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Catering Food Recipes: Top Catering Dishes

One of the highlights of every event is the food catering services. Who doesn’t love food, right? In each event, we usually sit back and enjoy the food being served. Have you ever wondered how these delicious and mouthwatering food are being made or prepared?

So for us to have a little knowledge about these matters, here is an article for you about the top catering food choices and how to cook them:

Lumpiang Sariwa or Fresh Spring Roll

catering-lumpiang-sariwaWe usually eat fried spring rolls at home or buy them in fast food chain. Though there are restaurants and stores that also offer fresh spring roll, more commonly known as lumpiang sariwa, we often enjoy them at catering events.  The recipe below is for five serving.

Ingredients:

For the filling:

  •    2 cups of cubed sweet potato
  •    2 tablespoon of fish sauce
  •    1 pound of shredded cabbage
  •    1 ½ cup of julienned carrots
  •    ½ cup of water
  •    ½ cup of crushed peanuts
  •    6 pieces of lettuce leaves
  •    ½ pound of thinly sliced pork
  •    1 pack of extra firm tofu, sliced into strips
  •    1 cup of shelled and deveined shrimp
  •    2 cups of chopped Baguio beans
  •    1 medium sized onion, chopped
  •    ½ cup of chopped cilantro
  •    3 tablespoon of minced garlic
  •    1 pork cube

For the wrapper:

  •    1 cup of all purpose flour
  •    2 pieces of fresh raw eggs
  •    2 tablespoon of cooking oil
  •    ½ teaspoon of salt
  •    1 ½ cup of milk

For the sauce:

  •    1 tablespoon of soy sauce
  •    ½ cup of brown sugar
  •    2 cups of water
  •    ½ pork cube
  •    1 tablespoon of minced garlic
  •    2 tablespoon of corn starch, diluted in 4 tablespoons of water

How to cook Lumpiang Sariwa:

Filling

  1.    Heat the pan and pour in the cooking oil. Sauté the garlic and onions.
  2.    Add in the pork and let it turn to light brown. For an additional taste of pork, put in the pork cub and ½ cup of water. Let it simmer for a few minutes until the pork is tender.
  3.    Afterward, put the shrimp and sweet potatoes. Make sure the sweet potatoes are soft before adding the tofu.
  4.    Next is to add the cilantro, carrots, Baguio beans and other ingredients. Let it simmer for a few minutes and put in the cabbage. After five minutes, mix the filling with the fish sauce.

Wrapper

  1.    In a mixing bowl, crack the eggs and add the milk while beating it.
  2.    Add the salt and all-purpose flour. Mix it well with vegetable oil.
  3.    The wrapper is best cooked in a non-stick pan. Turn the stove on to medium heat only. Evenly put oil or butter to make sure that the wrapper mixture won’t stick to the pan. Put about half a cup of the mixture and tilt the pan to make sure that the mixture is generously spread. Cook it for about two minutes or when the top part is dry.
  4.    Repeat step three until all the mixture is made into wraps. Put it on a flat plate and set aside.

Sauce

  1.    In a hot pan, pour the water and let it boil. Put the brown sugar and pork cubes for the flavor.
  2.    Mix it well with salt and soy sauce.
  3.    Add the diluted cornstarch in the pan. Cook until the sauce is thick.

Overall

  1.    Place the wrapper on a plate and add a lettuce leaf in the top middle section of the wrapper. Make sure that a part of the lettuce is visible. Put ample enough of filling on top of the lettuce leaf.
  2.    Secure the wrapper by folding the bottom first. Fold or roll the other sides.
  3.    You may pour the sauce over the lumpiang sariwa with crushed peanuts and minced garlic on top. You can also let the people put the sauce and crushed peanuts and minced garlic.
  4.    Serve and enjoy!

Lumpiang Sariwa or fresh spring rolls are often treated as appetizers. Enjoy the freshness of vegetables and thickness of its sauce. Others eat fresh spring rolls together with rice as a main dish. In short, you can consume Lumpiang Sariwa in any way that you want.

 

Sipo Egg

catering-sipo-eggSome are still confused if this is an appetizer or main dish, but whatever it is, it fills our tummy real good. Sipo Egg is said to be a Kapampangan dish. Others add shrimp and pork to this dish. The recipe presented can accommodate four servings.

Ingredients:

 

  •    12 pieces of quail eggs
  •    1 tablespoon of butter
  •    1 peeled and chopped small onion
  •    2 cloves of garlic, peeled and minced
  •    1 tablespoon of fish sauce
  •    2 large carrots, peeled and cut into cubes (about ½ inch)
  •    1 large singkamas or jicama, peeled and cut into cubes (about ½ inch)
  •    ½ cup of water or chicken stock
  •    1 cup of sweet peas, thawed
  •    1 cup of table cream or all-purpose cream
  •    Salt
  •    Pepper

 

How to cook Sipo Egg:

 

  1.    Begin with boiling the quail eggs. In a saucepan, add water and let it reach its boiling point. Reduce the heat after putting the quail eggs. Let it simmer for a couple of minutes, around three minutes. Remove the eggs off the pan and peel off the shell. Set aside.
  2.    In a cooking pan, heat the butter over medium heat. Let the butter melt and add in the onions and garlic. If adding chicken or shrimp, you may put it in now. Pour in the fish sauce and let it cook for two minutes.
  3.    Stir it gently with carrots and singkamas. Pour the water or chicken stock. Let the vegetables be tender. You may leave it for ten minutes.
  4.    Add the green peas and quail eggs. After a few moments or peas are well heated, put in the all-purpose cream.
  5.    For better taste, add a pinch or right amount of salt and pepper. Let it be for three to five minutes until sauce is quite thick.
  6.    Serve and enjoy!

 

If you are health conscious yet has a big appetite, you will love Sipo Egg. At first, I was not aware that it was a Kapampangan dish. But it doesn’t come as a surprise since we know that Pampanga homes to a number of scrumptious food.

 

Spaghetti alla Carbonara

catering-carbonaraDon’t get me wrong – Filipinos also love to eat the usual red sauce spaghetti. But if you are observant in every catering, they usually serve spaghetti alla carbonara or carbonara in short. Delicious as the other pasta, the recipe below serves around four to six.

Ingredients:

 

  •    1 pound of dry spaghetti
  •    2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
  •    4 ounces of pancetta or slab bacon, can be cubed or sliced into small strips
  •    4 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
  •    2 pieces of large fresh eggs
  •    1 cup of freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano or Parmesan cheese
  •    Ground black pepper
  •    Fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped

 

How to cook Spaghetti alla Carbonara:

 

  1.    Start with the pasta. Heat the pan with ample amount of water with a little mix of salt. Let it boil and add the pasta. It will take a few minutes before it is finely cooked so you can start with the sauce.
  2.    On the other hand, mix the eggs and Parmesan cheese together
  3.    For the sauce, heat the olive oil over medium flame. Sauté the pancetta or the bacon. Cook it until it is crispy and the fat has surfaced. Add the finely chopped garlic afterward.
  4.    Add the hot and drained spaghetti to the pan. Toss it well for two minutes to make sure that the bacon fat has coated the noodles.
  5.    Remove the pan from the stove and add in the egg and cheese mix. Whisk it quickly until the eggs thicken. You can thin out the sauce by adding some of the drained water of the pasta.
  6.    Add freshly ground pepper and salt for flavor. Garnish it with chopped parsley. You can put more cheese if desired.
  7.    Serve and enjoy!

 

Spaghetti alla Carbonara, or most commonly known as Carbonara, is one of the tons of variants of pasta dishes. As mentioned above, Filipinos also love red-sauced pasta but this white-sauced pasta, Carbonara, has a special spot in catering services. To make it clear, the fresh raw eggs are just being added and not cooked. It brings different taste and thickness to the pasta. I bet we can agree to that.

 

Hungry? Don’t wait for the next food catering near you! Check your stock or head out to the nearest grocery store and start cooking these foods like a pro. You don’t need a lot of things to buy as you can substitute some ingredients or look into your refrigerator for some stock.

 

If you are bored or looking for something new, why not create your own delicious dish? Try to experiment as well. Be innovative in the kitchen and put your taste buds and cooking skills into a test.

 

Don’t forget to share your blessings with other people, as food is yummier when made with love and shared with your loved ones. Enjoy!

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Catering Food Recipes: Beef

As we have agreed that almost all of us, if others will still deny it, love food, we have decided to make a blog series about some of the famous dishes in Filipino catering menu packages. Not so much of a hack or so you wouldn’t avail of the services of catering services provider but to help you out with your cravings. There are instances where our favorite dish is from a particular catering company or group. They may not be able to give it to you in small orders as remember they offer services in bulk. Thus, here we go with these simple food recipes.

For this article, we are going to share to you Filipinos’ favorite in every food catering services – beef. Just imagine how tender and tasty the meat is, the sauce of the dish or the sides of it. Yum! I guess it would be fun to know how to cook these catering favorites aside from engulfing them.

