Caricatures

Just sharing our cutie caricature made by Joseph...

I'll be using this in our DIY projects.. Yebah!!!

Thanks so much Seph (and Angela)..

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CROCS SALE!!!

It's Crocs sale once again!!! Let's invade again the EXPO Singapore!!!

416th Catholic Engaged Encounter

416th Catholic Engaged Encounter

ME House Ponggol, Singapore

Last May 15-17, 2009, Rudy and I found ourselves discussing and being certain about our future. To tell you honestly, I’m having doubts and apprehension in getting married. Please don’t get me wrong. I truly love Rudy and I’m happy to be with him. But pressures, stress, dreams to be fulfilled are some of the factors that made me feel this way. But I believe God chooses both of us to be in this catholic renewal to finally answer my/our questions and give me/us peace of mind. And yes we both made it. We finished our course and got our certificate.

Just to give you an overview in this seminar, we learned that getting married is way different in falling in love. We should decide and stick with our decision. Boy, its not easy to decide for just 3 days (although we been together close to 9 years, including the courtship and being together). But through God’s grace, love and guidance we decided and agree to get married and to start our family. But after all marriage should not be base only on love. It should be base on our faith to God, faith to our partner and faith to our love for one another. In this time, I got the chance not really to focus on the wedding details and preparation (motif, bridal gown, cake, reception venue, menu, church etc… We only got less than 150 days to prepare as of this writing) but to be focus on our decision to love and let God be the center of our journey as a couple. I also got the chance to speak with Rudy with an open heart and open mind; to be honest and to share with him everything, in joy and in pain. We thought by just getting married it’s only being together and frankly we thought we are also prepared (hehehe) . So we are really thankful for this kind of seminar. It’s really helpful.

BTW, you can check this site for more information - http://www.catholic.org.sg/ceespore
And please note that this seminar is open to any kind of race and religion

For Philippine Chapter please check this link – http://www.weddingsatwork.com/feature_catholicencounter.shtml

We are so lucky and privileged to be with some of our kababayan couples (and a w@wie member also, yippee) –sila na ang prayer partner couple namin :)
Jose Mari and Maria Christina
Siegfriedo and Eleonor
William and Rhea
Ronilo and Esthertina

For my final words, prepare your marriage in a different way. Take this chance :) and I guarantee you this is really, really a great experience.

Ciao,
Escie Santos

Updates... Updates... Updates...

This is a long due post... Since I'm really really busy with lots of things (hmmmm ano nga ba kinabibishan ko?!!!) here in Sg..

So let's start the wedpreps update... We (again) take a long-weekend vacation in Philippines, since the world is celebrating LABOR DAY we also want to be part of it.. Its better to celebrate it in your own land with family and friends around.. Para mas meaningful..

Day 1 - April 27, 2009

We went soooo early at Changi Airport (April 28 flight namin), since Rudy and I are not a morning people we decided to sleep at the airport (630am flight namin) and not to take the plus 50% extra of the taxi fare during morning.. Hmmm infairness cozy naman sa airport at walang pakialam ang mga tao kung trip nyo magtulog dun hehehe.. Un lang medyo masakit sa likod :)

Departure - Manila, 10:30AM
Arrived safely at NAIA.. BTW, I'm with our co-w@wiesg couple Tonio and Janice during the flight... They are also doing their wedpreps..

First stop, shempre sa house muna namin. My mom served asado and chopsuey for our lunch (wahhhh I really miss her and her cooking).. After our great lunch, its time to take out all the pasalubong for my family..

Suppliers list of the day
1. Joel Bautista - Rudy's Barong

2. Joy San Gabriel - Wedding cake

with Ate Clarice (OTD)

3. Kaye Cunanan - Caterer


*************************************************************

1:30PM - Meeting with JoelBaustista

I had several email excahanges with him since last year. His office is cozy and inviting.. He himself is also nice and honest. What I really like about him is his kwentos and experiences kaya di ko din napansin ang oras..
He gave us some advise for our wedding, nakakatuwa nga kasi its reality :) So habang sinusukatan nya si Rudy kwentuhan pa din kami to the maxxxxx..
Oh before I forgot, we got his service because of 2008 w@w auction.. Great find talaga kasi he will be using a Pina Jusi for Rudy's barong..

