tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67561322024-03-14T00:20:09.103+08:00I Blog, Therefore I Am.My Life, My Time. Views & Reviews.Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265494155672178468noreply@blogger.comBlogger548125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6756132.post-33010502591265219112023-06-17T01:34:00.009+08:002023-06-22T11:57:07.765+08:00MY INVISALIGN JOURNEY...SO FAR!<p style="text-align: justify;">This is Week 1 of my Invisalign journey. More posts on this ahead (so I will not quit!).</p><p style="text-align: justify;">My teeth developed these awful gaps in the last 10 years. It became very annoying and unflattering. My doctor said it's basically because of wear & tear. I am a Gen X-er who prefers the least invasive solution to beautify my smile and correct my overbite; I studied options from veneers to metal braces to dentures before I bit the bullet on Invisalign. Pun intended. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">A friend posted on IG her Invisalign some months back that convinced me to consult for this least invasive, unobtrusive option - albeit more expensive than the others. I went to the same doctor as my friend's at the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ysadermadental/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">YSA Dermatology Dentistry</a> with Dr. Marj Lapid, and their Associate Dentist, Dr. Bianca. The whole process, from the evaluation, mold taking, clinical tests, and the arrival of the aligners, took around 4 months. It was an easy process, not painful, but you must dedicate some hours to consultations and teeth cleaning. YSA and Dr. Marj are very good and very friendly. She convinced me well in getting Invisalign and thoroughly explained the process. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I got my aligners just last June 11, and it has been so irritating SO FAR. Ugh. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The aligners are perfectly molded on my teeth. Yay, Science! It's technology at its very best. This geek is very impressed. However, for someone who also has to resolve asap EVERY pain she feels, I am so pissed by the nasty edge and sharpness of the aligners on the back part of my lower left molars. The aligners are made of plastic, after all. It gives me uncomfortable sores under my tongue. Good thing that it’s “healing”a bit. The rest are perfectly fine. Unfortunately, I am a comfort above everything else kind of girl (read: I can't do <i>Tiis Ganda</i>), so this new "appendage" in my body is pissing me off so bad. Let's see how this will go. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I must put the aligners 20-22 hours daily for a year. It's barely been a week, and I seriously don't know if I can go through this for an entire year. I have 56 aligner trays made for me, and I am barely surviving on my 1st one. I will change it every 1-2 weeks with a new tray and, possibly, a new kind of sharpy edges thst might need filing to avoid sores. The new trays every 1-2 weeks is the version of the monthly dental adjustments that metal braces must undergo. People on braces for years are reassuring me that this will improve through time. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Here's what I've used in the past few days to relieve my "agony."<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><ul><li><a href="https://s.lazada.com.ph/s.SeWJY?cc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gum Orthodontic Wax</a> - to relieve the canker sores on my tongue (hoping I will not have it on the gums because that would be equally bad). There are other generic and cheaper alternatives, but the reviews said this is stickier than the others. This was also the best I tried so far.</li></ul><div><ul><li><a href="https://www.lazada.com.ph/products/premium-nails-file-of-7-ways-nail-buffer-manicure-toolspedic-polish-buff-file-emery-board-new-i3234048630.html?spm=a2o4l.searchlist.list.24.58034c96XLW997" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nail File | Emery Board</a> - to smoothen the sharp edges of your aligners. Choose something with a smooth and coarse side. </li></ul><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Dental Kit Everywhere. I must bring toothpaste, dental wax, floss, and mouthwash wherever I go. You have to clean your teeth AFTER each meal BEFORE you put back your aligners. My lazy self trumps my desire to eat a lot, which is quite good. I am using <a href="https://s.lazada.com.ph/s.SeDVr?cc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Colgate Total Charcoal Deep Clean</a> since it has anti-bacterial properties (it's also my fave), and my doctor recommended <a href=" https://s.lazada.com.ph/s.SeDqc?cc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dencytol</a> for mouthwash. I found cheaper options for this on Lazada.</li></ul></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://s.lazada.com.ph/s.SV0zZ?cc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Elizabeth Arden 8-Hour Cream Lip Protectant</a> - this is one of the most reliable lip-protecting balms I tried. Dry lips are very common when you have braces. I always have this in my bag, and I apply some throughout the day. Dior's Lip Glow is also good. </li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Water, water, water. Your meal times will be limited so you must hydrate A LOT.</li></ul><div>BUT, okay, okay, here’s the good part: Invisalign is totally clear, nice, and ALMOST invisible, and comfortable compared to traditional braces. It’s really the perfect solution if you don’t want the look that metal braces give. It’s also the least invasive, and it doesn’t require too much dental visits. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>To be continued. Best of luck to me. Hit me in the comments if you have any questions. </div><div><br /></div><div>P.S.</div><div>Yep, I am back after gazillion years. Hello, Blog! The tone of this post is very Abbie circa 2000. </div><div><br /></div>Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265494155672178468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6756132.post-12536933150542953602019-06-09T18:12:00.002+08:002019-06-10T04:45:37.368+08:00BINIBINING PILIPINAS 2019 PREDICTIONS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It's that time of the year again (albeit a bit late). It's time to crown the new queens in our national pageant. I haven't paid much attention this year compared to the last couple of years because of some life-changing moments I had in the past months.</div>
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Predicting this year's winners is very hard because of what Catriona brought to the table. She raised the bar so high that it's quite impossible to choose the girl who can be her worthy successor. I managed to predict correctly the last Miss Universe Philippines since 2015 (check these links: <a href="https://www.abbiereal.net/2015/03/binibining-pilipinas-2015-bets.html">Pia</a>, <a href="https://www.abbiereal.net/2016/04/final-picks-for-binibining-pilipinas.html">Maxine</a>, <a href="https://www.abbiereal.net/2017/05/2017-binibining-pilipinas.html">Rachel</a>, <a href="https://www.abbiereal.net/2018/03/just-give-it-to-catriona.html">Catriona</a>) but I am NOT very sure this year. I can be off with my choices. Pageant experience, the all-important Q&A, and DESTINY will definitely play a big role in today's crowning.</div>
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<b>THE TOP 8</b></div>
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It all boils down to the Top 8. Whoever will be on the Top 8 will be deliberated on by the judges and the BBP Execom and lawyers for the crown and runners-up assignments. Age eligibility, criteria fit, and rules of the international pageants will all be considered and matched with the Top 8 girls. </div>