 

Beef Rendang

catering-beef-rendangAre you looking for something tasty with a hint of spice? Say no more! We have beef rendang. This dish is very famous and perhaps originated from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore. The Pinoy style of cooking Beef Rendang in the Philippines may be quite far from the original. Why? Let us see:

You need to have:
  • 1 ½ pound of beef (boneless short ribs and cut into cubes)
  • 5 tablespoons of cooking oil
  • 1 piece of cinnamon stick of around 2 inches
  • 3 cloves of garlic
  • 3 pieces of star anise
  • 3 pieces of cardamom pods
  • 1 piece or right amount of lemongrass (cut into 4-inch length and pounded)
  • 1 cup of thick coconut milk
  • 1 cup of water
  • 2 teaspoons of tamarind pulp (immersed in warm water for the juice and discard the seeds)
  • 6 pieces of kaffir lime leaves (finely sliced)
  • 6 tablespoons of kerisik (toasted coconut)
  • 1 tablespoon or right amount of regular sugar or palm sugar
  • Salt to taste
For the spice:
  • 5 pieces of shallots
  • 1 inch of galangal
  • 3 pieces of lemongrass (white part only)
  • 5 cloves of garlic
  • 1 inch of ginger
  • 10 to 12 pieces dried chilies (immersed in warm water and seeded)
Cooking time:
  1. Chop or slice the ingredients for the spice. Better to blend it in a food processor to get a fine texture.
  2. On a hot stew pot, heat the oil and add the spice paste, cinnamon, garlic cloves, star anise, and cardamom afterward. Stir fry the ingredients and let it produce its aroma.
  3. After making sure that the previous mix is right already, you may add the beef and pounded lemongrass. Mix for a minute or two.
  4. On medium heat, pour in the coconut milk, tamarind juice, and water. Stir the mix and let it simmer until the meat is good.
  5. For additional flavors, add the kaffir lime leaves, kerisik, and sugar.
  6. Put the stove on low heat and cover the lid. Let the food be cooked or let it simmer for an hour or an hour and thirty minutes. Check it from time to time to make sure that the meat is tender and the sauce or gravy has dried up.
  7. You may add sugar, salt and chili to taste.
  8. Serve and enjoy!

How did you find the authentic Beef Rendang recipe? Does it still taste good like what you are used to? Feel free to comment in the result of your cooking.

Beef Caldereta

catering-beef-calderetaA classic and favorite in Filipino catering menu packages is the Beef Caldereta or Kaldereta. You would often see its gravy glistening and served hot. Caldereta or Kaldereta is usually cooked with beef and goat meat. Either of the two, it sure tastes amazing.

You need to have:
  • 2 pound of cubed beef meat
  • 3 cloves of garlic, crushed and chopped
  • 1 piece of finely chopped onion
  • 2 cups of beef broth
  • 1 piece of small red bell pepper (sliced)
  • 1 piece of small green bell pepper (sliced)
  • 1 cup of tomato sauce
  • ½ cup of liver spread or liver paste
  • 1 teaspoon of crushed chili or red pepper
  • 3 pieces of large bay leaves
  • 2 cups of sliced potatoes
  • 2 cups of sliced carrots
  • ¼ cup of cooking oil
  • ⅔ cup of green olives
  • Salt and pepper to taste
Cooking time:
  1. In a hot pot or pressure cooker, put the cooking oil. Let it heat for a couple of minutes then sauté the onion and garlic.
  2. Put the beef next. Cook it for 5 minutes or until the color changes into brown.
  3. Mix it with bay leaves and pepper. Let it simmer and then add the liver spread. Stir it well.
  4. You may add the tomato sauce and beef broth as well. Cook the beef and make sure it is tender. Leave it for 30 minutes if you are using a pressure cooker and 1 to 2 hours if you are using a regular pan or pot.
  5. Add in the potato and carrots and let it be for around 10 minutes. Put the green olives and bell peppers after. Stir it well and let it simmer for 5 minutes.
  6.  Add salt and pepper if necessary to taste.
  7. Serve and enjoy!

You may have tasted Beef Kaldereta for many times already. But how is it different from the others?

Bistek Tagalog

catering-bistek-tagalogIf most nations have Beef Steak, Filipinos have Bistek. The Filipino version of the usual steak is very easy to prepare and cook, making it readily available. So if you missed this dish in your favorite catering service, simply head out to the market, buy the ingredients and cook Bistek Tagalog yourself.

You need to have:

  • 1 pound of thinly sliced beef sirloin
  • ¼ cup of soy sauce
  • 1 piece of lemon or 3 pieces of calamansi (or depends on the size
  • and need for sour taste)
  • ½ teaspoon of ground black pepper
  • 3 cloves of crushed garlic
  • 1 piece of sliced large onions
  • 3 tablespoon of cooking oil
  • Salt to taste
Cooking time:
  1. For at least an hour or two, marinate your beef in a toyomansi mix (soy sauce and calamansi or lemon). Make sure to add some ground black pepper to remove the stinky odor and taste or “lansa.”
  2. In a heated pan, put the oil and let it be for a couple of minutes. Then, stir fry the onion until it becomes soft. *
  3. Get your marinated beef (leave the marinade) and put it in the pan. Cook it for a couple of minutes until the color changes to brown. *
  4. Afterward, sauté the garlic with the beef. Add the marinade and let it boil.
  5. Add water as necessary. You may also put salt and pepper to taste.
  6. Serve and enjoy!

* You may set aside the onion and beef separately, and it after the garlic is cooked.

Creamy Beef with Mushrooms

catering-creamy-beef-with-mushroomAs an average Filipino, I don’t have the luxury to eat beef on a daily basis, particularly this dish – Creamy Beef with Mushrooms, Honestly, I often encounter this on catering services when being served for events and celebrations. Now that I may buy the ingredients and knowing that it is easy to cook, I can share this with my family and friends.

You need to have:
  • 2 tablespoons of plain flour
  • 1 kilogram of beef chuck steak (cut into pieces for around 5 cm each)
  • 200 grams of cup mushrooms and slice it quarterly
  • 250 milliliters or 1 cup of Massel beef stock
  • 125 milliliters or 1/2 cup of white wine
  • 70 grams or 1/4 cup of tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon of paprika
  • 250 milliliters or 1 cup of sour cream
  • 1 tablespoon of cornflour
  • 1/2 cup of chopped fresh parsley
  • Salt to season
Cooking time:
  1. In a slow cooker, place the flour. You may add the beef and toss it to coat.
  2. Afterward, mix in the mushroom, stock, wine, tomato paste, mustard, and paprika. Since you are using a slow cooker, cover and cook it on low for 8 hours or until the meat is good.
  3. In a small container or jug, combine the sour cream and cornflour. Make sure it is well blended before you add it to the beef. Stir it and let it simmer or cook for 30 minutes or until the gravy mixture is thick.
  4. Seeing that the sauce is thick enough and meat is cooked well, stir in the parsley. As necessary, add salt and pepper.
  5. You may serve the dish by putting it along or on top of mashed potatoes. Filipinos love rice so you may serve it separately and enjoy!

* Note that you may still cook Creamy Beef with Mushrooms in a regular pot or pan. Just be careful in cooking the beef and gravy. Make sure that cooked well and tender is the meat and tender, and the sauce is deliciously thick.

Try to share what you have learned in this blog by preparing one of these dishes to your relatives, colleagues, and friends. They say love and happiness are more fulfilling when shared. And so food is what we love and what gives us pleasure – share it with others!

Stay tuned for the following catering food recipes on this website. We hope to continue satisfying your taste buds. But remember, if you have any food catering needs, you know which provider to go.

Recipes from: www.rasamalaysia.com and www.panlasangpinoy.com
Photos belong to the rightful owners; no copyright infringement intended.

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On Events: Hosting Tips

events-hostingIn every celebration, we look forward to its venue, catering services, gimmicks and program flow. Indulge in the scrumptious food, fun events, and party all night long. Seeing the big picture, we’ll see that everything is all right. On the small details, we would know how hard and time consuming it is to do the events place to set up to make it gorgeous, the tedious tasks of every event coordinator and planner, as well making the program flow. One of the stars of any celebration, aside from the celebrant, is the host.

If you come to think of it, hosts are the ones who present the event and keep the energy of the crowd. The roles that the hosts play are very important. For the lack of better term, the event or celebration may be boring and draggy, but if the hosts know how to carry the program and keep the people interested, all will be well.

So the question is: how can one be a good or a better host?

We come up with this list to help you unleash your talent and potentials. Let us see if you have done at least one or two from this guide.

Read the program flow and script prior to the event

If you are hosting a big or at least a formal event, the program flow or a script will be given to you a few days before the big day. It is there for a couple of good reasons:

1. Check and practice the script.
2. Ask for the specifics if not detailed in the script or program flow.
3. Identify the parts of ad lib and verbatim reading.
4. Familiarize yourself with the event.

Don’t treat that paper as a piece of trash or additional work for you to do. You need not memorize it but familiarize yourself with it. Be comfortable with it as if you write it.

So what now if there’s no script or program flow given to you even a day before the event? It depends on you if you think you are ready and up for an impromptu hosting. It is fun! Nevertheless, don’t forget to get at least the big ideas of the event.

