Jewel’s Christening and Suppliers Rating

JEWEL’S CHRISTENING / June 3, 2007 /Theme : Flower Garden / Motiff : Pink and Yellow 

Photos at : http://community.webshots.com/user/bonsky_jen

CEREMONY: Our Lady of Hope Parish -Bagong Pag-asa, QC (at the back of The Block – SM North EDSA) / Rate : 10+

This is our parish in QC so I decided na dito na magpabinyag. Buti pwedeng special ceremony and kakilala pa ang priest kaya I booked the church as early as March pa. For 1,500, kasama na dun ang priest, candles (which I didn’t use kasi nagpagawa pa ako), baptismal certificate na naka-frame and 3 na sacristan and with background music pa. Hindi ko inexpect pero nung picture taking na with the ninongs and ninangs, natuwa ako ng narinig ko yung music (mga praise songs). Yung basin na ginagamit sa binyag is made of gold and may gulong sya kaya ang ceremony sa harap mismo ng altar.

BAPTISMAL CANDLES : Rowena Rubis 0916-7389285 / rbrubis@yahoo.com Rate : 10++

Weng is a good friend of mine and she’s been my candle supplier since binyag ng panganay ko nung 2004 pa. The concept was mine, 2 tone yung color pink and yellow with matching butterfly and ribbons. And ang bango bango ng ginamit niyang scent ngayon. And the best of all it’s free! Hehe!

CLOTHES / OUTFIT : SM North / Baclaran

I bought lang sa SM ng baptismal clothes, it costs less than 300 pesos lang ata and yung dress niya sa reception which I bought in Baclaran costs 150 pesos. Wais na misis! Hindi mukang mumurahin, may nag comment nga na ang ganda daw ng damit ni Jewel, sabi ni hubby “Wag kang maingay sa Baclaran lang yan! Hehehe” The stockings used were from my Tita who lives in Seattle.

MAKE UP : Mary Kay Beauty Consultant / Rating : 10+ Free kasi

2 days before the event, pikit mata akong bumili ng Mary Kay products na nag-alok sa amin sa office. I purchased the Diamond Peel Set, and 1 foundation. Kaya ayun parang nag-demo sya sa’min, libre make-up na! Hehe!

RECEPTION VENUE : The Fishing Village – Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife / Rate : 10+

I could have given it a 10+++, but since medyo mainit ng lunch time and parang di humangin ng panahon na yon kaya 10+ nalang. Ang ganda ng venue, tahimik, malaki ang space and the best of all its super cheap. The rental of  the entire venue is only 1,200 plus 500 for the electricity. Maganda na talaga ang venue kaya kahit unting decors lang ayos na sya talaga! You just have to pray for a good weather. Huwag lang talagang uulanin and pag tanghali naman mainit talaga. So I suggest to bring electric fan per cottage pwede na. When my friends found out na ang venue sa wildlife, dala nila ang buong family. Kasi after the event pumasyal muna sila sa park and the zoo as well.

CATERER : Queensland Catering / www.queenslandcatering.com / Rate : 10

I was tempted to try sana Blue Petals since the same din ang rate nila. What made me stick to Queensland is yung access ko when it comes to downpayment etc. They have a satellite office kasi sa Glorietta kaya dun na ako nakikipagtransact. Madali din naming kausap si Ms Belen (AE nila). And sanay na ako sa kanila na hindi na ako magaalala kung late kasi lagi silang super aga sa lahat ng nagging functions ko. There were comments na hindi masyadong nag-seserve daw ang mga waiters, pero I consider also yung laki ng venue kaya I don’t think na it’s a big deal. Naubos agad ang fish fillet in mayo garlic dip which has been my favorite dish nila. And dahil sa init nga ng weather, yung ice tea na dapat for 1 to 2 rounds lang , madaling naubos kaya nung medyo paubos na, binulungan ako ng head waiter na magpabili nalang ng additional softdrinks kasi ba naman yung mga guests ko minimum of 4 to 5 glasses of ice tea ata…hahaha!

CAKE : Quintbelles – Elaine Shih (n@w) / 0906-2303420 / www.quintbelles.multiply.com / Rating : 10+

When I saw Jody’s suppliers rating for Bianca and Margaux’s party, I inquired agad about their cakes. I ordered 100 pcs of mini cupcakes and 1 layer fondant cake. Their price is very reasonable and the chocolate cake masarap talaga kasi super moist sya. I wasn’t able to taste the cupcakes kasi naubos agad ng mga bata since ang dami kong guests na mga kids. Hindi ako mahilig sa fondant cake kasi feeling ko ang tigas, pero this time nag-enjoy ako sa fondant cake,hindi naman pala matigas. Hehehe!Tapos malapit lang sa ‘min sa QC yung house nila kaya hindi hassle ang pag pick up kasi I decided na pick up nalang yung cake kasi malapit lang naman sa house.