3:00PM - Meeting with Joy San Gabriel and Clarice Avinante

Ate Clarice accompanied us in Ms. Joy's kitchen/shop.. Sa may hagdan palang amuy na amoy na ung mga cakes.. at nakakatakam talaga :)
The kitchen is clean. At that time, Ms. Joy is baking a wedding cake for a wedding. Then some of her staff are baking.. She entertain us and she's really approachable..

Ms. Joy prepared 5 different cakes for us namely AMARETTO, CARROT, BLUEBERRY CHEESECAKE, 2 variant of chocolate cake that I forgot the names. Everything are tempting. I first tasted the blueberry chessecake (since I'm a chessecake lover), well it was definitely the best cheesecake I tasted (walang stir!!!)..

Carrot cake and amaretto are also superb.. In the end, Rudy and I decided to take the amaretto, carrot and chessecakes (mango, strawberry, blueberry and oreo) for our wedding cake. Kasi nga lahat un nagustuhan namin..

6:00PM - Food tasting with Kaye Cunanan at their mega beautiful mansion..

I really can't believe that Kaye is so young. A yuppie. She invited us in her humble mansion.. She's super duper nice, cool and sexy.. (Di ba asteeeeeg pagapapakilala ko sa kanya).. We just didn't expect na ganon kabata ung magiging caterer namin..

Since K is also a w@w favorite and her style is unique and not so traditional which is a big factor sa amin ni Rudy(bawas gastos sa event stylist).. Pero kailangan din ung taste nung food, both of us really love to cook and eat kaya medyo meticulous tayo pagdating dito.. I spend some time researching in w@w database about her menu list..

She prepared a complete meal for our dinner...
Cocktails - Hoisin chicken wrap and Blinis with smoked salmon and dill

Soup - Squash Soup

Salad - Barbecued Chicken Salad

Pasta - Baked penne pasta with tomato and creamy pesto

Dinner - Grilled red snapper with mango salsa and coconut cream

Dinner - Roasted rosemary chicken with stuffing


Dinner - Barbecued baby back ribs and grilled corn with parsley butter

Dinner - Carrot rice

Dessert - Panna cotta with kiwi

Beverages - Water and Raspberry iced tea

Top favorite dishes:
Cocktails - Hoisin chicken wrap (really yummy, presentation plus 5)

Salad - Barbecued chicken salad (my personal favorite kaso di ito pwede sa nagdidiet)

Dinner - Grilled snapper with mango salsa and coconut cream (another personal favorite)
- Barbecued baby back ribs and grilled corn with parsley butter (favorite ni Rudy)

- Carrot Rice (we all loved it!)

Dessert - panna cotta with Kiwi (the main reason with we fell in love with K's dishes.. Just a little info we tasted this dessert in 2007 bridal fair at Megamall kaso that time di pa kami ready hehehe)

Overall experience, we had a great dinner (as side from free cya).. All the prepared dishes are great..
The best part mas ok na ung price ng per head namin at saka may free dessert buffet and we can set-up a bar :)

Can't wait for our next food tasting and occular inspection with them..

April 29 was indeed a very fruitful day for our wedding preps.. It was tiring yet fun..

Batuting turned 1

Its been a year since Rudy (formally) proposed.. It happend May 12 of last year inside the Bus 240 from Jurong Point..


As far as I can rememeber, its magical hehehe... It's an unexplainable feeling and you cannot react immediately hehehe basta your just HAPPY and SMILING..

for the rest of the story click this link ----> http://www.mywedding.com/rudylovesescie/custom3.html

Taken that night...
Since, its Batuting's birthday (yah, we named it batuting hehehe)... Rudy gave me some flowers last night.. Oh diba ang sweet.. Thanks chamuymoy!!!

Boooooooks..

Pocket series books accompany me as I travel from our flat to my office at Kembangan..
Taking the SMRT train for a 45minutes ride is really boring.. And I need to take it everyday. So, to make myself occupied for 45 minutes I always have a book with me...