Research about the event or celebration

It is not enough that you know what you are going to say but you should know what are you going to talk about. In events, it is not sufficient that you have a right venue or excellent catering services – you got to have a host that knows the ins and outs of the program. Remember, as a host you are the one to present the event or celebration. How will you do your task if you don’t know it?

We will go back to the first point – read and research. Hosting is not just about talking but also knowing and presenting.

Get to know the celebrants or people behind the event

Usually, we start with hosting events of the people that we are aware. It is indeed personal since we know many things about the celebrant or the people behind the celebration. On the other hand, if you aim to make a career out of it, there will be a lot of times where you do not personally know anyone.

Getting to know the celebrant or the people behind the event does not mean you need to make a BFF bond in a snap of your fingers. It is necessary for you to make a real connection between them, so you’ll get an idea what kind of people they are.

Watch and observe other hosts

If you are a newbie, watching and following other hosts will be a good move to learn new skills and ways on handling an event. Check the words they use, their tone, posture, and gesture. What are the things most of the hosts do? What are the ones that they do not do but you? Examine and reflect.

Imagine yourself standing in front of the crowd

Surprisingly, other hosts have stage fright. Others go through it by imagining and projecting. Even if you don’t have a stage fright, it will be helpful if you will try to do the same thing. Imagine and project. What are the words and gestures you aim to exhibit? What are the unexpected happenings you should be able to respond (e.g., technical difficulties, delays in the program, dead air, etc.)?

It may be a little bit awkward at the start especially if you will try practicing in front of the mirror. But through this way, you’ll get to see how your facial reactions, posture, and gesture.

Exhibit a good vibe type of confidence

If you are a keen observer and been to some events and celebrations already, you will see that not all hosts have the same level of confidence. Others are happy and positively affecting you, while some are irritatingly confident. Your goal is to have a good and positive effect on the crowd and event itself. Remember, you are supposed to bring smiles on peoples face, not frowns.

One thing you should do to observe this point is just to be natural. That is why it is important for you to know what you are doing so you can accurately project yourself. You don’t need to do a lot of gimmicks to make your hosting fun – you just simply do your craft.

Get the vibes of the crowd

Additional reminder so you would know if you are already overdoing things is by getting the vibes of the crowd. You may not know them personally (but better if you do!) but you can get the type of energy they exhibit. Are they responsive or passive? Do you feel, not just think, they understand and feel you? You don’t need to research further. What you need is to activate your hidden “radars.”

If you feel that they are having fun with what you are doing, you may continue doing so but make sure to balance it. For example, you like goofing around and making jokes. The audience likes it and reacts positively. But cracking jokes every single time won’t excite the people anymore. You need to strike a balance.

Be spontaneous but composed

One way to make your hosting gig fun and natural are to be spontaneous. Spontaneous but not to the point you are messing around and lost. You are still composed and still delivering you job well. You may kid around, have fun, interact with guests and visitors, surprise and excite them but keep in mind what you are going to do next.

Dead air in hosting seems to be inevitable, but it is something all of us can work on. No amount of mirror rehearsals can make you prepared for unexpected things but experience. Yes, practice helps, but it is still different when you are already on the spot. There maybe some times you tell yourself that things did not go as planned. It is okay! Remember, spontaneity is good.

Relax and feel the moment

What I do before going out on the stage to host or perform is step on the platform or stage and “feel the stage.” It is like a melody in my head – feel the stage. Personally, it is something about feeling and enjoying the moment. There are that soothing and relaxing vibes on the stage, as what I tell to myself and it is true “Feel the stage” for me is more on saying “here comes your second home.” I need not fear but to relax; it is my home.

There are different ways on how people calm themselves. Others hold their microphones in distinct ways, while some hold their tummies not just to look on point (not the awkward holding the stomach) but to calm themselves. You also need to know what makes you relax on stage and make you feel the moment better.

Present the event in a personal yet professional level

Having to introduce the event in a personal yet professional level is not work to be done only during the event itself but as well as in the preparation. That is why research and a few talks with the organizers and celebrant help a lot.

Being a host also means you have the knowledge when it is the good and right time to joke, to be serious, dramatic, and whatnot. You can charge it to experience as well as preparation. It will go back to get the vibes of the crowd as well.

Have fun

Nothing more, nothing less – have fun! You can’t ask or expect the people to enjoy the party if you, as the host, are not having a good time. Whatever energy or mantra you are into will surely reflect on your hosting.

 

At the end of the event, it’d be good to get honest comments and suggestions. It is for you to affirm yourself that you did a great job and you can still improve. Remember to take those professionally. Reflect upon it and see what the things you can do about it are.

There you have it! So if you have anything else about events venue, catering, or probably about celebrations, you know which page to follow.

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13 Challenges Every Event Planners Face

catering-services-planningWe know that planning events like Casa Manila Patio wedding and Blue Gardens debut is not a piece of cake. It requires hard work, commitment, and passion. Not to mention endless challenges and problems you have to go face throughout the process. Other people decide to plan on their own while others opt to hire an event planner.

 

For sure, at least for once, you have been an event coordinator or planner – for a small party, grand celebration, catering services coordinator or whatnot. To lighten things up, we listed down some of the most common challenges every event coordinator and planner face.

 

Passive clients

 

As a coordinator and a planner, you want nothing but the success of the event and satisfaction of your customers. It would be achievable if you and your valued customers will work together as a team. You need their thoughts, feelings, and expectations – be it about the decorations, catering services, program flow, guests, et cetera.

 

That is why in the industry of event planning, it is very hard to work with passive individuals. You want to help that but it seems that they don’t want to but they actually need you. They are hard to understand and communicate with. There are instances where you want to suggest and initiate but some take it as an offense.

 

Aggressive clients

 

If we have the passive, we also have the aggressive type of customers. Just to clarify, aggressive is different from being assertive. The latter is having the confidence yet being firm in what you want and be able to articulate your thoughts in a manner that is strong but not offensive. The former is more on just being offensive and pushy. They know what they want but that’s it. Aggressive people can be offensive and pushy to the point that they are disrespectful already.

 

Same as of the passive type, aggressive individuals are also hard to work with. Just imagine if there are also some passive aggressive people in your team.

 

Indecisive clients

 

In event planning, you have to be precise and exact with what you want and visualize – in decorations, catering services, programs, et cetera. As previously mentioned, you have to work with your customers, as it is not just a one-person preparation thing. What more can be irritating with people that are very, very, very indecisive?

When you are just about to forward invitations, partnerships or proposals to different groups and companies, your indecisive clients changed their mind or told you they are not yet sure. But you also need to hurry up because the event is just a few weeks to go.

 

Too many requests

 

Being an event coordinator and planner means you are able to cater and address their needs and wants. But what if they are so demanding? They want this, they want that; it should be like this, it should be like that. If it won’t happen, you are a total failure and a waste of time for them.

 

We understand that they only want the best for their celebrations but there are times where you just can’t stand their requests.

 

Little budget

 

In most industry, it is very hard to function with having a little amount of money. Seriously, how could you achieve your grand celebration if you are not willing to spend a little higher than the usual? Event planners and coordinators can do magic most of the time. They know how to make things happen with the given budget. Get cheap yet high-quality service providers. But then again, if the money is really needed, they just can’t use their magic wand and poof! There is money.

 

It is quite self-explanatory why having a very small budget in events is very challenging. That is why event planners and coordinators are expected to be creative and resourceful, as well as assertive in telling their customers that they need to shell out more funds.

 

Guests not confirming or replying

 

We are not simply talking about the visitors in a debut or wedding reception. We are talking about the guests that you deeply need in an event. Maybe the level of if they won’t come, it is better to cancel the event. It freaks you out that you reached out to them through every possible way but they are not confirming or replying to your invitation.

 

Now, let us talk about what are the things that seem hard to stand during the event day:

 

Lates and delays

 

“Ma’am, mahuhuli po kami ng dating.”

 

“Sir, on the way na kaso natraffic kaya mga one hour pa siguro bago makarating diyan.”

 

These are samples of the messages and calls you don’t want to read or hear. Those lines are like songs you don’t want to hear, ever! This triggers other event planner and coordinators especially if these messages are from the services provider that you need as soon as possible. So just a tip, always hire providers particularly catering services that are proven to have excellent delivery and high customer satisfaction.

 

Surprisingly lost materials

 

You don’t know if there is just a warp hole in the venue or the people in the event eats up your things. When you need to fix something quickly, you can’t find your tape, glue, stapler, and other stuff. Seriously, what with the event day?

 

That is why event planners and coordinators need to be very careful with everything; not only for the occasion but with their things, too. It is always better to carry extra materials.

 

Terrible weather

 

When everything is all set and prepared, there is one thing you can’t put your hands on – the weather. Though events will likely push through even if it is pouring cats and dogs, the visitors or guests might not go. That is a total heartbreak not only for you but for the celebrants and hosts of the event.

 

As much as this type of happening is already not in your control, you need to think of solutions and suggestions. You need to be quick in finding ways not to put your efforts in compromise or worse, in waste. Rescheduling an event is definitely last in your list.

 

People that are hard to manage

 

In the line of event planning, you are not only dealing with your customers and event itself, but also with their guests and visitors. Annoyingly, there are some that are very hard to manage. They are very makulit and inconsiderate. There are times that you want to shout, “I didn’t sign up for this!” But of course, you won’t because you know you need to address this issue.

 

Technical problems

 

Having technical difficulties or issues on the program proper is like a song to your ears already. But again, you don’t want to hear them playing again. This type of problem is not new to you that is why it is still cringing you to death because you know you should have known better.

 

Of course, event coordinators and planners are different from the staff who needs to work with technical stuff but you need to be in charge over everything. You need to make sure all is well – you’re on the right track, not too delayed, catering services on point, program flow is okay, people are happy and satisfied. Letting them wait for a long time just to watch a video is definitely something that won’t make them happy.

 

Last minute cancellation

 

The eleventh-hour cancellation of guests and service providers are total givers of a headache. You need nothing but to act on it quickly and efficiently. Sometimes, event coordinators and planners are like superheroes. But what if your client suddenly called off the event and you know that they are giving lame excuses? Unknowingly, tears roll down your face and all of your efforts come flashing in your head.

 

There are forgivable cancellations particularly if they have valid reasons. You will know if they are telling you the truth and even them don’t want to cancel the event but they need to. Their hearts are breaking more than yours.

 

Stress and burnout

 

Even if you are glad about how the event is going on so far and is a complete success, you know that you are still stressed. Your body and head are screaming for rest and comfort but you need to work, work, work. That is why balancing things (rest included) is a must. Event coordinators and planners are humans too and surely need some time out.

 

What comforts event coordinators and planners are the satisfaction of their customers and guests. They feel the happiness as much as of the celebrants. But of course, they are still tired.

 

 

catering-services-planning-2Relate much? Why not share to us other things you find most challenging in being an event coordinator and planner by reaching us through our official channels. For sure, we have a long time to discuss this matter.

 

On the other hand, if you are not a coordinator or a planner and hires one, never forget to thank and express your gratitude to them for making your dream wedding, debut and other momentous celebrations come to reality.

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Challenges Each Couple Encountered

happy couple bikingDon’t you feel nostalgic every time you look at your better half? Before you even plan on which church should you choose, wedding catering packages you will avail, or the songs you will be playing during your ceremony, it was just you and your partner dreaming and starting to get to know each other. But of course, we know that your relationship isn’t just about the wedding!

I bet we can agree that any relationship as life in general, is not a bed of roses. Despite the purest love and affection we feel towards our beloved people, there will come the point where we will be hurt and hurt others. And your partner is never an exception.

So before you continue reminiscing about all your expenses and planning you made for your wedding (especially the fantastic wedding catering packages!), let’s have a small chit chat about the challenges every couple face:

Too shy to open up

Belonging to the awkward stage of most, if not all relationships are that you or maybe the both of you are too shy to open up. You just don’t know why! Even if you are best of friends before your romantic relationship, so you probably know everything, there are times where you just don’t know how to open up. Weird, isn’t it? It could be that other couples don’t want to ruin their “perfect” (as if there is) relationship that if your partner knows this particular information about you, he or she will probably be turned off. Hmmm.

Too blunt, too open

On the other hand, there are times that you just talk or share way too much. I am not quite sure if we can tag it as too much, but maybe it is when even you think that those are irrelevant information already. This point can also be about being too tactless with your words and actions. Being comfortable with your partner is great, but we all know what our limits are, right?

Different tastes and interests

Having different tastes and interests is not a problem but a challenge, and that is fine. We love challenges! Imagine you are very outgoing and outspoken while your partner is more of the shy type. You like parties, and he or she prefers intimate gatherings. There maybe some times where you are dying to influence your beloved to like what you like, and vice versa. But hey, it’s fun to know other things than what you are used to and be exposed to different things. This leads us to our next point:

Compromises

Given that not every time the universe will conspire to give everything you wished for, you need to adjust and compromise. There are small things that you can easily compromise, and so there are big matters as well. Simple things can be about what food to eat, where to go for your next vacation, what movie to watch, and so on. What about deciding where to reside for the rest of your lives and planning on how many kids should you have?

Messed up schedules

Fresh couples or not, for sure messed up plans are not new to you. You can’t figure out how and when to have a decent date with your better half if your work is more demanding than him or her. It could be that you made prior commitments to other people or groups, families or relatives, et cetera. No pressure, you’ve been here a couple of times already so it’s either you will make time, compromise or reschedule.

Promises and plans made to and with each other

More than being a challenge, receiving and making plans and promises are frustrating especially when they are not fulfilled. Probably all of us hate the feeling of disappointment and failed expectations. As much as you want to make plans and give the best promises to your partner, you know how much it hurts and how great it is as a setback. Sometimes, these things become an issue of trust and responsibility.

Health and well-being

Your physical, mental, emotional and holistic wellness is very much important for any individual and couples. It is indeed challenging if health is the concern that you are facing. At the end of the day, it will be both a personal work and couple duty to monitor each health and wellness.

Long distance relationship

Be it just for a couple of days, weeks, or number of years, having and maintaining a long distance relationship is not an easy task. Long distance relationship or LDR is commonly acknowledged as the couples residing apart in different countries. LDR is not just the “international” type but can also be local. An example would be you living in Metro Manila while your partner is in Cebu. “Local LDR” is somewhat easier since you are in the same country – you kind of know what’s happening and it’s more convenient to travel if pursued.

“International LDR” is harder precisely because of greater distance and time difference. There are only a few countries which we share the same time zone so imagine the adjustment and compromise these couples in LDR would have to do to. Any LDR is hard, but we all know that every hardship is worth it.

Other dudes and gals

I guess we don’t need too much explanation in this part. We can agree how irritating, frustrating and be challenging the others are in our relationship with our better half. For sure you have heard the excuse or explanation that “he/ she is just a friend” or “what we talked about is nothing personal.” Yes, yes, yes. As much as you want to believe your partner, there is a voice telling you to keep an eye on that other person.

This is one of the most frequent reasons of misunderstandings in couples. Your partner probably understands and feels that you are just jealous or protective, but you also need to know if you are overreacting already. No matter how much you brag the “I trust you, but not that person” line, it won’t save your argument and your relationship all the time.

Poor Communication

One of the big things we all have been through is having poor communication. It can be literally about the connection or media the two of you use in connecting with each other. Moreover, it can also be the quality of your talks and discussions. It is indeed true that quality is over quantity.

Pressure to get married

This is common to those who have been in a relationship for a couple of years already. You often encounter your friends and relatives asking you when are you going to tie the knot. Yes, you are hopeful as ever to be married to the love of your life. However people bugging you all the time is not fun, it may come to the point where you will be irritated and even be pressured.

Sometimes you just laugh their queries off, but you know that at the back of your mind, there is a slight pressure about getting married and starting a family. Never mind, right? Your time will come!

Financial problems

Money matters – as simple as that. Others will hold on to their belief that “love will keep us alive.” While it is true that your passionate and pure love for each other will motivate, inspire and empower you to continue with your life, you still need money to pay your bills, buy food and supplies. Even if you are not living together yet, you may have issues with the budget for your dates, vacations, and whatnot.

Wedding preparations

We know that things are not going to be easy when you finally decided to tie the knot. Stress will be your best friend or your neighbor gave that you and your partner have different interests, limited budget, and considering other factors as well. More than that, there is that the wedding dilemma stage that they call it. For the time you have been with your fiancé you thought and felt that everything is well and right. But when the wedding day is just around the corner, other couples kind of feel that they are not ready yet or his or her partner is not the one.

Have you gone through this stage? How were you able to get through it? Do you think that it is just a temporary or fleeting emotion or is it valid? Nevertheless, I bet we can agree that preparing for the big day is not a walk in the park. It could be but in the Jurassic Park.

 

sunset picture of coupleIt is either you laughed out loud or rolled your eyes will reading this article while remembering everything you or your partner committed! Did we get you saying, “Oo, ganiyan siya!” or “Kami ‘yan noon”? Alas! For sure there a lot of things that flashed back in your memories.

So before you get mad again over small things you or your partner did, you might want to look back on how wonderful your wedding is, venue, catering, people – everything. Then also take a few moments to remember that you have gone so far with your partner, growing and learning through all the challenges you faced together.

Cheers to more challenges together!

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Filipino Movies With Fantastic Venues

Some films speak to us in a personal and deeper level that no one could ever explain. Maybe it touches our core because of its plot, characters, and even because of its venue. This may be an unpopular opinion, but the locations used in movies play a significant role on how it affects it, viewers. Choosing the right and perfect set locations are as important as you are deciding where to hold your events and celebrations.

We present you the following local movies with outstanding sets or locations that captivated our hearts. Try to remember and note the following venues. You might want to visit them soon!

 

 

Close To You (2006)

Bohol and Davao City

Close To You is a movie starring John Lloyd Cruz, Bea Alonzo and rising actor back then, Sam Milby. The character of Bea is in very good relationship with John Lloyd as a best friend. After a few years, Bea saw her good old friend played by Sam who is the lead vocalist of a promising band. Bea, wanting to reconnect with her old friend chose to follow wherever Sam’s group will hold a concert or gig.