CHOCOLATE FOUNTAIN :  Yanple – Apple Cabel (n@w) 0918-3371032 / Rating : 10+++

Well, what can I say? Naka-super-super discount ako sa Chocolate Fountain ni Apple. I got it for only 2,500 kasi bigla syang nag-promo and ako ang first texter kaya ako ang winner! Yipeee! Actually it’s the Halo-halo Bar sana ang una kong kinuha ‘coz I was thinking na baka magstay ang mga guests wala na akong pang-merienda. But when Apple texted me if I wanted daw the choco fountain sabi ko yun nalang instead of  the halo-halo bar. We’re on a limited budget kaya it’s the halo-halo bar or choco fountain lang, kahit gusto ko sana both. Hehehe! Naku ang bilis naubos, Yung mga bata dumiretso sa choco fountain and dun na sila nagkumpulan. Nauna nga silang nag-dessert tuloy bago kumain ng kanin. Thanks Apple!

SOUVENIRS / GIVE-AWAYS : / “Flower Choco Pops” by Choclit Talk (Rico Del Rosario) / 0910-9106243 / www.redwebph.com/choclittalk / Rate : 10++

I really wanted something edible this time for give-aways. When a friend introduced me about this “Talking Pop!”, biglang gumana na agad ang creative side ng utak ko na I wanted a colored flowered shape chocolates. Since it’s customized, I thought na mahal pero he gave me a special rate for this, kayang kaya din naman pala for budgetarians. (Yipeee! Sarap ng madaming friends). It’s manually crafted kasi sya mismo ang gumagawa ng mold kaya lahat ng pwede mong maisip na designs pwede. Rico is also an artist kaya when it comes to the design wala talagang magiging problema. And the best of all, masarap sya talaga especially the white chocolates. My husband who’s a chocolate critic, nasarapan din kaya were so happy about this. I also ordered  personalized chocolate bar for the Ninongs and Ninangs. Yung ibang suppliers minimum of 100 pcs kaya kahit gusto kong umorder hindi kaya ng powers ng bulsa ko pero this time na-afford ko na din sya. Aside from the personalized label, naka engraved ang name ni Jewel sa loob ng bar and yung God’s Gift naman naka emboss. Compared with other label meron pa syang hard plastic kaya kahit ilagay sa ref hindi nabubura yung print nung label.

BALLOONS : Yanple – Apple Cabel (n@w) 0918-3371032  / Rating : 10++

Bihirang balloon suppliers ang tumatanggap ng below 5k na budget. But when Apple agreed with my budget, tuwang tuwa talaga ako. With my limited budget napa wow! ang  mga bisita ko and when they asked me magkano namurahan sila nung sinabi ko yung amount. Ang dami kasing balloons decors and ganda ng arrangements, for sure ang daming dinagdag ni Apple. The color combination was superb! Check out the photos nalang for you to see! John Aguas nga was joking nung kinuha na nung guest yung centerpiece eh table hopping palang hindi pa napipicturan “Lagot tayo kay Apple nyan!” hahaha!

PHOTOGRAPHER : John Aguas 0920-9537827 / www.johnaguas.com / Rate : 10+

It was Carla Foster (n@wie) talaga ang binook ko for this event, but na-preggy ang ating sister so I do understand naman. My second option is Ging Lorenzo, however she’s still on honeymoon nung event so  hindi rin pwede. Third option John Aguas. I just texted him and nagpabook agad ako. Mabilis magreply sa text kaya nakakatuwa naman ng ganon. I read some comments from our archive about John na hindi masyadong kumukuha ng details etc. So what I did I emailed him my photo requirements and also assigned a friend who’s into advertising to brief him sa church palang. And everything goes well. Nasatisfy naman ako and ang gaganda ng mga photos especially sa reception ang ganda ng lighting. My guests were amazed on how he took the photos kaya ang daming nag-tatanong sakin about his services.

VIDEOGRAPHER :  Joe's Portrait / Rate : 9

Hiring one was the least of our priority because I thought my Sony Video Cam was enough to cover the event. But when I notice na madilim sa church, I decided to hire one na para may dalang lightings. It was a neighborhood videographer and satisfied naman ako sa output niya non when I hired him to cover Janelle’s 1^st bday party. Service lang ang kinuha ko since one of Ninongs works as Non-Linear Editor of QTV kaya sa kanya ko nalang papagawa. Ayos naman kaya lang nagpadagdag pa sya ng 100 pesos for the tape daw nung mismong event na and hindi nag-rereply sa text hindi ata marunong magtext. Hehehe! It could have been better if ibang videographer pero I only have 2,500 na budget for this.

TARPAULIN / INVITES LAY-OUT / BINGO CARDS- DIY / TARPAULIN PRINTER : – Blue Fish Digital c/o Third Tanada 0916-7336961 / Rate : 10

All the lay-outs including invitation, tarpaulin, gift tags ako nalang gumawa. I wanted sana Adworks pero hindi kaya ng powers ko so Do-it-urself nalang muna. On Tarp Printing naman, matagal ko ng supplier ang Bluefish, ang rate ko is 19 pesos per sqft. pero pag masmarami pwede pang bumaba. Ang maganda dito pick up and deliver pa sa office kahit minsan 3×2 ft lang ang pinapagawa ko. Hehehe!

PRIZES / GAMES : – Box - E&R Handicrafts, Pakil, Laguna / Rate - 10 / Bracelets – Thea 0917-8243284 / Rate - 10

For the prizes for the Bingo Game, I bought lang 5 bead bracelets from an officemate. I told her lang the color scheme na gusto and viola gawa agad. And syempre sa sweldo pa ang bayad. And for the packaging I bought boxes from our hometown in Pakil which is famous for handicrafts.