The Confessions of A Shopaholic

I got this book when Rudy and I went to Malaysia for Ayana’s baptismal. Since we always bring something back I decided to check some books in Kinokuniya in KL..
Kinokuniya Bookstore is also the same as National bookstore but the major difference is you can read any book for the whole day (as long as the store is still open) and no one minds you.

Since, we are rushing (as always hehehe).. Rudy bought me the confession.. He told me that I’ll be needing that.. hehehe..

His friends are still strolling around the KLCC Mall.. I went to Starbucks to buy some hot caramel macchiato.. and start reading my book…

MACCHIATO + BOOK = This is LIFE!!!!

Well, the book isn’t bad enough.. Actually, I enjoyed every page of it.. There are moments that I can really relate to Rebecca.. But I’m not an impulsive buyer (ok, sometimes.. specially if there’s a sale hehehe)..

Aside from this book, I also got some Sophie Kinsella’s series like… Shopaholic takes Manhattan, Shopaholic takes Abroad (these books were bought by my hubby to be as a peace offering) and my recent book - The Undomesticated Goddess.. The Shopaholic and Sister & The Shopaholic and Baby are both sold-out here in Singapore..

Last March 29, 2009 we got the chance to watch the movie in GV Jurong Point Mall in Boon Lay. I missed this movie twice. In KL and in Manila..

To check all the latest from Sophie Kinsella, here's her link: http://www.randomhouse.com/bantamdell/kinsella/

TO BE CONTINUE.... (to follow, the TWILIGHT SERIES... still on-going)

Bridal gown details..

As early as last year I was scouting for my perfect dress. I don’t want to splurge too much on it. Sabi ko I’ll be wearing it once.. Yah, once in your life..
I shared this with my fellow w@wies. I posted it last March 24, 2009… And I got lots of comments and responses from them. I was thrilled, happy and at last contented..

Here it goes…

Hi W@wies,

Its now my time to share my wedding gown since kayo din ang kinukulit ko para dito.. I never dreamt of being a Veluz nor a Cecilo bride.. Why?! I cannot afford it/them.. (O sige kaya naman kaso lang being practical feeling ko masyado nang sobra na isusuot ko lang cya ng isang araw)..I posts several times for bridal gown inquiries.. everytime na may nagshare ng gown designs nila naeenvy talaga ko :( kasi we started (serious) planning last August of 2008 from then on lagi na ko nagscout ng designer kaso laging ang mahal ng quote. Even yung kaibigan ni Rudy nung High school mahal din ako quote sa amin..

Don’t get me wrong ladies (and bros).. I remember nagopen pa ng forum/group chat sina Sis Nieva, Sis Julie para lang convince ako na kunin si Tita Cecil kaso namamahalan talaga ko hehehe.. Eh teka bakit si Veluz?! Eh magkapresyo lang kaya (wait ito na ung story hehehe)..Si Sis Zigrid decided na maging Veluz bride so I helped her na kulitin si Ms. V, since libre naman overseas call ditto sa opis at madalas idle naman ako, ako na nagprisinta na kulitin si Ms. V.. Sabi ko magpapasketch na din ako para may remembrance na nadesignan ako ng isang sikat hehehe..Madalas ko na kinukulit si Ms. V para sa sketches ni Zigrid saka ung sa akin (ang panget naman na ung kay Zigrid lang ikulit ko diba hahaha)..

So nung nakuha ko na ung sketch napawow talaga ko.. Send ko kaagad kay Rudy and nagustuhan nya :) Shempre after nun kinulit ko na sa presyo.. At ayun correct nga nalaglag ako sa upuan ko hahaha.. habang kausap ko si Ms. Veluz sabi ko na di ko kakayanin so nagthank you na ko.. saka natulungan ko na si sis Zigrid kasi go na go cya..

Ung quotation pinadala k okay Rudy, expected ko na sasabihin nya “Hun di pasok sa budget, hanap tayo ng iba”.. kaso iba ung tanong nya?! Gusto mo ung gown?! So medyo naiiyak na ko na sabi ko hindi kasi mahal.. Sabi nya usap kami sa bahay..So ito na, nasa bahay na kami.. He asked me kung gusto ko?! Sabi ko kung di iisipin ung presyo oo kasi maganda un..