Given such plot, the film featured a few places like Bohol and Davao City. This movie is a good watch, especially for the hopeless romantics and wanderlusts. Close To You shows that if you deeply want something, you should work hard and go for it! But the question is, is it really worth it? Are you sure you are not missing on other important things?

Crazy Beautiful You (2015)

Zambales City

crazy beautiful you venueThis movie lead by KathNiel tandem, Kathryn Bernardo, and Daniel Padilla is about teenagers trying to make their lives of their own. Kathryn plays the role of a rebel young lady. She had such attitude towards family and life in general because the way she has been treated by her mother, Lorna Tolentino. She feels that her mother is always far away and busy to answer the call of others but not of her own needs.

On the other hand, Daniel is a typical province guy who lives for his siblings. Unlike Kathryn’s family who is rich, Daniel’s is somewhat poor, but they find ways to meet their needs. Due to some twist of events, Daniel and Kathryn’s paths crossed, and they both realized what the things they can do better in life are.

Everyday I Love You (2015)

The Ruins, Talisay City

everyday i love you venueAnother romantic drama themed film is Everyday I Love You of Liza Soberano, Enrique Gil, and Gerald Anderson. The story goes around Liza who is in a relationship with Gerald. Unfortunately, Gerald was in a coma for a couple of weeks. Liza, trying to live her life as usual for her and boyfriend’s best, met Enrique. Enrique is a cheerful guy who surprisingly swept Liza off of her feet. Liza was then torn between the man of his dreams and the one that is yet to make all of her dreams come true.

Some, if not all, of the sets, are shot in Talisay City in Negros Occidental. You will be amazed at the beauty of The Ruins. Keep this on your list and let’s see if you can consider this spot as your wedding destination.

Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis (2016)

Sorsogon

hele sa hiwagang hapis venueRunning for 8 hours and 5 minutes is the internationally acclaimed historical fantasy film Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis. If you are a history buff and have a background of José Rizal’s El Filibusterismo, you will surely get the plot of this movie. The cast and crew of Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis made sure that the film will live up to our standard of amusement and wonder. The total number of minutes is longer than the usual 2 to 3 hours of movies, but Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis is an exception for a lot of reasons justifying why it is up to 8 hours and 5 minutes.

The film had Sorsogon as its primarily shooting location. Enjoy the interesting and exciting plot of the story as well as the beauty of Sorsogon, the place that this film emphasizes.

More information about Sorsogon: This province is located in the Bicol Region. Sorsogon celebrates Kasanggayahan Festival, Pili Festival, and Parau Festival.

Kita Kita (2017)

Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan

kita kita venueOne of the independent films to break records is Kita Kita starring by Empoy Marquez and Alessandra de Rossi. Alessandra plays the role of a woman who recently had incurred temporary blindness and Empoy, an average Joe who is trying his best to make all of his needs met. Both of these Filipino live in Sapporo. At first, Alessandra is hesitant to befriend Empoy, but after some time and efforts of Empoy, they became good friends.

We are all familiar how technologically advanced Japan is. This film features not only the apparent detail about Japan but also the beauty of its nature. Hokkaido is popular for its volcanoes, hot springs, and ski areas.

No Other Woman (2011)

Thunderbird Resort Poro Point, La Union

no other woman venueThe ever beautiful Anne Curtis and Cristine Reyes, along with the hunk Derek Ramsey, star in a breaking movie No Other Woman. Derek is happily married to Cristine Reyes and has a furniture business. He finally had a big break to tie up with the resort owned by the family of Anne Curtis. That is where the plot starts to thicken up. Anne fell for Derek even if she knows that he is already married. Is it a good watch? Just see it yourself!

The resort owned by the family of Anne in the film is no other than the Thunderbird Resort in San Fernando, La Union. Why go to other countries if you will be able to see the beauty of Santorini in Thunderbird.

Ouija (2007)

Camiguin

Most of the films posted in this article are rom-com or romantic-drama oriented films. For a different taste, we have Ouija, a horror movie. The movie is named as such because the story started when the group of Judy Ann Santos, Jolina Magdangal, Iza Calzado and Rhian Ramos used an Ouija board to communicate with the soul of their beloved who passed away. Unfortunately, the board was burnt even before they finish the ritual. After that unlucky accident, they found themselves in a constant struggle to survive.

You may feel terrified all throughout the film as the set of Ouija perfectly fits its ambiance. Camiguin is not the melting spot of horror stories of our country. Nevertheless, its incredible features will surely do not only romantic movies but also horror and suspense like Ouija.

That Thing Called Tadhana (2016)

Baguio City and Sagada

that thing called tadhana venueOne of the independent films to be the first to make noise in the limelight in the movie industry is That Thing Called Tadhana. Angelica Panganiban and JM de Guzman are the main cast of this funny and kilig movie full of hugot and feel. Angelica came from an overseas vacation to recover from a great heartbreak from her longtime boyfriend. She met JM in the airport and afterward traveled together in Baguio and Sagada. For a short time, they get to know each other’s pains and struggles in life, as well as the light part of their characters.

Baguio City is known as the summer capital of our country and also dubbed as the “City of Pines”. On the other hand, Sagada located in Mountain Province hosts the famous Kiltepan view. You can also see hanging coffins in Echo Valleys. Angelica and JM explored Baguio and Sagada for a few days while they are getting to know each other.

You’re My Boss

Batanes

you're my boss venueAre you currently into corporate jobs? Do you want to step forward the challenging ladder of the system? In this movie, You’re My Boss, Coco Martin immediately became the chief commercial officer of the company where he and Toni are working with. It happened when their real boss went on leave, and a big time Japanese company is looking forward to collaborating a project between their companies. When the Japanese head said that he wouldn’t be dealing with any OIC but to the president only, Toni, out of panic, stated that Coco is her boss.

As they are working in an airlines company and working for marketing materials, the team traveled to Batanes. This province is one of the greenest you will see in the country. The jaw-dropping cliffs and landscapes, colorful culture and festivities will surely make you want to visit the place. Batanes may be one of your top considerations on where should you hold your most awaited wedding.

 

Satisfied for picturesque places? Who knows, a venue used in one of the films mentioned would be your next place to go to hold a momentous event, right? Keep on exploring these beauties and wonder of our world.

If you have any suggestions anything about a gorgeous venue for different events and purposes, let us know through reaching us in the comment section or email. Let us help each other out in sharing different outstanding places one should not miss. For the meantime, why not have a movie marathon?

 

Photo credits to the rightful owners

 

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Basic Guide in Catering Services

catering services foodIn today’s age, there are a lot of groups and companies that offer catering services. With a few clicks in Facebook alone, you will see tons of pages and individuals promoting their brand. So what more if you are going to search in Google, right? Given such conditions, what should we look into these different catering companies before we get their products and services?

We came up with this easy to read and understand blog on what we should know before getting catering services. What are the things we should be looking for, right questions to ask, and much more.

 

Look at their official website or page

You are on the look for the best catering services in town, and you want reliable information as soon as possible. What will you search? Of course their official website or page. Sure, you can talk to their agents and other employees, but it is better if you can check their official website or page. Make sure that it is up to date and data are accurate.

Upon entering their site or official account on Facebook, Instagram or whatever social media account, check their products and services and pricings if ever posted. See if they have another medium of communication that you can avail of for easier transaction.

An excellent and well-maintained page leaves a great impression on one’s future customers. It shows that they can go with the flow of technological advancement and provides an excellent avenue where their leads and clients can know more about their company or group, products, and services.

Read up their company’s history

You may think that this is unnecessary but knowing one’s history is helpful in having a lens on how will you look into their offerings. It is not as if you are going to hire the one with the most heartfelt and amazing story since we still need to be objective. This bit of information will help you digest where they are coming from or in Filipino, “ano ang pinanghuhugutan nila.”

Another point about “history” is their records. What were the momentous events of their company? What could have they possibly gained or learned from those experiences?

This shift of discussion from the formalities of their products and services to their personal story is one way to establish a good rapport. Having a little chit chat about these things is not bad at all, just remember what your limits are. Top things you should ask them leads us to our next point:

Get to know the catering services’ goals and missions

More than the cliché of providing affordable and quality services always ask for more explanation and details about their goals or vision and missions. You might think that this is another gibberish piece of detail, but it is not. You should be keen in observing the way they answer and handle the conversation. You can ask to follow up questions like how were they able to realize those goals if they think they are going a good job so far, what are the areas they should improve on, and so on.

This may sound like you are interviewing them for a job. In reality, you are looking for a perfect group to sustain your needs, so it seems to be like that. Any good and prepared company knows how to handle these types of questions and pressure. They should be aware of what their group is all about aside from its nature of business. You got to know what makes them unique.

Search for their catering packages and menu

If you were able to check their official web page or accounts, most probably you have encountered their catering packages and menu. These may be on a separate page or just be simply explained through photos or texts. You may view their offerings but not their prices. In that case, reach out to the group and ask for their complete price list.

You may think of what’s the importance of asking the complete breakdown of prices if you could just ask for the packages pricings. It is simple: for you to make your computations. They will probably tell you that it is cheaper and better if you will get bulk of orders, et cetera. This might be true, but at least you get to know what you are paying for. Besides, who knows if you can mix and match and get better price, right?

