Wedding Spying: The first wedding event in UPLB's Carillon

A reliable little birdie told to me that there's a wedding happening at UPLB's Carillon today, 12.12.12.

See, I've lived and grew up in UPLB all my life and no one really had the idea (or maybe no one dared) to have their wedding/venue in UPLB's grounds, particularly the carillon.

The carillon is usually the venue for the Easter Sunday mass for the Catholics, but that's been long prohibited.

Today, we decided to take a peak and see how they're going to pull it off.

The first ever wedding event in UPLB Carillon

The Baby Shower Challenge

Three weeks after our friends, Ellis and Joy's wedding, we threw a baby shower to our beloved couple. 

The venue: The couple's house

The guests: Couple's closest friends and some of their way minor kids.

The Attire: Wear any shade of Green (Because most baby boy showers are themed in blue, so make it green plus it's the mommy's favorite color)

The challenge: How to throw a baby shower with guests who don't like games and with little kids participating in the program.

To be honest, I don't really know how to organize/throw a baby shower for a friend because majority of the baby showers that I've attended, I have nothing to do with the planning. I just make an appearance, bring gifts according to the couple's wishlist . The most I've been involved with is host the party as the master of ceremony, which I've done for at least a few times.

Let's not even go to the part of hosting (which is another story but of a different party) but what makes this shower challenging is, the fact that not only it's a co-ed baby shower (most baby showers are exclusively for the women and wives because this is their venue for tip-sharing for the mom-to-be...shucks, I did not even know that!), there are also minor kiddies in the party!

But God Bless the internet, everything is highly googable from the decorations to program flow to baby shower games! 

So here it is: Decorations (banner by yours truly and the pom-poms by Shom...all labor of love!)

Decorations

More after the jump!

The first ever traffic I've witnessed in Jamboree

I wrote about Los Baños Traffic before that got plagiarized during one of the class in grad school but that's a different story.

I'm starting to think that maybe common sense, initiative and pro activeness to come up with a system to deal with traffic is starting to be too much to ask.

If you know UPLB and have been to National Arts Center or Boy Scouts of the Philippines in Jamboree, you will know that the road coming from Jamboree and going down to UPLB is rarely, if never, a scene for really heavy traffic. Until last Sunday.

Here's the scene from last Sunday:

They allowed the empty jeepneys park on the actual main road.

Quick story: Jamboree is the venue for boy Scout's camping and that sunday was the last day of camping so these vehicles were there to pick the scouts up and take them home.

Meaning: It was not just some random coincidence, it was scheduled and anticipated.

Review: Banapple Pies and Cheesecakes

After we land, we went to Banapple in ATC for Lunch. I've heard and tasted some stuff from Banapple before, I didn't even know they serve meals.

 

Travel Boracay: Aria Cucina Italiana at the D'Mall

On our last night, my sister and I decided to have a nice dinner at Aria to have my pre-birthday dinner. Aria has been a Boracay staple since it opened in 2003. I remember it being a hype and now I read that it branched out in Bonifacio High Street.

Travel Boracay: Tilapia and Chips Restaurant

Tilapia and Chips is a seven month old (at present time) restaurant in Boracay that's along the road and right before D'Mall Palengke (market). On our first night we were looking for new restaurant to eat in and there we saw Tilapia and Chips ( kind of like UK's fish and chips term, but with a Pinoy twist.)

What you will normally see in Boracay

We went to Boracay last 2009 and stayed at Station 1. This time, our accommodation happened to be in Station 2 where it's near the bars, restaurants, mall and all the popular spot to party at night. Besides the beautiful beach, the powder-like sand and the best sunsets, here are the stuff you will regularly see in Boracay Island, particularly in Stations 2 and 3.

This is a major photo dump, prepare to load.

Skimboards

Boracay Birthday Getaway: How to have a nice time on a strict budget

Ok let me tell you this as early as now. This post is not advisable if it's your first time in Boracay. Three years ago, we were in Boracay with my family and cousins and we're super super excited roaming/walking the whole Boracay shoreline, determining which one is the Station 1, 2 or 3. We had scheduled activities, prepared drinking cocktails before sunset, walking along D'Mall in maxi dresses then bar-hopping like the rest of kids our age. I was 25 and I'm pretty sure you get the picture.

Since we almost forgot that we booked this trip, we were on a strict budget. This time, we decided that we are just going to chill. No itineraries just lie around and do whatever you like.

And since we don't have any agenda in mind, other than swim in the ocean and enjoy the powder-like sand Boracay is famous for, I googled blogs on what stuff I should not miss when in Boracay: