We made the "deal" around 12:45 AM, Catalina Island (near Long Beach, Los Angeles California). Mike on bended knees
popped the question of "Will you be my lawfully wedded wife?". How nervous he was? Better ask him. We both knew that
everything around us was so perfect -- a beautiful plaza facing the sea, moonlight, stars -- a truly, very romantic place where
such commitment like this happened. We both shouted for joy as it echoed the unoccupied streets that we both believed
was reserved for just the two of us for that very moment. To view our Engagement Story - The Proposal (please click).
Thanksgiving 1999
We started spreading the news. We formally announced the Engagement to Mike's parents. Nervous? of course yes!
When you do things that you don't normally do -- this is just a normal feeling. We announced the big news during
Thanksgiving dinner in Virginia. This is really a Thanksgiving Day!
Christmas 1999
This time, we announced formally our Engagement to my family. We had a Christmas Lunch (a celebration also of my dad's
birthday). Everyone is so happy to hear the announcement, my mom even cried for joy. This is really a Christmas Day!
March 4, 2000 -Our Engagement Dinner Dance Party
Our Engagement party was hosted by Mike's parents. Thanks Mom & Dad! It was held at the Women's Community Center
in Falls Church, Virginia. We had planned of having an Engagement Party for friends who may not be able to attend our
wedding in California. Thanks for all our guests (families, relatives and friends) who came near and far (Virginia, Maryland,
Philadelphia, California). Click Our Engagement Party to visit our Engagement Site. Oh btw, do you want to hear a cute story
happened that day? Mike was so busy the whole afternoon preparing for the band and sound system. The party was supposed
to start at 5:01 PM, I was ready but decided to wait for Mike, since he called me that he is coming home, I thought it would just
be so nice that the two of us arrive at the party together (though he' was running a little late). Guess what? Mike arrived
at home with his jeans and shirt! I prepared his suit,etc. He showed me the key to the community center ---
and I said "what????", we rushed right away to the party, arrived there with guests waiting outside and Mike with his shirt a
nd jeans. One guess joked that they might not be wearing the right dress code since Mike had not in his suit yet. Well
everyone had a great time and we're so happy to celebrate the joy of our Engagement.
April 7, 2000
We tied the knot civilly. When we decided for an April 7, 2001 wedding date, we really planned to do it the same date as our
Church Wedding Ceremony. We got married in the beautiful city of San Francisco at City Hall on a very cheerful day of
April 7, 2000. Thanks for our friends who joined us. Click here to view our Civil Wedding. We want to thank our marriage
commissioner--Pat, who gave us a beautiful message of marriage. She just knew and said that Mike & I will stay forever!
July 2000
We had an Appointment with Radisson Hotel Norman Moore, Sales & Catering Manager. We are so glad with the warm and
friendly attitude. The place is very nice and we said to ourselves, this is it... After looking at several reception sites, we both
felt that our search was over. The ballroom is nice and roomy, and the outside reception is overlooking the
Oakland-San Francisco Bay Bridge and boats. We paid our deposit on July 20 to reserve the date of April 7, 2001.
Graesson, Evan & Liz joined us for our Food Tasting on July 30, 2000. We will publish the menu later.
August 26, & 27, 2000
Mike & I visited Virginia. I also ordered my Wedding gown at David's Village in Springfield, Virginia. This is the only place that
has the style of the gown I want. I decided not to have Mike go with me, since I want to keep it a surprise till our
Wedding day. One of my brides maides & a good friend, Menchie, gave me company. I tried 3 different wedding gowns, but I
still kept my original choice. I believed that the gown is really for me. We will post the picture of the gown after the wedding
to keep it a surprise for Mike and to all of you too!
August 28, 2000
We found our Church! We had our Church Interview by Father Viren, Church of The Assumption in San Leandro, California.
We are very inspired and excited to be married in this church for the environment and staff are so inviting and accommodating.
We are so very blessed that our date is available -- God is really there to make this available just for us
Our first day to attend the RCIA (Rights of Christian Initiation for Adults). This is mainly for Mike since he is not a Catholic.
Click RCIA to learn more about it.