Asking and computing prices and offers might eat some of your time but no worries as it is for the betterment of your plan. You can ask a trusted colleague to help you with this task. You just want to make the most out of your budget so do the hustle!

Read reviews and ratings about their products and services

Aside from getting first-hand facts from the company, where is the best source of details? You got it right! It is from their previous clients. If they have Facebook page, you could immediately see the reviews by stars with details of their past customers. Only a few web pages have their page for testimonials, and some are being filtered out.

See what are the recurring good points and praises for their products, services, and overall performance as a company. You should also consider what are their weak points and if it will possibly affect the project you are working with them. Moreover, be objective in reading this kind of information. Remember, not all reviews, ratings or testimonials are 100% genuine. Don’t solely base your judgment on the number of stars they get but with the details of their reviews. Some misguided rate groups with 1, which is the lowest in Facebook as their highest point.

If in tight budget, ask them what can they give you with such amount

The best way to know what you can do with your money is letting the group do their own computation. They know the ins and outs of their individual pricings, packages, promos, and whatnot. In this manner, you are showing them you trust them with their decisions and offers.

On the other hand, you should also be prepared with idea and computations too. It is important that you also demonstrate that you are knowledgeable and can’t be fooled. Know how to properly negotiate, take comments and suggestions, and learn how to compromise. Meet halfway, like what they usually say.

There are pros and cons in this move. The provider will know that you are on a tight budget and you really mean business here. However, they can also take it the other way like you have more than enough money so we can suggest more add on (which some might be unnecessary and pricey) and that is why you should ask for the complete price list.

You can also ask for price matching if the group offers such.

Check out their blogs

Not just for pure fun but reading some blogs or posts from the company itself might help you get some ideas on what can you do with your event. Most of the catering services providers publish such posts related to their nature of business. Take advantage of those and see if they will help you.

Additional tips for your catering services provider hunting are these points:

• Don’t be shy to ask the right and good questions: Like what they say, if you know you have a point, why not talk or ask? However, make sure that you are asking sound questions that are related to their products and services and in a polite manner. Remember that you are not plainly paying them, but you are asking for their quality goods and services. At least be nice to them.

• It’s better to discuss matters personally or at least through email: We understand that we want prompt responses perhaps explaining the reason why we opt to call providers. As it is very much fine, it is still better to talk to the group personally or at least via email. Aside from formality, you also need records or minutes of your discussion. Chat messages on Facebook or other social media apps will also do, but nothing beats the quality of personally meeting each other.

• Be realistic with your budget and expectations: Who doesn’t what to get the most out of one’s hard earned money, right? Most, if not all, will probably ask for discounts and promos. We can argue that there is nothing wrong with that as we are just inquiring which will lead us to our first point: ask the right questions. If you honestly think that your money is not sufficient enough to fund your requests, handle your expectations and know how to compromise. Besides, you can always ask your leads for comments and suggestions.

 

There you go! You think we missed some things? Let us know and share those in the comment section. Nevertheless, we hope that this short article helped you prepare for your search for a good catering services provider. Always remember to be keen to details to make sure that you are going to have a hassle free transaction.

Happy planning and partying!

 

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The Most Talked About Wedding Planners

people planning wedding

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As we all know, planning and preparing for a wedding is not a piece of cake. Some couples opt to have a wedding planner to help them in their most awaited event. Why not, right? If given the resources and option, you may just want to emotionally (and financially) prepare yourself with all the things happening all at the same time!

Filipinos may not seem to consider having wedding planners, as we always want to have everything personal. But is having a wedding planner ruin that idea? Of course not! One thing to gauge the greatness of such wedding planner is to make the couple feel that this is their wedding and that he, she or the group is just here to make things easier.

In case you missed it, there are a bunch of good wedding planners in our country. So if you seem to run out of wedding ideas and alike, you can ask help from these most talked about wedding planners:

 

Constantine Visperas

Contact details: (075) 540-6459 ; 0915-205-0699 ; 0921-231-6227

Website: www.facebook.com/constantine.visperas

If you are looking for someone who is on top of the event planning and management industry, you have met the guy – Constantine Visperas. Worry less about your events or celebrations and let him help you.

Constantine Visperas is a Philosophy graduate in the University of the Philippines and a registered nurse. Given such background, for sure he was able to perfect management with all the stress and hassle of his career and chosen industry.

 

Bespoke Manila

Contact details: 0917-521-5447 ; bespokemanila@gmail.com

Website: www.facebook.com/BespokeManila

The team of Bespoke Manila is headed by Ernest Pascual, one of the well-known persons in the industry of events planning and management. This group is based in Manila, so if you are thinking of having your celebration in town, you better contact them now.

Bespoke Manila can deliver the finest and most personalized plans for your celebrations and events, especially weddings.

 

Ronald Soncio

Contact details: 288-2688 ; 0917-705-3869; soncioronald@gmail.com

One of the go-to destination wedding venues is Boracay. We all know how busy this island can be – parties, celebrations, nightlife, and other events. Ronald Soncio is a Boracay-based wedding planner and coordinator. You can check the reviews and posts of his previous clients.

Go for Ronald Soncio especially if you are looking for having your wedding or other special celebrations in Boracay. He can give you a stress and hassle free wedding.

 

The 3rd Party

Contact details: 211-4061 ; events@the3rdparty.com

Website: www.the3rdparty.com

Have you ever dreamed of a romantic and intimate wedding ceremony and reception? Make your dreams come true and let The 3rd Party help you. This company is known for its romantic arrangements – be it in small and big details, they can make it simply magical and sweet.

The 3rd Party is an events planning company located in the Metro as well. Their office is in St. Francis Shangri-la Place Tower 2 in Mandaluyong City.

 

Christine Ong-Te Events

Contact details: 562-8851 ; christineongte@yahoo.com ; christineongte@gmail.com

Website: www.christineongte.com

If you are on the look for a group to help you with exquisite celebrations, you should communicate with the one and only Christine Ong-Te. The team offers complete service of event planning, management, and consultation. If you want to have a worry-free celebration, particularly your wedding, why not ask help from Christine Ong-Te?

The people in the team of Christine Ong-Te are well trained and experienced in this craft of events planning and management.

 

Planners Plus Events Company

Contact details: 586-3555 ; 216-4152 ; chris@plannersplus.net ; kenny@plannersplus.net

Website: www.plannersplus.net

Planners Plus Events Company has been in the industry for more than a decade. Expect nothing but the best experience with this company – planning, management, post-events, and whatnot. If you want to be satisfied and relaxed in your most awaited wedding, go for Planners Plus Events Company.

 

Carlo Yu-Aboquita

Contact details: 0906-241-2338 ; 0922-827-2876 ; unique.carloabaquita@gmail.com

Website: www.facebook.com/carlo.abaquita.9

A Cebu-based events coordinator and planner is Carlo Yu-Aboquita. He has been helping individuals and groups to materialize their ideas since 2008. Perhaps, the years of experience and professionalism is enough to say that Carlo Yu-Aboquita is worth it.

 

Supreme Weddings

Contact details: 412-0980 ; (038) 510-0225 ; info@supreme-weddings.com

Website: www.supreme-weddings.com

Another Cebu-based group of wedding coordinator and planner is Supreme Weddings. Their company has been delivering excellent services since June 2007. Headed by Mae Supremo-Li and Anthonyte Tare-Blasco, Supreme Weddings have organized over 200 weddings some of which was even featured in different magazines and companies.

 

Getting Married Wedding Coordinators & Event Planners

Contact details: 0917-594-9172 ; kutchie@gettingmarriedphils.com

Website: www.gettingmarriedphils.com

One of Philippine’s most sought-after company in the industry of wedding planning and management is Getting Married Wedding Coordinators and Event Planners. Lead and headed by the very passionate and hardworking Ma. Erlina “Kutchie” Zaldarriage, this group is the best fit for couples that don’t have the luxury of time preparing for their wedding.

The magic of Kutchie in organizing events has become well known that celebrities are reaching out to her company too.

 

Shirley Grace Ong

Contact details: (032) 266-4488

Shirley Grace Ong is a Cebu-based wedding coordinator. She is currently the Managing Director of Facedown Production Events as well as an Event Specialist of Wedding Prelude Event Planning Coordination. Given her expertise in the said field of activities, you will undoubtedly “keep calm and shine like a diamond,” her famous line, in your wedding.

 

Bride’s Best Friend Weddings & Events

Contact details: 0917-632-5539 ; weddings@bridesbestfriend.ph

Website: www.bridesbestfriend.ph

I bet most of us would like to have a wedding ceremony as if your best friend has organized and managed it. Say no more as we have Bride’s Best Friend Weddings and Events. They promise hassle-free and cost-efficient service to their customers.

This Cebu-based company will help you make your dream come true – to have a magical wedding day.

 

Thoffy Consulta

Website: www.facebook.com/thoffy

Another person to assist you with your most awaited day is Thoffy Consulta. Bold, brave and creative in his ideas, he wants to offer nothing but the best services. Thoffy Consulta has been even tagged as a wedding coordinator who knows no limits with regards to his unique ideas and plans.

