philippine flood victim relief.
2. If possible, contact the nearest chapter of the Philippine National Red Cross to find out how you can help wrap and prepare relief goods or contribute to information dissemination and other ways to keep people in touch.
3. Call your parish to find out plans when rains subside so you know where , how to help.
4. Pledge what would’ve been this weekend’s luxuries money for disaster relief.
Emergency/Rescue/Evacuation:
Red Cross: 143, 527-0000. Centers for relief: Red Cross chapters in Rizal, QC, Valenzuela, Bulacan. Phil. Nat’l. Red Cross Rizal Chapter operations center hotline: 635-0922, 634-7824. Send full address of stranded friends/family to Sen. Dick Gordon 09178997898/0938444BOYS
National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) Emergency Numbers: 912-5668, 911-1406, 912-2665, 911-5061. Help hotlines: 734-2118, 734-2120.
Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA): 136
Philippine Coast Guard: 527-6136
Bureau of Fire Protection Region III (Central Luzon) Hotline: (045) 9634376
San Juan City Hall Command Post: 468-1697
MERALCO hotlines: 0917-5592824, 0920-9292824
Contact NCRPO 838-3203, 838-3354 for rubber boat requests. You can also text 0917-422-6800 or 0927-675-1981 for rescue dump trucks. Appeal for those able, to lend 4×4 trucks for rescue: Pls. send truck to Greenhills Shoppng Center Unimart Grocery to await deployment, tel. 09209072902.
505 Rescue needs life-vests & rubber boats for their rescue operations. Please bring to Villamor Air Base.
Office of Sen Villar to rescue stranded people: 0917-4226800, 0917-2414864, 0927-6751981
Please go to GMA Facebook page & post addresses of people in need of immediate help.
For all Ateneo de Manila students who are stranded/ those who need help (as well as those who know of other students who need help), please TEXT your/their name/s, location and contact number to 0908-8877166. The MVP Building (HQ)is open to all those who have difficulty going home tonight.
The Venue
The Ballroom
At a Glance