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Here are my Top 8 bets: <b>ARNOLD, LO, RUSHTON, TIGLAO, BERNARDO, ABESAMIS, GANADOS, MAGTANONG</b>. It's just a matter of who will be placed where and how consistent they will be at the Finals (think Sandra Lemonon of BBP 2018 and Sirene Sutton of BBP 2017 who bombed the all-important Q&A). </div>
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I based the above choices from their performances at the National Costume Show (Fact: 6 out of the 8 are in the Top 10 of NatCos), the Free Speak, the Press Presentation, and the JAG Jeans show and their Top 10. All the rounds are included in the preliminary competition except the latter. Check out my "attempt" in predicting this year's placers (it was really hard and I will not be surprised if I'll be off.</div>
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<b>MISS UNIVERSE PHILIPPINES</b></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/48025899788/in/datetaken-public/" nbsp="" title="Vickie Rushton - Negros Occidental"><img alt="Vickie Rushton - Negros Occidental" height="800" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48025899788_bd47a91b45_c.jpg" width="612" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<b>Vickie Rushton of Negros Occidental</b><br />
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Our goal for Miss Universe 2019 is to send a candidate that would continue the 9-year streak of the Philippines in the Miss Universe. I honestly believe that it's impossible for a back-to-back Team Philippines crown but I am hoping for a Top 6 finish at least. There are three (3) ladies whom I think will get the crown. I kept on going back and forth and finally decided just this afternoon to go with a Vickie Rushton-Gazini Ganados-Hannah Arnold win for the top crown.<br />
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Vickie Rushton is MEANT to get the Miss International crown but I also realized that she can push the envelope further and aim higher for Miss Universe Philippines. We need someone who is very ready and prepared to go to Universe. Vickie diligently paid her dues for a year as a runner-up to the current queens and she improved a lot from Vickie 1.0. I am quite certain that she will be victorious tonight. She is surely a lock for the Miss International title but I will not be surprised if she will win it ALL.<br />
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Alternates: Gazini Ganados and Samantha Bernardo are my true favorites to win the crown. Both have the face and body for Miss Universe but they have a lot of areas to improve on. Either can win if BBP believes that they are still trainable in time for the pageant. Sam had this on the bag but she messed up in the Free Speak segment which was shown in the pre-pageant. We've gotten used to sending eloquent queens <i>manlalamon ng mic</i> like Catriona and Rachel so this might be an stretch for Sam if she will not pass the Q&A. </div>
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<b>BINIBINING PILIPINAS INTERNATIONAL</b><br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/48025972842/in/datetaken-public/" nbsp="" title="Hannah Arnold - Masbate"><img alt="Hannah Arnold - Masbate" height="800" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48025972842_85db45d9dc_c.jpg" width="608" /></a></div>
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<b>Hannah Arnold of Masbate</b><br />
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Hannah Arnold is our <i>safest bet</i> this year. She is not the most gorgeous in the batch but she is still a dead-ringer doll-face (required in Japan), eloquent, can carry conversations, and has a good stage presence. I dismissed her for a while but what sealed the deal for me was her superb National Costume presentation last week. My doubts about her inexperience (compared to the other girls) were set aside after watching the Binibining Pilipinas primer last Sunday.<br />
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Alternates: This crown is meant for Vickie Rushton (since last year). Vickie will still get this IF Gazini or Hannah gets the Miss Universe title.</div>
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<b>BINIBINING PILIPINAS SUPRANATIONAL</b></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/48025972802/in/datetaken-public/" nbsp="" title="Emma Tiglao - Pampanga"><img alt="Emma Tiglao - Pampanga" height="800" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48025972802_4f42799ff4_c.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<b>Emma Mary Tiglao of Pampanga</b><br />
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Emma's past pageant experiences and her strong showing in the National Costume Competition and JAG Jeans show placed her as one of the frontrunners and easy choice for one of the minor crowns. She can alternately win the Binibining Pilipinas Grand International title as well. </div>
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Alternate: Samantha Bernardo</div>
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<b>BINIBINING PILIPINAS GRAND INTERNATIONAL</b></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/48025866876/in/datetaken-public/" nbsp="" title="Sam Bernardo - Palawan"><img alt="Sam Bernardo - Palawan" height="800" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48025866876_1856ce2d8c_c.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<b>Samantha Bernardo of Palawan</b><br />
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Sam B is one of my favorites this year. She was the 2nd Runner-up last year and is one of the most consistent girls this year. Sam also has a universal beauty and appeal and she probably has the best body in the competition. She will be a top contender for the Best Swimsuit Special Award in the finals (Heck, she should've won it last year. Sorry, Cat!). I would've wanted Sam to win the Miss Universe Philippines crown but she bombed the all-important Free Speak segment in the pre-pageant last Sunday. Most of the pageant watchers dismissed her and took her out of their list after that. There's still hope IF she will eloquently and gracefully answer the all-important Q&A in the Finals. If not-- then Sam might have to settle for the Grand International title.</div>
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Alternates: Emma Tiglao. Both her and Sam B can alternate for Supranational and Grand International</div>
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<b>BINIBINING PILIPINAS INTERCONTINENTAL</b></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/48025899678/in/datetaken-public/" nbsp="" title="Samantha Lo - Cebu"><img alt="Samantha Lo - Cebu" height="800" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48025899678_126ddfd4e3_c.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<b>Samantha Lo of Cebu</b><br />
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Samantha Lo is the 'not-in-the-radar' queen of the competition. She is not as popular like the rest of the girls in my Top 8 but she's undoubtedly been acing all the pre-pageant competitions. She was part of the Top 10 in both the National Costume and JAG Jeans rounds (which we all know were judged by the BBP Execom). And most importantly-- she is the best candidate in the Free Speak segment. She will be stellar and unstoppable in the Q&A in the Finals. My nerd self also believes that she is one girl who has a mathematical probability of being in the Top 8. It will just be a matter of fit and placement. </div>
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I am also inclined on giving Sam L a runner-up position this year for a bigger crown next year. But, Sam is now 26 years old and next year will limit her with fewer choices to compete on because of the age limitation. But, let's see. </div>
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Alternates: Gazini Ganados and Patch Magtanong</div>
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<b>BINIBINING PILIPINAS GLOBE</b></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/48025972667/in/datetaken-public/" nbsp="" title="Gazini Ganados - Talisay Cebu"><img alt="Gazini Ganados - Talisay Cebu" height="800" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48025972667_2f155ea317_c.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<b>Gazini Ganados of Talisay, Cebu</b></div>
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Gazini, for a time, was the frontrunner who was predicted to win it ALL. She still might be. I actually put her as a very strong alternate for Miss Universe Philippines. Gazini has the looks, the body, and the stage presence but the other girls like Emma, Sam L, and Sam B drowned her when they peaked in the last few days. Gazini must really go all-out tonight for a guaranteed big win. I still believe that she can make it. OR we can put her in the runners-up for another try at Miss Universe Philippines next year if in case she will not win.</div>
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Alternates: Aya Abesamis and Patch Magtanong</div>
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<b>RUNNERS-UP</b></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/48025866676/in/datetaken-public/" nbsp="" title="Aya Abesamis - Pasig"><img alt="Aya Abesamis - Pasig" height="800" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48025866676_9a96ba174e_c.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<b>Maria Andrea Abesamis of Pasig</b><br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/48025972592/in/datetaken-public/" nbsp="" title="Patch Magtanong - Bataan"><img alt="Patch Magtanong - Bataan" height="800" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48025972592_fe1b0b1710_c.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<b>Bea Patricia Magtanong of Bataan</b></div>
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I placed Aya as consolation and Patch for further training. Aya improved so much this year. I really really loved how she looked. She had nice photographs and she did well in the segments. But, Aya's waterloo is still the Q&A. I am still giving her a chance but it will all depend on her 30-sec answer. Also, Aya's age might become an issue since she is just competing for two crowns: Universe and Globe. The former is quite a stretch.<br />
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Patch, oh Patch. This is an unpopular opinion for one of the most popular candidates. Atty. Magtanong is bringing to the pageantry her brains and wits as her most valuable assets. Point taken especially on this day and age of IMG. But, I think that Patch is very raw and needs more pageant training. She also has to improve her styling (enough long hair and big huge ribbons, please). Setting her as one of the runners-up will further train her and bring out the best in her. It would be a total waste to award her one of the minor crowns.<br />
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<b>WILD CARDS, TOP 15, TOP 25</b><br />
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Wildcards/Can Legitimately Win: Leren Bautista, Resham Saeed (they are really good but let's see)<br />
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Rest of Top 15: Jessarie Dumaguing, Julia Saubier, Jessica Marasigan, Martina Diaz, Shane Tormes<br />
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Rest of Top 25: Isabela Galeria, Denise Omorog, Kim Pechon, April Short, Joanna Saad, Malka Shaver, Nicole Guerrero, Cassandra Chan, Denj Magno, Sigrid Flores<br />
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I rushed this post and I now have to end it to GO to Araneta to watch the Super Bowl of Pageantry! Some friends got me a ticket. Was not really intending to watch it live but let's go!</div>
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Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265494155672178468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6756132.post-74062142152591024192019-04-08T22:43:00.000+08:002019-04-11T00:54:39.987+08:00ED SHEERAN IN MANILA, A THROWBACK<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It's the FIRST YEAR anniversary of the Divide Concert in Manila of Ed Sheeran. </div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/41394642062/in/album-72157694679504294/" nbsp="" title="Ed Sheeran in Manila"><img alt="Ed Sheeran in Manila" height="600" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/818/41394642062_bc4124d9e5_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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As a throwback, I'll be posting a couple of videos I took of Ed's one-night open ground concert in Manila. I, fortunately, was in the very front and center so I was able to take some very nice shots and videos. </div>
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Some of my favorites from the concert were his performances of The A Team, Terenife Sea, Happier, Thinking Out Loud, Perfect and Photograph.</div>
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Here's a FULL video of Thinking Out in full Ed Sheeran glory! I filmed this for over 4 minutes while standing with arms stretched. </div>
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The backdrop while Ed was singing is also interesting. Some people commented that it was an Aldub (Maine and Alden) background. I hope you guys can confirm.</div>
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Meanwhile, here's the very melancholic Tenerife Sea that surely brought tears to the Manila crowd.</div>
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Hope you like this!</div>
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Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265494155672178468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6756132.post-73551208072789712342018-03-20T14:06:00.000+08:002019-04-11T01:55:34.776+08:00PHILIPPINES, MEET YOUR 4TH MISS UNIVERSE!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I'm claiming it as early as now: The Philippines will get its 4th Miss Universe crown this 2018! </div>
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Latinas, beware! You've been warned.</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/47508651441/in/datetaken-public/" nbsp="" title="Binibining Pilipinas Queens 2018"><img alt="Binibining Pilipinas Queens 2018" height="602" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7858/47508651441_368ce8a2b5_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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Divine intervention, experience, beauty, and intelligence all collaborated last Sunday for Miss <b>Catriona Elisa Gray</b> to be our 2018 Miss Universe Philippines! Everything just fell into place. She was the clear winner from the get-go and she delivered well - just like her Miss World Philippines competition back in 2016. </div>
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I'm still on "pageant bliss" so I'll do my recap in bullets:<br />
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Catriona nailed most of her presentations last Sunday. Nobody is as consistent as she was. Some of the frontrunners even faltered in some of the segments. My favorite is Cat's Evening Gown presentation. The gown was made for international pageants (Made by Mak Tumang. A<i>ng ganda!</i>), the added touch of her 3 stars and a sun earrings was superb, and her <i>parasela </i>was all-drama and fierce. It was mostly game over after that.</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Cat got 5 out of the 11 Special Awards including BOTH the guaranteed-of-a-crown Best in Evening Gown and Best in Swimsuit. I was quite surprised with the latter and we all know that this is the one little area that Cat must focus on prior to Miss Universe 2018. </li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Pageant history books will write Cat as the first ever Filipina who is a double winner of the two major crowns in the country. She earned the right to represent us in Miss World (2016) and Miss Universe (2018). What a transformation - from sweet to fierce! </li>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/40542809613/in/datetaken-public/" nbsp="" title="Binibining Pilipinas 2018"><img alt="Binibining Pilipinas 2018" height="600" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7825/40542809613_ae7cb81d33_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Pageant experience is now one of the main considerations for a crown. Gone are the days of raw first-time winners especially for the two top crowns. Almost all the Miss Universe Philippines and Binibining Pilipinas International winners since MJ Lastimosa (who started this trend) with the exception of Maxine Medina and Bianca Guidotti were all repeaters, cross-overs, runners-up, and winners of other pageants.</span></li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Thus it's not so surprising that Jehza Huelar, Eva Patalinjug, and Karen Gallman got their placements and crowns for Supranational, Grand International, and Intercontinental respectively. This was also probably the reason why heavy-favorite Michele Gumabao had to settle for the Globe crown. Over-all pageant experience held Michele's quest. I would've wanted a greater crown for her but she was fairly outperformed by Jehza and Eva. I would've given her an Intercontinental crown at least. </li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">It was quite a surprise to see Karen Gallman finishing strong after she "kinda" bombed the Q&A. We were all expecting just a runner-up finish for her (at the most) because her answer fell short but I guess over-all performance was also considered. She started really strong but ended flat. Her saving face was her super gorgeous Evening Gown presentation that left me in awe. A lot of people feels that this crown should've been Vickie Rushton or Wynonah Buot's based on over-all performance especially in the Q&A.</li>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/47508654191/in/datetaken-public/" nbsp="" title="Ahtisa Manalo Being Crowned Binibining Pilipinas International"><img alt="Ahtisa Manalo Being Crowned Binibining Pilipinas International" height="600" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7886/47508654191_23b9bf1fb2_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">The luckiest winner for me is Ahtisa Manalo. This defying-the-odds first timer (she had some Festival Queen experience though) fresh-faced beauty is the Barbie DOLL FACE who clinched the Binibinibing Pilipinas International crown. I mentioned on my <a href="http://www.abbiereal.net/2018/03/just-give-it-to-catriona.html">last blog</a> the absence of a "strong" adorable doll face whom we can send to Japan. I took note of Ahthisa, Eva, and Vickie as possible winners and considerations. All three amazingly delivered and I was convinced minutes before the coronation that Eva should get the second top plum. BUT a quick Google also revealed that beautiful Ahtisa not only has the doll face but also the height that might bring us our 7th Miss International crown. Ahtisa like Bea Rose Santiago and Kylie Versoza stands 5'9" with that required adorable doll face to boot. Thus Eva was logically sent to Miss Grand International where speaking and Q&A is a huge deal. We need a win there and I believe that Eva is the right queen for the job.</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Oh, my Jehza girl! Hated her in 2016, loved her in 2017, and secretly cheered for her this year. She was on my "want" list but I find it too hard to move her to my frontrunner list because of stronger girls like Sandra, Ahtisa, Karen, and Eva. But, as they say, nice girls finish first - or in this case - third! Enjoy, Supranational! We are all happy for you! #LabanJehza </li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Vickie Rushton and Samantha Bernardo - both answered well and both were from KF - settled for runners-up position this year. Karen Gallman's crown should've been Vickie's. But not everything is lost since Vickie can still join next year. As for Sam...I'm calling it as early as now and say that Sam Bernardo can be THE future. She can easily be a Miss Universe Philippines IF she plays her cards well in the 12 months. This girl got the goods. </li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Sandra Lemonon MAJORLY bombed her Q&A on Build, Build, Build but she rose above it and would definitely join again next year. Placers and runners-ups like Vickie, Sam, and Wynona should also join again next year for possible crowns. </li>
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All hail the Queens! Exciting times!</div>
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[EDIT: December 18, 2018 - As predicted, CATRIONA GRAY is Philippines' 4th Miss Universe!]</div>
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Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265494155672178468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6756132.post-27682438413614721302018-03-18T13:14:00.001+08:002019-04-10T23:48:43.872+08:00JUST GIVE IT TO CATRIONA!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This is not intended to be an "Ode to Catriona Gray". This is supposed to be our Fearless Forecast for Binibibing Pilipinas 2018 which I painstakingly gathered, deliberated, and scored with four of my like-minded and pageant-passionate friends...but I got distracted. </div>
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I got into "beast mode" when I read that a popular peageantologist predicted that Cat will be sent to Tokyo to Miss International instead of Miss Universe. This got me thinking, and it also got me worried. He had good and valid points, but I still think (and most of the Internet agrees with me) that at the end of the night the Miss Universe Philippines 2018 crown is STILL for Catriona Gray to lose.</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/40157334864/in/datetaken-public/" nbsp="" title="Catriona Grey"><img alt="Catriona Grey" height="640" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/798/40157334864_26bf7172ed_z.jpg" width="492" /></a></div>
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<b>Catriona Gray</b> has been our choice for <b>Miss Universe Philippines 2018 </b>since Day 1. I literally wept when Cat ended as runner-up in Miss World 2016, and I'm over the moon when I learned that she joined Binibining Pilipinas to vie for the Miss Universe crown. Aside from obvious reasons - wit, charm, confidence, grace, advocacies, experience, body & face, Cat is THE girl who is prepared. We can send her to Miss Universe tomorrow, and she will surely ace it. The only thing barring her victory is politics. </div>
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So...let's just give it to Catriona. She is the most deserved, and she has the best chance of getting us our 4th Miss Universe crown among the 40 candidates. Nobody comes close. She is in a league of her own (even Pia might falter against her).</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/39056030760/in/datetaken-public/" nbsp="" title="Michele Gumabao"><img alt="Michele Gumabao" height="640" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/799/39056030760_cca90e65fd_z.jpg" width="492" /></a></div>
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<b>Michele Gumabao</b> is a friend. It was such a delight to see her transform from this super volleyball girl to pageant crown favorite. Michele's edge is her spontaneity and natural good looks, and we feel that she can get the <b>Binibining Pilipinas International</b> crown. </div>
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The following Binibinis are our next top choices (crowns can interchange):<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/40157334324/in/datetaken-public/" nbsp="" title="Karen Gallman"><img alt="Karen Gallman" height="640" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/810/40157334324_ef7a4eb9e5_c.jpg" width="491" /></a></div>
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<b>Karen Gallman </b>is probably the 3rd best girl in the competition (and the Face of Binibining Pilipinas 2018), so we placed her in <b>Binibining Pilipinas Supranational </b>or <b>Grand International</b>. She is such a beauty and will probably top any international pageant assignment. </div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/40157333144/in/datetaken-public/" nbsp="" title="Sandra Lemonon"><img alt="Sandra Lemonon" height="640" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/807/40157333144_ce78bceefc_z.jpg" width="492" /></a></div>
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Sultry, sexy and gorgeous <b>Sandra Lemonon</b> will probably be crowned as <b>Binibining Pilipinas Grand International </b>or <b>Binibining Pilipinas Supranational</b>. Parul Shah, Nicole Cordoves and Liz Clenci were all successful in MGI in the last three years, BUT it's about time that we win a crown on this Thailand franchise. Sandra might be the girl who will finally give us this oh-so-elusive title from Mr. Nawat.</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/39972500225/in/datetaken-public/" nbsp="" title="Kayesha Chua"><img alt="Kayesha Chua" height="640" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/819/39972500225_b615f3d653_z.jpg" width="492" /></a></div>
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<b>Kayesha Chua</b> is the late bloomer of this year's competition. She was under the radar for weeks despite being the multi-awarded Miss Bicolandia of 2017. We noticed her (like all the other fans) just last Sunday at the Binibining Pilipinas Road To The Crown primer. Kayesha demonstrated beauty, grace, good communication skills, and a nice register. A <b>Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental </b>crown will best fit her.</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/40824405952/in/datetaken-public/" nbsp="" title="Aya Abesamis"><img alt="Aya Abesamis" height="640" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/795/40824405952_9c84a54891_z.jpg" width="492" /></a></div>
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We are not really fans of <b>Aya Abesamis</b>, but we all know that she will NOT be winless come coronation night. She has good modeling skills and a nice legacy attributed to mom Desiree Verdadero (1984 Miss Universe 3rd Runner-up), so we think that she will pull a Nichole Manalo and get the <b>Binibining Pilipinas Globe</b> crown. We should also note that Aya is competing for just a handful of crowns due to age limitations.<br />
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<b>Runners-up & Alternates</b></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/40824407022/in/datetaken-public/" nbsp="" title="Vickie Rushton"><img alt="Vickie Rushton" height="400" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/809/40824407022_e67629005c.jpg" width="307" /></a> <a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/40824405112/in/datetaken-public/" nbsp="" title="Eva Patalinjug"><img alt="Eva Patalinjug" height="400" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4771/40824405112_5b531fb23e.jpg" width="307" /></a></div>
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<b>Vickie Rushton</b> and <b>Eva Patalinjug</b> are two alternates to the crowns. We feel that they are almost there but not quite. Vickie needs to improve her communication skills and stage presence while Eva needs another year of pageant experience to get a major crown. Eva can be a shoo-in for Miss International or even Miss Universe on any other year, but there is just an over supply of great girls this year. </div>
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<b>Rest of Top 15</b></div>
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Here's our forecast for the rest of the Top 15. Some might pull a surprise and be dark horses of the competition: Wynonah Buot, Samantha Bernardo, Ahtisa Manalo, Jehza Huelar, Patricia Asturias, Patrizia Garcia, and MJ De Castro. </div>
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<b>Personal Notes</b></div>
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The above was deliberated with friends, and I mostly agree. But here are some personal notes and preferences to take into consideration before tonight's showdown:<br />
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<li>I would be equally happy if Michele Gumabao will be given a runner-up position this year for greater Miss Universe Philippines glory next year or two years from now. Michele would need more pageant experience to further work her magic in the international arena. </li>
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<li>Sweet Doll Face. This has been my main beef in the last few days. I cannot choose a girl with enough power and attitude WITH a doll face that will be adored in Japan for Miss International. Some choices are Eva Patalinjug, Ahtisa Manalo and Vickie Rushton but I am not so sure if they have enough right now to pull it off. </li>
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<li>I'm not too solved on Kayesha Chua. She has a nice register and is very winnable, but there are other girls like Eva Patalinjug, Vickie Rushton, or Jehza Huelar who would be able to quickly snatch one of the crowns under her nose come finals night. </li>
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<li>I will swap Ena Velasco with MJ De Leon in the Top 15; and I would also like to place Jehza Huelar higher in the Top 8 (maybe a minor crown will do for her third try?).</li>
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<li>I have a gut feeling that Binibining Pilipinas International will go to either Catriona or Michele. The Miss Universe Philippines crown is 3-way, and it will be between Catriona, Michele, or Aya (politics, fit, and legacy included in the mix of consideration).</li>
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This is the ONLY Binibining Pilipinas edition when I am praying, hoping, wishing for ONE candidate for Miss Universe Philippines. I honestly don't care about anything else. They can give the Binibining Pilipinas International crown to Edjeleyn Gamboa, and I'll be mighty fine with it as long as Catriona Gray is Miss Universe Philippines 2018.</div>
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Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265494155672178468noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6756132.post-82238910169305813692018-03-13T00:14:00.001+08:002019-02-10T06:16:53.606+08:00BINIBINING PILIPINAS 2018 NATIONAL COSTUME<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My favorite "sport" is back in town! I've been itching to update and blog since the selection started but I was drowned with work and other personal projects (eg. journaling) but the time has come for me to blog about Binibining Pilipinas 2018!</div>
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The highlight of the year is the big comeback of Miss World Philippines Catriona Gray as Binibining Pilipinas #20. THE Miss Universe crown is for her lose. I know that there are a couple of others who are blossoming here and there but I know that the crown is hers to lose come March 19, Finals Night.</div>
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Now for this year's National Costumes. I must say that this is one of the best National Costumes in recent years. The variety is just so good and I am happy to say that the long phase for the usual Maria Claras and Ternos are long gone. The National Costume Show was held last Saturday, March 3, at the KIA Theater. </div>
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Here are my favorites from this year's batch:</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/40580946962/in/datetaken-public/" nbsp="" title="#29 Samantha Kaye Avestruz"><img alt="#29 Samantha Kaye Avestruz" height="800" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4650/40580946962_7bbb226cc5_c.jpg" width="534" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<b>Binibini #29 Samantha Kaye Avestruz (by </b></div>
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This is a true work of art. I am in awe! This was selected in the Top 10 and I'll be surprised if this will not be declared as the BEST (unless the fan votes make up the majority of the selection).</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/39727520175/in/datetaken-public/" nbsp="" title="#19 Michele Gumabao"><img alt="#19 Michele Gumabao" height="800" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4800/39727520175_71f6660caf_c.jpg" width="534" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<b>Binibini #19 Michele Gumabao (by Nat Manilang)</b></div>
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Michele is a good friend and I am happy that she is doing really well in the pageant. I'm very fond of Black Filipianas and this is just wonderfully done. There are two other black Filipinianas in the show but this one is the best. This is also the dress & presentation that (I think) established Michele as a true frontrunner.</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/39727521315/in/datetaken-public/" nbsp="" title="#11 Aya Abesamis"><img alt="#11 Aya Abesamis" height="800" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4662/39727521315_fa474a7491_c.jpg" width="534" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<b>Binibini #11 Aya Abesamis (by Chico Estiva)</b></div>
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I am not a fan of Aya but this is a very nice piece. The colors are nice and her body looks great on it.</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/40580948552/in/datetaken-public/" nbsp="" title="#20 Catriona Elisa Gray"><img alt="#20 Catriona Elisa Gray" height="800" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4759/40580948552_e8277e0730_c.jpg" width="534" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<b>Binibini #20 Catriona Grey (by Designer: Jearson Demavivas)</b></div>
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A princess creation made for a princess. Frontrunner all the way! The legions of fans (me included) will not allow Cat NOT to get the NatCos Award - among other things. </div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/40580950162/in/datetaken-public/" nbsp="" title="#17 Ma. Ahtisa Manalo"><img alt="#17 Ma. Ahtisa Manalo" height="800" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4652/40580950162_e770377b02_c.jpg" width="534" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<b>Binibini #17 Ahtisa Manalo (by Designer: Mikee Andrei)</b><br />
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I loved the cut and design of this gown. But its very yellow which can be very overwhelming for some (anti-dilawans?).</div>
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Here are my two other notable mentions (runners-up)...</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/40580944402/in/datetaken-public/" nbsp="" title="#38 Karen Gallman"><img alt="#38 Karen Gallman" height="500" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4615/40580944402_ab8f78aa75.jpg" width="333" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script> <a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/40580945292/in/datetaken-public/" nbsp="" title="#35 Sandra Lemonon"><img alt="#35 Sandra Lemonon" height="500" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4723/40580945292_d3e0e89f58.jpg" width="333" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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Karen Gallman's Maria Clara was very usual but it's still stunning on her. Sandra Lemonon's NatCos was also hailed as one of the top creations but I have issues with her legs with it. They are definitely not flattering. I saw a photo of this with her on Tippy Tops-like shoes and it was very nice. </div>
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Almost all of my favorites made it to the Top 10 National Costume except for Ahtisa and Karen. I really hope that Samantha's costume will win for its uniqueness and the designer's fresh output and interpretation. BUT I think the honors will go to either Michele or Catriona - especially if the fan votes will play a big role OR if it's the only criteria. </div>
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Six days to go until the crowning! Can't wait! I'll be spending the next few days in deep thought on who will deserve by Final Eight.</div>
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Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265494155672178468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6756132.post-10013345473403582592018-03-02T22:42:00.000+08:002018-03-02T22:42:13.229+08:00AND I QUOTE<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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"Comfort zones are comfortable but they are also a place where possibilities are limited and opportunities are minimal."</div>
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"Self care is not selfish. </div>
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You cannot serve from an empty cup."</div>
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"When you stop chasing the wrong things, you give the rights things a chance to catch you."</div>
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Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265494155672178468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6756132.post-5620052442580852872017-07-07T23:19:00.000+08:002019-03-16T11:16:19.763+08:00BRITNEY IN MANILA!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The Princess of Pop finally graced Philippine shores for one epic night of exciting dance moves and fantastic performance. Thanks to Smart Communications and #SmartMusicLive for bringing Britney Jean to Manila! I am not a super fan of Britney, but I cannot pass the opportunity to see her LIVE. She is responsible for some of the music of my college and early working life.<br />
