The clock strikes six o’clock in the evening in Lucban, Quezon - May 25, 2012

In 48 hours, my parents will renew their marriage vows in front of the very same altar they were married a quarter of a century ago. This event will be the fruit of almost two years of conceptualizing, planning, scheduling, rescheduling, arguments, fights, re-conceptualizing, fund raising efforts and a whole lot of other drama. Though it has only been official for a few months now, I am the over-all event coordinator. I’ve been drawing sketches of floral arrangements and gown designs since Summer of 2010. I’ve been gathering ideas since that time, too; browsing bridal magazines, wedding magazines and trying to find any decorative ideas that suit our family’s taste and preference. There were plenty of times when I felt alone during the planning stages. Sometimes I felt like I was the only one who wanted this celebration to take place. But in the end, I felt the support of my family, especially of my mother who was almost as excited as I was of this event.

In the course of our preparation, here is a list of my accomplishments:

• I was able to raise more than a month’s worth of my salary for decorations and flowers (this is already my gift to them)
• I was able to execute their photo shoot and have printed the needed tarpaulins/banners
• I was able to design and fabricate their invitations, I made 30 invitations (we expect less than a hundred guests composed of very close friends and family)
• I was able to commute (via public transportation) to Dangwa to check out flowers
• I was able to design the decorations for the Church which hopefully will be executed well
• I was able to make a 13-minute audio-video presentation (I scanned about a hundred old pictures for this)
• Found a videographer and photographers to cover the event

During that long period, our family has become stronger and driven, trying to achieve a certain goal. I am very happy that we all took this journey together and with only hours left, I choose not to lose my cool even though inside my mind hasn’t stopped thinking:

Here are the other things I still need to accomplish in the remaining hours that I have:

• Purchase 44 yards of tulle and about 50 yards of silver ribbon
• Decorate the Church—install the aisle pieces, the tulle, the altar landscape (yes, I’m landscaping the altar)
• Bring the car to Dangwa to get the flowers needed
• Create the 11 table centerpieces for the reception, add candles
• Create the bride’s and my sister’s bouquet
• Create boutonnieres for myself, father and brother
• Install the tarpaulin/banners, Japanese lanterns, message tree at the reception area
• Get the plants from the next town (Bougainvilleas, bromeliads, etc.)
• Purchase 50 white vigil candles
• Construct an easel for the thumbprint remembrance tree

I have this feeling I still forgot a few things… Hmmm. Help me, dear God.

Happy Rose’s Day! :)

I’ve been so busy with a lot of things at home and at work lately that I haven’t found the time to write any more fiction, but I’d like to attribute this partly to my enjoyment of my splendid reality which I continue to share with love.

At home, I have been preparing for my parents’ Silver Wedding Anniversary celebration this coming May. I’ve been dealing with decorations and invitations for months now and though there is nothing I would rather do than to make them happy and satisfied, I feel like I’ve been slowly feeling exhaustion. At work it is about the same MINUS the passion. I don’t understand anymore why I am where I am, and every nuance of dissatisfaction is amplified by my strong desire to fly away. Not just yet, I suppose. I will, not just yet. 

And while I am slumped at home with skeletonizing leaves with caustic soda to dye them pink later, repainting of fences and levelling of the garden grounds… while I am slumped at work with updating listing of equipment that may as well never be purchased, while I prance around the corridors executing almost-clerical tasks, and while I slave into cheer dancing for the big bosses, all I could think about is having to hear love’s voice.

This is a scanned photograph of my parents from their wedding, the film effect adds to the vintage feel of it, right? Right. Back to work! Happy Tuesday!

Manila Bay - April 8, 2012 - Easter Sunday

Happy Easter! :)

Holy Week is my favorite time of the year, yes, more than Christmas. Ergo, changed my background photo.

Check out my photoblog: throughjerdyslens!