 

Metro Eventscape Planners

Contact details: 0917-328-1893 ; chinkieagregado@yahoo.com

If you are looking for a detail-oriented events services company, this group headed by Chinky Uy-Agregado is the one for you. Metro Eventscape Planners give full-service events planning, management, and consultation. You don’t have to worry if you are running out of wedding ideas already as they will surely give you best advice to have your dream wedding come to reality.

 

Boracay Weddings and Events

Contact details: 0917-626-2632 ; (619) 489-0352 ; amandatirol@yahoo.com ; amandagtirol@gmail.com

Website: www.boracayweddings.com.ph

Boracay Weddings and Events made its presence to the competitive and exciting industry of event planning in 2003. This wonderful and amazing Amanda Guidotti-Tirol and Nicole Holander-Guidotti created the team. If you are looking forward to a whimsical big day, Boracay Weddings and Events is your go-to for a Boracay wedding.

This wedding coordination company gives services of outlining and coordination. You can ask for advice and tell them what you have envisioned to be a perfect wedding ceremony.

 

Rite Neri Event Planners

Contact details: 0920-920-9615 ; (632) 869-RNEP or 7637 ; info@ritanerieventplanners.com

Website: www.ritanerieventplanners.com

Rita Neri Event Planners or commonly known as RNEP is a group of amazing, creative and experienced individuals in the field of event planning and management. This group has been in the industry for more than two decades already. Skills and experience of RNEP will surely satisfy your craving for a fairy-like and sophisticated wedding.

You can go to their office in The Ritz Towers in Makati City. Get to know them better and look for the reviews of their previous clients.

 

Teena Baretto

Contact details: 0917-884-0007

Need not to say flowery words about this highly sought after wedding coordinator. Teena Baretto is the person behind the magical and beautiful wedding of Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera. Her past clients include a couple of celebrities and high-profile individuals.

What makes the DongYan wedding very memorable to many is the sincerity and purity of the celebration. More than the grandeur and fame of the couple, you can see how well thought the wedding ceremony is. From the entrance down to the reception, all details of the DongYan wedding will amaze you.

 

Feel free to reach out to them and be honest with all the ideas that you have in mind. These wedding planners can certainly not do all the magic without your help. Again, if you want to own your wedding and make it yours, you got to do your part as well.

If you are still thinking about hiring a wedding planner, take your time and do not rush. You don’t need to force yourself to trust them if you feel like not to. But to ease your doubts and tension, you can further check their products and reviews.

Deep breathing! Inhale, exhale and do it again. You will get through the stress and adventure of planning and prepare for your wedding.

 

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Marriage and Celebration: Churches in Manila

The month of June, as known in the Philippine tradition as the wedding month, came and went like a breeze of the wind on a rainy day, but that is not a reason for soon-to-be-wedded couples and planners alike to stop finding the perfect church to celebrate the love and exchange of vows. In order to help people to find their perfect venue for their special day, here are some of the best and most sought-after wedding churches in Manila.

 

San Agustin Church

Iglesia de la Inmaculada Concepción de María de San Agustín

Order of St. Augustin

Intramuros, Manila

Did you know that this beautiful church is not the original establishment? The first one was built in 1571 using bamboo and nipa. Unfortunately, it was burnt down in December 1574. After which, the second establishment was then again destroyed by flames in February 1583. Given its harrowing experiences, the Augustinians decided to build the church using stones. The construction started in 1586 and declared finished on January 19, 1607.

San Agustin Church is declared National Historical Landmark by the government and is also a World Heritage Site stated by UNESCO.

 

Manila CathedralManila Cathedral

Catedral Basílica Metropolitana de Manila

Dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary as Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception

Plaza de Roma, Intramuros, Manila

Manila Cathedral was built in 1581, having the title of one of the oldest churches in the country. It has gone through several renovations and reconstructions for many reasons. Now, this neo-Romanesque cathedral flaunts beautiful mosaics, stained0glass windows, and marble and metal wares.

Some of the famous couples to tie the knot in Manila Cathedral are Sharon Cuneta and Gabby Concepcion, Dodot Jaworski and Mikee Cojuangco, Nyoy Volante and Mikkie Bradshaw, and Roselle Nava and Allen Tan.

 

San Sebastian Church

Basílica Menor de San Sebastián

Order of the Augustinian Recollects

Plaza del Carmen, Quiapo, Manila

The construction of San Sebastian Church was done in 1891. It fashions the revival of Gothic architecture in the country. Having said that, San Sebastian Church is the only all-steel church in the Philippines and only prefabricated steel church in the world. Given its uniqueness and beauty, the Philippine government hailed San Sebastian Church as a National Historical Landmark in 1973.

Additional fun fact about this church is that fire and earthquakes have destroyed it for a couple of times (1651, 1859, 1863, 1880). The then parish priest Esteban Martinez hoped to have a church that can resist said calamities and destructions.

 

Binondo ChurchBinondo Church (Minor Basilica of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz)

Parroquia Basílica de San Lorenzo Ruiz y Nuestra Señora del Santísimo Rosario

Founded by Dominican Priests

Binondo, Manila

You might be wondering why the Minor Basilica of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz or Binondo Church seems to be not your usual Catholic Church. Apparently, it is located in Chinatown or the District of Binondo, Manila. It was said that St. Lorenzo Ruiz, offspring of a Chinese father and Filipino mother, used to train in this church. He is the first saint from the Philippines as Pope John Paul II canonized him in 1987.

Since it is in the heart of Chinatown, you will hear the mass celebrated in Filipino, Mandarin, Hokkien and English languages.

 

Malate ChurchMalate Church (Our Lady of Remedies Parish)

Dedicated to Nuestra Señora de los Remedios

Malate, Manila

Standing near Manila Bay and Plaza Rajah Sulayman is the Malate Church. Nuestra Señora de los Remedios is the patroness of childbirth. Given such, you will see the revered statue of Virgin Mary as Our Lady of remedies. It came from Spain dated back in 1624.

Though we see it now as beautiful and charming as ever, like other old churches in the country, it has survived numerous damages. During the British occupation in 1762, the church has been their headquarters, standing many damages to its structure. A typhoon in 1868 also inflicted serious harm in Malate Church. Aside from that, it was burned down during the Japanese occupation. Nevertheless, after all the hardships it has been through, Malate Church stood tall.

 

UST ChurchSantísimo Rosario Parish (UST Chapel)

Founded by Dominican Priests

Sampaloc, Manila

Msgr. Michael O’ Doherty, D.D. of Archdiocese of Manila has issued a decree ordering the building of the Santísimo Rosario Parish or most commonly known as the UST Chapel. The said chapel was established on March 21, 1942. This school chapel is not the typical one given its old history and outstanding architecture.

As stated in their vision, Santísimo Rosario Parish is rooted in Christ and devoted to Mary, as instilled with the spirit of St. Dominic.

 

 

 

St. Pancratius Chapel ManilaSt. Pancratius Chapel

Managed by Vincentian fathers

Paco, Manila

Nestled in Manila City’s Paco Park is St. Pancratius Chapel, also known as Paco Chapel. This round chapel is perfect for intimate weddings and other church celebrations as it can only host up to 150 guests. Paco Chapel is the only one to be found in a park. Aside from memorable weddings, you can also hold photo shoots in this church and nearby area as you appreciate its historic ambiance.

To mention a few celebrities who got married in Paco Chapel are Jay Contreras and Sarah Abad, and Kelly Misa and Carlos Fernandez.

 

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Shrine exteriorOur Lady of Mt. Carmel Shrine

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

New Manila, Quezon City, Metro Manila

The parish was established on February 17, 1975, with the titular Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. The feast day that it celebrates is every 16th of July. Many people admire the architectural design and peaceful ambiance of this church. It is perfect for meditation and intimate celebrations such as weddings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Santo Domingo ChurchSanto Domingo Church (National Shrine of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of La Naval de Manila)

Santuario Nacional de Nuestra Señora del Santísimo Rosario de La Naval de Manila

Dominican Order

Quezon City, Manila

This beautiful church of Santo Domingo is the largest one in Metro Manila and one of the biggest churches in Asia. Before it has become this grand, there were several erected churches prior to such. A small church was built with light materials on August 6, 1587. Unfortunately, an earthquake destroyed it. The Dominicans then thought of having a bigger church with stronger materials. Thus, resulting to its second church out of stones and inaugurated on April 9, 1592. There have been more buildings as disasters and calamities continue to challenge the big church.

The current building of Santo Domingo Church is the sixth church already in its new location. Mar Roxas and Korina Sanchez decided to get married in Santo Domingo Church.

 

Ermita ChurchErmita Church (Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guidance)

La Ermita de Nuestra Señora de Guía

Ermita, Manila

What makes Ermita Church special is it hosts the Marian image of Our Lady of Guidance or Nuestra Señora de Guia. It is said that this Marian image is the oldest one in the country. Ermita Church had its humble beginnings as it was made of bamboo, nipa and molave wood to house the image of Our Lady of Guidance. Spanish soldiers found the image during the reign of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi in 1571. The simple shrine became a chapel in 1606 and then called La Ermita.