September 24, 2000
Ceremony and reception sites are set... what's next? our wedding details! We viewed different video demos, and we're so glad
to find the "Eclipse Productions" with the very friendly Jose Bucaro. We paid the deposit to reserve April 7th, 2001. We will be
shooting our Engagement Video soon (Life & Love Story). This Engagement video will be presented during our dinner
reception. Watch out for this romantic surprise! We have chosen the premier package- 3-manned camera at the
ceremony, 2-manned camera at the reception. We will also receive a copy of our video in DVD, CD and VHS formats.
Please be prepared to say something about us as they approach you for guest interview. Let our videographers capture
every wonderful moment on our special day and we invite you to be part of these precious moments. You'reour special guest!
October 7, 2000
This is our 1/2 Year Anniversay (6 months), this means also that our Church Wedding is 6 months away. We celebrated
by having dinner at Fishermen's Wharf-Pier 39, San Francisco. We are so blessed to be together and constantly trusting in
God for all the plans He has for us.
October 22, 2000
We visited Virginia again & I picked up my Wedding Gown at David's Village Shop. Mike was with me but I demanded him
not to even attempt to peak. :)
November 6, 2000
We completed the master copy of our Wedding CD, which has been in the making since our engagement party last March.
The CD is a fruit of our love and expression of our passion in life. Sang, Mike's friend and member of our Wedding party
will help us with the production copying. Thanks Sang! Mike and I are so excited to design our CD labels --
Watch out for this spectacular art of love!
November 10, 2000
We signed up for our official photographer "Portraits By Rebecca". We will have our engagement photo session soon.
We have chosen the Brocade Collection. As Rebecca quoted "Your Wedding Day happens only once... Your photographs
should last forever"...
November 12, 2000
Today is the first year Anniversary of our Engagement. We would like to do something special today and here it is... we
are publishing our Wedding Website. With lots of guidance, love and inspiration from God, we are able to express
those to all of you through this site. Enjoy surfing and let the great Love of the Lord be heard!
November 17, 18, 19 - Engaged Encounter (PREP Retreat)
This is one of our most wonderful weekends even though we are in the middle of many things in preparation of our upcoming
Church Wedding. We are looking forward to attending our marriage encounter and family encounter in the future. For those
of you who are engaged, don't miss this very wondeful event God has reserved for you. A once in a lifetime experience!
To view our Engaged Encounter pictures & stories, click: Engaged Encounter.
December 13, 2001
I ordered our Wedding Invitation from Rexcraft, we are expecting it to arrive on Wednesday December 20, 2001.
We are so excited, Mike & I really worked on the verbiage. Honey, thanks for your wonderful ideas!
December 15, 2001
Our Dinner & Reception menu is final. Thanks to Sherleen, the new Catering Manager of Radisson Marina Berkeley
Hotel. To view our Dinner Menu, Click Dinner Menu.
December 20, 2000
We received our wedding Invitations :-). Thanks to Rexcraft for a job well done Mike & I have started putting them
together. We will be mailing it out on the 2nd week of February.
January 10, 2001
I'm back! :) This is a very special journal insert -- one of the most perfect examples of God's love and plans for all of us.
Let me tell you what happened to me... as everybody says about the pressure of wedding preparations, Mike & I had
everything planned smoothly from our budget, to our desired vendors, our very own choice of wedding favors, all
seemed to have no problems 'til I encountered some health related problems right after Thanksgiving. I worried so much,
taking away the joy in my eyes, draining my energy and excitement to do things, and even our Christmas &
New Years holiday, the days that we look for every year, the most wonderful times of the year. I went to the doctor to make
sure that I was ok -- the doctor referred me to a specialist and I had a medical procedure performed on me. Being new to this
and learning of the worst case scenario, I got sick from so much stress and worries, so I had asked to be scheduled for a
Doctor's appointment earlier than scheduled since waiting seemed forever to me. I went to the hospital again because of
my cough and fever and even asked to have a blood count taken for me to make sure I was fine. The doctor was very
encouraging but it didn't take away all my fears and worries. I've been so worried and weak this last weekend. I've learned
a very important lesson in my life --to take care of your health for your health is your wealth. I prayed, talked to my mom
every night, & talked to our priest -- surely God has plans for all of us. The procedure was done today and I am FINE!
I hugged my doctor and I yelled in my heart that God gave me the most wonderful wedding GIFT I had asked from HIM.
To all of you -- Cherish your life and take care of the wonderful gift. God bless you!
January 22, 2001
We booked a really cool Top-40 bay-area Filipino band & DJ for our wedding reception - they're called "LiveVersion".