Then inamin ni Rudy na ung gown na ginawa ni Ms. Veluz eh ung gown na napanaginipan nya na suot-suot ko.. So nagulat ako.. Tapos pinaalala nya sa akin ung pictures from RW na dating-dati pa na gusto nyang style ng gown ko kasi deadma ako at gusto ko nga spaghetti..Ung balak kong designs di talaga sinunod ni Ms. V kasi nga nakakatanda although maganda naman talaga.. Nung gabi na yun sinabi nya na kahit magkano ung presyo un ang isusuot ko..

Last March 21, 2009 at 11:00 am nameet na namin si Ms. Veluz (nandun cya sa party kaso ewan ko ba nashy talaga ko).. She’s very nice and accommodating.. And how can we forget the tequila story na nagpaiyak sa akin.. She’s very natural and I’m glad na di supplier nakuha naming kundi kaibigan.. hehehe..

Ito po ung link sa gown ko (medyo Malabo po ha) –http://www.mywedding.com/rudylovesescie/photo_182307_12909196.html

Maraming salamat sa pagbasa pasencya na po at napahaba :)Thank you po sa mga co-w@wies ko Sis Em (Seph), Sis Cielo, Sis Leslee, Sis Irene, Sis Ginapie, Sis Agie, Sis Charm, Sis Angela, Sis Julie, Sis Zigrid, Sis Janice, Sis Sheila, Sis Lorna, Sis Rissa, Sis Janine, Sis Krisel, Sis Kendz, (kung may nakalimutan po ako sorry sorry sorry...) Salamat po sa pagtyaga na kulitin ko kayo Note: medyo on-going po ang pagupdate ko sa wedsite.. please bear with me :)Thanks po.. God bless

Escie bossing ni Rudy
17th October 2009

Barasoain Church/The Cabanas

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My Gown inspiration...

Back details.. almost the same with Claudine Barretto's wedding dress by Randy Ortiz

I requested Ms. Veluz to get only the lower part. I asked her that I wanted a spaghetti strap. But she said "its nakakatanda, dahil mukha akong Grade 4... Neneng.. Nene..
"So what more can I say?! I just leave it to her.. BTW, she's the expert..

=====================================================================================

Here are the details of my wedding gown based from Ms. Veluz Reyes...

Long gown in Japanese Organdy, Shantung and Gina Lining. Tulle bodice with lace and beadwork drapings.Sculpted back detail with fabric flowers, shredded lace and organic beading. Skirt drapes at the center back revealing an all over lace panel. Beadwork of cut beads, pearls, flat sequins and Swarovskis accentuating the lace. Extended chapel length train.

Flowers.. Bouquet..

As I remember I got so sad/upset regarding this matter. I inquired to April and Karen Yu and they told me that they already have a commitment for an out-of-town event. It’s a relative wedding. :(

I even post this issue to w@w.. For others they might think I’m so mababaw (uy conio) but I really wanted to have beautiful flowers during my wedding. I’m willing to splurge on it.
Thankfully my co-w@wies gave me assurance and comforted me during this process (hahaha ang drama noh.. well try to plan a wedding and you will understand where I’m coming from)

What do I wanted for a bridal bouquet?! Something unique. I don’t want roses and tulips. I’m not fond of it. When I check Cheska Garcia’s wedding pictures I got so intrigued with her bridal bouquet. It was very unique. All blue. But I don’t have any idea what kind of flowers are they. I tried to contact and inquire to Tropical blooms (based from the website, tropical blooms was Cheska’s event stylist) but I didn’t get a response. Since I’m targeting to finish and finalize my suppliers this month end I don’t want to wait any longer.

Then, I remembered Sunday Cabagay of KaBLOOMs. I inquired last year and honestly he was our first choice. But since April&Karen got positive track record in the forum I decided to get them but they are not available.

We are scheduled to have a vacation in Philippines (It was unplanned vacation, Rudy&I just filed SL for this hehehe). We wanted to be part of W@W Ten-ten-te-10 party. We arrived last March 29, 2009. And proceed with our schedule. I met Sunday Cabagay at Starbucks Shangri-La with our mothers. He came on time (as in ako ung sumira sa usapan because natraffic kami at naligaw) ..