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Britney started the night with "Work Bitch" and ended it with an encore of "Till The World Ends." She also sang favorites like "Baby One More Time," "Oops I Did It Again," and "Toxic." The show lasted for one and a half hours in a very packed (to the brim) Mall of Asia Arena. She did lip sync all throughout the night, but the audience doesn't seem to mind. She more than compensated it with her you-cant-believe-she-is-thirty-five dance moves.</div>
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Britney outfitted herself with onesies in interesting variations all throughout the night.</div>
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My favorite part of the show was the last Act where she sang Toxic and Stronger / (You Drive Me) Crazy. It was a very fitting end for possibly the best concert of the year so far.<br />
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Here's a clip:<br />
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Another amazing thing about this Britney concert is the "after party" at the Mall of Asia Arena. Fans sang their hearts out for a good 30 minutes after the concert in front of the Smart Music Live booth. They belted in Britney's songs like "Sometimes" and "Lucky" which were unfortunately not on her concert playlist. It was such a good effort that even Britney noticed and shared on Twitter.<br />
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Credits to Flow Galindez who originally posted the above video.<br />
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Thanks to my awesome team for tirelessly working this first half of the year.</div>
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Special shout-out to Chrissy! This is one heck of a swan song. You'll be sorely missed!<br />
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Salamat, Britney!</div>
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It's turning out to be a good concert year for the Philippines (despite the ongoing Marawi siege & Martial Law). There will be an In The Mix concert this year top-billed by 5 Seconds of Summer, Ariana Grande will be back with her Dangerous Tour in August, Justin Bieber will be at the Philippine Arena on September 30, and Ed Sheeran's Divide World Tour will come to town in November. All of these will be presented by Smart (of course) through #SmartMusicLive. I am not too excited for Biebs, but I just have to watch Ariana Grande and Ed Sheeran! I became a fan of Ari after <a href="http://www.abbiereal.net/2015/08/ariana-grande-live-in-manila.html">watching her in 2015</a>. </div>
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Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265494155672178468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6756132.post-88137840330337212252017-06-18T10:57:00.006+08:002023-05-26T01:53:35.527+08:00OUR BEAUTIFUL MONTECITO NUVALI WEDDING<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;"><i>[2023 Edit: It's been more than 7 years since our wedding, and I still get messages about our wonderful wedding church and reception venue. The rates below & contact persons must've changed through the years, but the details of this post are still pretty accurate. Read on!]</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">
Montecito Nuvali was one of our best-kept wedding secrets. It took significant control over my social media self not to post a photo or too many details about it in the year we were preparing for our December 2015 wedding. Yes - this blog post is one year and six months delayed!<br />
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Warning: Super long post with lots of pictures ahead!<br />
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I've always wanted to get married in a quaint little church that is not too popular or mainstream. I was reading Town & Country on my iPad in late 2014 when I chance upon a wedding article where Montecito Nuvali was the church and reception venue of the couple. I got interested in the chapel instantly. I knew right then that this may be "the one." Unfortunately, there was very little information about it online, so it was tough for me to do my research without going all the way to Nuvali in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. This is also why I am doing a very lengthy post about it. I've been getting 2-3 e-mails and messages a week from brides and grooms about this charming place.<br />
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I fell in love with the place the minute I saw it, and it took very little to get the fiance on board. We were dead set from the very start that we would have our wedding in Montecito the first time we laid our eyes on it. We only visited two churches for our wedding, with <a href="http://www.abbiereal.net/2014/12/st-benedict-church-in-silang.html">St. Benedict Church in nearby Silang</a> as a backup. I am just happy that everything fell into place. The church is very intimate, the outdoor lawn is perfect for our dream garden reception, the location is prime & very exclusive, and it's located in Laguna, where Witt and I reside. Having our wedding in Montecito was the best and easiest wedding decision we ever had. Our guests seemed to agree because I heard nothing but praises for it (well, some complained about the distance, but - for us - it added to the appeal and exclusivity of the place).<br />
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Montecito Village is co-owned and managed by Ayala Properties and the Yulos of Canlubang. The chapel, Our Lady of Guadalupe, was built by the family as their personal sanctuary. The Pasa Tiempo Clubhouse is just a few meters from the chapel where our reception was held. There are also options for cocktails and reception in the Main Social Hall, but we opted for the Lawn Area near the pool for a more garden feel.</span></div>
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Montecito is an exclusive gated village in Nuvali in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Montecito is already in Canlubang, Laguna, but the more scenic route is in Sta. Rosa. You will need a sponsor with a supporting letter to Montecito to have an ocular. I was very fortunate that a Yulo friend gladly sponsored us.</div>
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<b>Our Lady of Guadalupe</b></div>
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The chapel of Montecito Nuvali is Our Lady of Guadalupe. It's located in the center of the village on top of a mini hill. It's a quaint little chapel that only sits around 150 people. There were 9 pews per side, and each bench could sit about 7-8 people. The chapel is exquisite, and you can do away with the elaborate flower arrangement. We opted for effortless aisle flowers and a couple of centerpieces on the altar. Putting too many flowers and decorations will take away the natural grandiose of the place. The ceiling is adorned with antique chandeliers and a charming loft for your choir or strings. It's also suitable for overhead photos of the ceremony.<br />
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The chapel is under the parish of St. John Bosco, located in Laguna Technopark. We had all our church requirements, parish interviews, and even the processing of our marriage contract through the church's office. The parish priest, Fr. Bob Roxas, was the one who did our Canonical Interview 2 months before our wedding, while our Pre-Cana seminar was with our own parish. We just submitted the certificates and other pre-wedding requirements days before the wedding. You should visit St. John Bosco 6-8 months before your wedding to get all the requirements and to schedule and arrange the seminars and interviews. You also have to tell them if you will ask one of their priests to officiate the wedding. In our case, we asked a family friend priest to celebrate our wedding. This would require additional requirements like the priest's license number. I also coordinated with our priest the <a href="http://www.abbiereal.net/2015/12/our-wedding-misalette.html">wedding missalette</a> we used at the wedding. St. John Bosco is pretty okay with the requirements since Our Lady of Guadalupe is not their parish<i>,</i> but you must clear everything with your officiating priest. We were very blessed because we could read our personal vows during the wedding ceremony, and I got to choose my bridal march (Lea Salonga's "Two Words").<br />