You can read more about them at:
http://www.angelfire.com/ca2/LiveVersion
Don't forget to bring your dancin' shoes to our reception & get ready for a whole lotta boogeyin' !!
January 26, 2001 - Invitation
We have been working on our invitations for a month now, from the labels, enclosures, and etc. I'd like to thank
MINIT PRINTING for a wonderful job on printing our additional invitation inserts. His printing shop is located at
San Leandro, E14th Street, and I found out too that he has been in this printing business ever since I was born.
January 28-29, 2001 -Engagement Photo/Video Sessions
Thanks to our photographer, Rebecca, and Videographer, Jose, for a wonderful and personal touch they have shared
with us on these sessions at the beautiful Friendship Japanese Gardens at Kelley Park in San Jose. We really had a
wonderful time and we look forward to seeing the proofs that we hope to insert in our wedding invitations to you. It was
raining a few days prior to our photo/video sessions and was actually supposed to rain today, the day of our
Videography shoot, but God provided us the most beautiful weather! We are really praying that these photos &
Video Love story will allow us to further reveal the joy that we both share towards one another. To those who plan on
attending our wedding reception, you will be able to witness the spectacular art works of Jose & Rebecca,
and of course yours truly.
February 7, 2001 - Tux 's & Bride's maids' Dresses & Engagement Photos
We went to a bridal show in San Francisco last Sunday and got some ideas for Tuxes, Bridesmaide dresses. However,
the next day, we looked around elswhere in Fremont and picked our Tuxes from Tuxedo Den (click) - we got a good
deal since the store was celebrating their one year anniversary with special prices on Tuxes. We then went next door
to the Wedding Gown Superstore and found really nice bridesmaid dresses but the price was way outside of our budget,
especially in lieu of the fact that we would have been charged more just to expedite the making of the dresses in time for
our wedding. So, we opted to let "nanay" (mom) in the Philippines make the dresses what a bargain! Thanks Nanay!
We are aniticipating the proofs of our Engagement Photo shoot (last week) to arrive in the next day or 2. Once we have
them, we will select one photo of us to be inserted into our invitations which we hope, if all goes as planned, will be sent
out early next week. We're still updating our guest list almost daily. Just 2 more calendar months away from our
church wedding day!
February 10, 2001 - Early Wedding Gift
We were so very blessed tonite to win the Grand prize at the Couple's For Christ Valentine's Party -- Brunch for Two at the
Hilton Newark. We also received a gift for the youngest (10 month) married couple. For all the staff & members of CFC,
we are thankful & so glad to be part of it. Our most heartfelt gratitude goes, of course to our Almighty God.
February 17, 2001 - East Coast Visit
We visited Virginia last weekend, it's nice to enjoy the sunny weekend in Virginia while we left San Francisco raining
so hard. Thanks to Mom and Dad for the Wedding gift, Mike and I are in tears when Dad handed it to us --
Mom and Dad, thank you very much from the bottom of our hearts! We also visited friends and delivered
their invititations. And thanks to Sang for helping us to complete our Wedding CD.
I took home my wedding gown - and I feel so blessed of not having a hard time transporting it here. I
dreamt about putting it in the box in the event that they won't allow me to hand carry it, because it is so bulky.
As always, God always have answers to all our concerns... we were entertained by a very friendly United Gate Agent
and she was asking me of the size of the dress, I responded to her, I can fit it in under my seat, she was laughing, and
she joke that it might fit her so I can't take it with me. The flight is only half full, we didn't get first class but
as we were walking the flight attendant asked me if I wanted to put it inside the First Class Coat Closet -- and
I responded with a smile sure, and he said this is something that we need to take an extra care. No more
worry of walking inside the plane with my gown nor fitting it under my seat, and as we walked out the plane, he
reminded me, dont' forget your gown. Thanks be to God for all these little miracles.
February 22, 2001 - Wedding Invitations
Yes! We hand mailed the first batch or our Wedding invitations! And the rest were mailed today. Watch for it.! Also, please
send your response cards on time. Thank you :)
February 24, 2001 - Wedding favors
Awesome! We have completed our wedding favors, both the Wedding CD and flower arrangement. We are so
excited to give it to you for they are the fruits of our labor. You'll see how these souvenirs reflect our passions in
lives!
February 27, 2001 - Rehearsal Dinner
After searching out several restaurants in the area, we found a very nice location of El Toritos Mexican Cuisine off the San Leandro
Marina which has a beautiful view of the Bay. Mike actually took me there on Valentine's Day which was an opportunity for us to
review the food before finally deciding on the restaurant for our dinner rehearsal.
March 5, 2001 - Wedding Cake
Thanks to Alex of Golidlocks Newark for his very friendly attitude and creative ideas. He's in charge of our Wedding Cake!
Taste the flavor of a filipino mocha chiffon cake on our wedding day!
March 5, 2001 - My Wedding Gown
I'm so excited to complete my wedding attire shoppings & fittings. Thanks to Kay's Bridal Boutique for my Wedding Gown
alteration, my wedding veil, my tierra, & my shoes. Thank you also to Wedding Superstore in Fremont , Gudi for helping
me to choose my 2nd dress, and Carmens of San Leandro for the alteration.
March 5, 2001 Wedding Party Dresses
Thanks to my Mom for her thoughtfulness and great effort of taking care the Bridesmaids' and Flower Girls' dresses.
They are here and so far so good. They are nice and simple -- I like it! Also the Barongs for Mike, my Dad and
Mike's Dad -Barongs will be worn during the reception.
March 2001 - RSVP's
Thanks to all of you for sending back the reply cards. We are looking forward to seeing you on our big day!
March 10, 2001 Wedding Reception
Thanks to Sherleen Hui, our Catering Manager for her suggestions and flexibility. Please check our Dinner Menu updates.
March 18, 2001 - Bridal Shower Party
My bridal luncheon is very sweet -- I love it! Thanks to the coordinator, my dear friend Merlita, and my sister Bhel., and
to all my friends who attended Marie, Joyce, Mary, Gloria, Cecilia, Aimee, Aunt Letty and Aunt Girlie -- you guys are awesome!
I will post some pictures later -- they are funny!
March 20, 2001 - Dinner Rehearsal & Stockton Directions
Our computer has been locking UP a lot lately and also our ATT@Home cable ISP has been down for the past 2 weeks so
our work has been slowed down, but not halted. We are now finally able to send out overdue Dinner Rehearsal Invitations to
our wedding entourage. Sorry for the delays.
Many "thanks" to our Uncle Reso for proof-reading & "de-bugging" the directions to our church coming from Stockton...
sssooo many details that we're working on right now that it's easy for us to overlook things - our apologies!. Any help to
prepare for our "Big Day" is greatly appreciated. Thanks Uncle Reso and thanks to all those who are helping us in any way,
shape, or form!
July 15, 2001 -- We're Back!
Wow! After a few months, we're finally back! The most joyous news is that I will soon be having a baby (Our Wedding Gift
from the Lord)!! Due date is Dec 27 - we'll let baby's gender be a surprise!.
We've been pretty busy, me working and Mike learning how to cook; also visiting with family & friends (my Nanay went
back to the Philippines last month after being with us since a week before our wedding. She has helped us out tremendously.
We're also busy preparing to move into a new apartment. Mike has been job-hunting after getting laid-off 5 weeks ago
from part of the massive industry-wide cut-backs in the Telecom Sector... anyway, we know that the Lord will provide...
... Looking back at last April, our wedding preparations were pretty hectic - sooo many last minute changes
(ceremony program and Bride & Groom member changes) during the last 2 weeks before our wedding all the way up
to the day of our wedding (groomsmen tux's). In lieu of the stress & changes in preparation for our wedding, it turned out
to be a most beautiful & memorable event for us - thanks to all of you who showed your love & support to us and helped
to make our day a truly Special Day that we will cherish for the rest of our lives.
We will be updating our website shortly - please check back to see what's new (some pix from the wedding and
possibly a small video clip of highlights from our wedding).
We just received our wedding videography package in DVD, CD-ROM, & VHS tape formats - in viewing our wedding day
videography, we're happy that all of you enjoyed the festivities of our wedding day and were able to share special
messages with us through our videographer.
Please contact us via e-mail if you are interested in purchasing a copy of our wedding video from our videographer..
Our e-mail address is [email protected]
Note: The DVD's will cost more than the CD-ROM's or VHS due to the DVD's superior High Quality Dolby stereo sound
reproduction & sharp picture resolution.
P.S. One of these days we'll be able to sit down and send our long over-due personal Thank You cards to all of you...