Well.. Well Well.. We are so impressed with the Japanese lanterns with crystals from Agie and Ejhaye’s wedding. And then he showed me lots of pictures from his previous wedding. So, that night Rudy and I decided to hire him as our wedding stylist for the church, entourage flowers and reception ceiling.
We got a great package and he worked out based from our budget. (o diba san ka pa)..

For my bridal bouquet, he will be using blue hyacinth, blue lisianthus and yellow freesias combinations. (na ngayon ko lang nakilala at narinig.. sampaguita at santan kasi popular sa amin hehehe)

How it all started...

I admit, I’m not a good blogger..I think I’m the worst blogger in the whole world.. Then why am I doing this?! I just want to document every single detail of our wedding preps, moments of being single and the pressure of being a bride to be.. To share it with my fellow w@wies, friends, our family and my future kids..

What do I want to share?!!! Hmmmm let me think…Aha! I want to share my frustrations (on planning our wedding, our lives), triumphs (in getting the supplier/s I love hahaha), happiness, how Rudy and I handle everything being away from Philippines.. I simply want to share the different side of Escie being Rudy’s fiancée..

Wow nice intro, isn’t it?!!

Ito na ung totoong Escie (hahaha dumugo ilong ko dun)..

Planning a wedding overseas is sooooo damn stressful. You really don’t know when and where to start.. When and where did I start? Ah I remember, Rudy proposed to me last October 17, 2007 in Redemptorist Church, Baclaran.. I asked him if I can start immediately the wedding preps.. I was soooo very really (o sobra na talaga ha) excited and we both realized that it was sooo expensive to get married hahaha.. We attended several Wedding Expo and Bridal Fairs in Megamall. Sadly, We cannot afford any supplier that time.. Why?! We are both bread winners and family always comes first.

Luckily, Ate Janine Pascual-Ramos, a friend/officemate of mine from Smart Communications introduced me to the jungle of w@w.. The ever famous WeddingsAtWork.. She was planning her wedding without her husband by her side… since Kuya Wilson is a seaman.. But when she gave me a brief overview about W@W, I was excited particularly how they budgeted everything for more than 200 guests.. And they got the one of the bests (if not the best) in the wedding industry (e.g. Redefine Weddings & An Event to Remember).. Because of her I decided immediately to get them eventhough I haven't met them personally :)

I joined W@W last November of 2007.. What can I say I did progress a lot.. from being a lurker to semi-lurker, then I started asking questions, answering questions, commenting, giving hopes to fellow w@wies and viola I’m now a super duper active member.. I gained friends and I don’t feel all alone in this dilemma hehehe.. And to prove it I got W@W TAGs…

We continue our wedding preparations here in Singapore. To tell you frankly we started serious scouting for suppliers last August 2008. And the very first supplier that we booked was Redefine weddings by Jayson and Jo Anne Arquiza. We met them here at Eunos, Singapore. After I felt the rapport between Rudy and Kuya Jayson&Ate Jo Anne, I decided immediately to book them. Then the rest was history.. Before the end of this month (March 2009), After 7 months of searching I was able to finally complete our POWER HOUSE TEAM...

I'm so proud also that 5 out 10 suppliers from our Power House Team were nominated in the prestigious 2008 SOTY Award. They are K by Cunanan Catering, Redefine Weddings by Jayson & Jo Anne Arquiza, Atty. Raymond P. Fortun, An Event to Remember by Clarice Avinante & Party Pics Live by Nadia Deocadiz. Atty. Raymond Fortun and Redefine Weddings made it to TOP 5.. My congratulations to Mr. Cecilio Abad for winning.. He really deserve it. I want to thank all of my co-w@wies for sharing their comments, rants, appreciation, experiences and everything. I don’t have any idea before but now lots and lots of ideas are flowing from the posts that helped us a lot to finish this task. Who said planning overseas is very hard?! For me its easy like 1, 2, 3 hehehe, not really.. Everything went easy because I have my co-w@wies.. My co-smartees (also w@wies).. My sister, Sha-sha..

I will be forever thankful to each w@wies, especially to Mr. John and Benz Rana for creating this wonderful group.. I will not meet all of our suppliers without this group. Congratulation also for the W@W Ten-Ten-Te-10!!!