 

 

San Miguel Church

San Miguel Church (Regal Parish and National Shrine of Saint Michael and the Archangels)

Founded by the Jesuits

San Miguel, Manila

San Miguel Church is also known as Malacañang Church as it is very near to the Malacañang Palace. This Catholic church is dedicated to the seven archangels namely Saint Michael, Saint Gabriel, Saint Raphael, Saint Uriel, Saint Selatiel, Saint Jhudiel and Saint Barachiel.

San Miguel Church started as a stone church in 1603, initiated by the Jesuits in Paco, Manila. Unfortunately, the 1645 Luzon earthquake has heavily damaged it. In 1913, San Miguel Church has been reconstructed. In terms of its aesthetics, it flaunts a European Baroque architecture and symmetrical bell towers.

Additional information about this notable church is that on May 1, 1954, former and late president Ferdinand E. Marcos and Imelda Romualdez were married at San Miguel Church.

 

Our Lady of the Abandoned MarikinaOur Lady of the Abandoned

Dambana ng Ina ng Mga Walang Mag-ampon

Marikina City, Metro Manila

In the small city of Marikina, you will find this gorgeous church famously known as “OLA.” In 1902, there was a news that an image of Virgin Mary appeared. You can find the image in OLA Parish Church.  Pope Benedict XVI has venerated the image miraculous in 2005. It has gone through several reconstructions, but the traditional architecture and segmental arches are still the same. You will appreciate its beauty more when the chandeliers are on lighting the whole church with soft yellow.

 

 

 

The wedding season may have been behind us now, but that doesn’t mean that weddings can only be done at specific times of the year. It only needs time for preparation, reservation of venues (since some of these churches tend to be packed with weddings, baptisms, and all sorts of celebrations all throughout the year), proper budgeting, and discerning that the person you are going to marry is the person that you see yourself with through all the blessings and pains that life may bring.

We hope that the listed above churches in Manila for wedding would be a great help for you. Happy hunting!

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Wedding Ideas: The Proposal

You know, it all starts with the proposal.

If you are thinking about your dream wedding ceremony, the songs and guests to accompany you in this most awaited day, it got to be with your perfect pair. The preparations and planning start when your partner finally said, “Yes” to your proposal. Some may be more excited and ready for the wedding proper, but you also got to think about with the proposal!

This write up is part of the wedding ideas for an apparent reason. No need to complicate things and let us start reading through and getting some inspirations in these wedding proposal ideas:

 

Putting the ring on the drink

You have probably seen this wedding proposal gimmick a couple or hundred of times in movies already. This is where the couple is enjoying their usual restaurant drinks or maybe chilling and drinking at home. I don’t know where this started or if this is 100% successful – successful in a sense that the receiver of the proposal doesn’t get to engulf the ring.

Pros: Very classic. Cliché but you will still probably get the heart of your beloved.

Cons: Just be careful, or your partner may not notice the ring on the drink. Swear.

Suggestion: If you are aiming for a surprise, don’t have the drink on a transparent glass. This is serious if you want your partner to notice the ring when he or she just took a sip on his or her drink. This might sound funny but who knows, this might work. No worries since if your partner doesn’t have any idea that you are already proposing, you can have your drink on a transparent glass. Seeing a ring on a drink is already a surprise. Hooray!

 

Or have it in the food (i.e. cupcake!)

Another one of the top classics! Can we know where putting the ring on food or drink started? Anyway, this may seem to be an easy task on the first look. But if you are going to look at it carefully, this takes hard work and careful planning.

Why? Let’s see.

If you love watching movies and encounter this type of proposal, you usually see the ring on a cake or simply a cupcake. It’s actually hard to do! Baking is not easy. Second, you need to consider the composition of the ring if it’s fine to be stuffed in a cake and be baked. If not on the cake, who will put the ring on rice or adobo (or any viand)?

Pros: It’s quite hard to think about it, but yes, it is astonishing.

Cons: Your partner may not notice the ring, as usual. Also, the ring might get deformed or broken, depending on its material. Chewing a ring is not good for your teeth. It hurts so badly.

Suggestion: Of course, do not bake the cake or cupcake with the ring. Please, don’t risk your hard-earned ring, the symbol of your love and commitment. Gently place it on top, so it will easily be seen but not too obvious. If you are pushing through with it with a cupcake, you can put the ring on the bottom part. Again, be careful with this plan especially if you know your partner will probably eat food in one big bite.

 

Proposal by the beach, sunrise or sunset (or anything that is picturesque)

If you are trying to do something that is serene, a proposal by the beach or anywhere that is breathtaking is your go-to. If the gimmicks mentioned above are usually seen in movies, this one is on social media. This is where the couple went on hiking or a simple beach getaway. Erwan Heussaff, entrepreneur, and model, proposed to Anne Curtis, artist, host and model when they were exploring the woods in the US.

How sweet and perfect can this be? Your beloved complemented with the beauty of nature. Heart melting, indeed!

Pros: Perfect background plus the perfect person in your life.

Cons: Be careful with your materials in your proposal. The ring or whatever you will be giving your partner might get lost along the way.

Suggestion: Nothing much. Just go on with your little speech or directly ask the question. Don’t let the sunrise or sunset moment pass by.

 

Tying the shoelace

“Teka, tali ko lang sapatos ko” (Wait, I just need to tie my shoelace) and then your partner kneels down. Suprise!

 

But please don’t get paranoid whenever your partner kneels down to tie his or her shoelace or get something on the floor. But yes, this is another sweet and straightforward gesture of proposing. You may think this is just another typical day until your partner pops out the question. No need for further explanation as this style is very much easy to understand.

Pros: Easy to do, no hassle and cost efficient.

Cons: If your acting skills are not on point or you probably get too nervous easily, you may want to think of other ways to calm yourself down first. Don’t get too excited and relax.

Suggestions: Make it simple by acting natural. Release the artist in you! Don’t let your plan be exposed. This gimmick can be done wherever but I suggest you do this in a place that is unique and memorable to the both of you.

 

Inviting the fambam

Reading through some posts on Facebook made me wonder that couples value the presence of their relatives in their relationship especially in something as memorable as a proposal. Even before getting the limelight in social media, it is not new to hear that an individual is proposing in front of their loved ones. This can be done on their usual dinner date or occasion with the family or a simple surprise in one’s home or room.

Pros: It is letting you and your partner’s loved ones involved in this momentous event.

Cons: Realistically speaking, not all proposals are successful. Imagine the pressure on your partner if you will put him or her on this spot where everybody’s eyes are on him or her. And that everybody is your family and relatives!

Suggestion: Get the pulse of your partner regarding this idea. Others want privacy in their relationship and of course, you would not want to announce your wedding plan prematurely.

 

Grand speech on public

This gimmick can be combined with the others – tying the shoelace and then when your partner pulls out the ring, he or she starts with the grand speech. This will probably leave the person receiving the proposal in shock, tears, desperation or frustration.

 

Pros: You are declaring your love to your partner to the whole world. Some think that this is sweet.

Cons: Going against my point in pros, this is another pressure test to your partner. You don’t need too many people to know that you are getting married with the love of your life. Again, not all proposals will get the sweet yes. This experience can also wreck your heart and future, and I am not kidding.

Suggestion: Are you ready for this? Think again.

 

Flash mob style

Flash mob type of proposal is usually done by the unexpected simultaneous or well-coordinated dance of the crowd. Flash mobs are often used in different campaigns and advertisements of companies, organizations, and advocacies. This gimmick is probably the most winning proposal to everyone, but this requires a lot of effort and time.

Pros: Enjoyable to watch and to be part of! This will hopefully amaze your partner.

Cons: You need other people to make this a success. Contacting with your friends or colleagues might be easy, but you need to consider if you have enough time to prepare for this grand wedding proposal.

Suggestion: If you are quite running out of time to rehearse, make your dance steps or moves simple yet catchy. Don’t forget that timing is everything.

 

Getting you through a prank

Can you imagine your partner irritating you at first then suddenly proposing to you? This will leave you puzzled and confused if your partner is already serious and enough with the prank.

Pros: Entertaining and witty!

Cons: This proposal gimmick can be irritating and very confusing. You need to be extra smart with your plan.

Suggestion: You know your partner well. If you think he or she is fond of this or cool with pranks, this might be your ideal wedding proposal.

 

 

 

 

Proposal and instant wedding

I remember sleeping late because of watching people proposing to their beloved and suddenly they are into a wedding! Carmina Villaroel and Zoren Legaspi is just one of the couples who managed to get through with this instant wedding after a successful proposal.

Pros: Are we talking about sweetness and surprise? Dear, this one got ‘em.

Cons: Your partner is not ready for all the things suddenly happening.

Suggestions: Coordinate well with the persons you think that should be present in your wedding. Most probably, you and your partner had talked this out. You also need to be prepared with whatever the result of your proposal.

 

Do you know how to make your wedding proposal the ideal one? Simple. Just be honest and put your heart out. Of course, the gimmicks presented above will make it, hopefully, special. But your love and honesty will surely make everything magical.

 

Good luck with your proposal!