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Our Lady of Guadalupe has a complete set of altar requirements for the mass. My mom, who's very active in church affairs, went to the chapel two days before our wedding to ensure we had all the needed stuff for the mass. They have everything necessary; we just added things like the host and wine for the congregation. We also asked our lights and sound supplier to provide additional speakers and microphones for Leggiero (our strings) since they only have microphones at the altar.<br />
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The ceremony began promptly at 3:00 pm, and we finished before 5:00 pm. These include all the family and friends' photos and even the throwing of bouquets which we held outside the church after we came out. Our Lady of Guadalupe is flexible with the wedding time as long as they are informed of the schedule beforehand. They only allow one wedding a day. Montecito had yet to become famous when we reserved it in December 2014 for our December 2015 wedding. We changed our dates once or twice, and we were still accommodated. We were only the second couple who booked for a December wedding when we reserved a year before. They ended with 4 weddings in December of that year.<br />
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<b>The Reception</b><br />
We had the reception at Pasa Tiempo, which was only a few feet from the chapel. Pasa Tiempo is like a small, stylish clubhouse with various options for receptions. We opted for the Lawn Area for a more garden and backyard feel. I chose the biggest tent I could find from nearby suppliers in case of a December rain (and yes, there was, unfortunately, a massive downpour in the middle of our reception; thus, I had a lot of smirking photos). Our 150 guests, with a small stage, mini bar, and buffet set-up, were accommodated in two big tents provided by Tent King. It rained a lot, so the tents became cramped and the garden soil moist.<br />
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Montecito Nuvali has no preferred or accredited caterers like other venues, so we got <a href="http://www.abbiereal.net/2015/06/review-k-by-cunanan-food-tasting.html">K by Cunanan</a>. K was my ultimate non-negotiable; we even moved the wedding date to have them. Ours was K's first wedding in Montecito, so we had oculars and many meetings before the wedding. K was also the one who provided the stage backdrop and our styling for the wedding.<br />
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<b>The Lowdown</b><br />
I've been receiving a LOT of messages about Montecito, so I will just put here the most common questions I encountered.<br />
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<b><i>How much is the rate for the chapel?</i></b><br />
We got a way lower rate when we reserved in December 2014 for our 2015 wedding. I asked for the current rates, and it's now Php 60,000. They usually increase it every year. This is good for four (4) hours with a two (2) hour ingress. This doesn't include the church requirement fees, which will be facilitated by St. John Bosco Parish in Sta. Rosa Estates in Laguna Technopark. We forked over an additional Php 10,000 for the marriage certificate, all wedding church requirements, canonical interview, pre-cana seminar, and the wedding priest. We had our pre-cana in our parish, and we also asked our family friend to officiate the wedding, but there were no discounts on the rates even if we "outsourced" a lot of things. I blogged some details about this and our wedding missalette, which can be found <a href="http://www.abbiereal.net/2015/12/our-wedding-misalette.html">here</a>.<br />
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[Edit: The 2018 rate is now Php 70,000.]<br />
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<b><i>Do I need to bring any chapel & mass requirements or equipment?</i></b><br />
Montecito Nuvali has a complete set of mass things the priest needs, but we brought wine and hosts. We also got flowers and fruits for the offertory. There is also a charming loft at the back of the chapel where The Leggiero Strings & Chamber Orchestra, our strings, sang and played during the mass. We just added some speakers and microphones since the chapel doesn't have one. JS Mina, our lights & sounds supplier for the reception, provided these.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/33235783324/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" style="text-align: center;" title="#WittAbbie Emoji"><img alt="#WittAbbie Emoji" height="533" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2883/33235783324_8fd79519de_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
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<b><i>What are the restrictions?</i></b><br />
There are no restrictions in the chapel like wedding time, number of hours, and the like. You just need to coordinate with the admin office the time of your wedding and the ingress required for styling and flowers. Two (2) hours were given to us for the ingress. We opted for simple styling because I wanted to focus on the accents and grandeur of the place. There were also no restrictions on the details of the mass and the songs to be played. BUT I aligned my missalette and other information with our officiating priest.<br />
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<i><b>Where did you hold your reception?</b></i><br />
We held our reception at Pasa Tiempo in Montecito, Nuvali. It's a few feet away from the chapel, and it has two areas for the reception. You can choose either the Social Hall or the Lawn Area for your wedding banquet. The Social Hall can accommodate around 100 guests, and it's located on the second floor of the main building. We opted for the Lawn Area and had two big tents. Montecito offers a lovely industrial-grade tent trellis (with trusses and roofing), but the ceiling is relatively low, and it was rented for Php 125,000 back in 2015. We used Tent King instead for our tents.<br />
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<i><b>What other things should I know if I hold my reception in Pasa Tiempo?</b></i><br />
Your event stylist and wedding planner should coordinate everything that you want to do with the Property Manager of Montecito. They have a lot of restrictions concerning the set-up in Pasa Tiempo. I remember that the pool is off-limits. You can't put floaters in the pool or even candles surrounding it. There are also electricity requirements that you must provide for your entire reception set-up, so a Generator Set is a must. It was also our lights & sounds supplier who provided this.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/34616721473/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" style="text-align: center;" title="IVY_8607"><img alt="IVY_8607" height="533" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4242/34616721473_b995d5918e_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
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<b style="text-align: justify;"><i>How much is the reception venue?</i></b></div>
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We paid only Php 12,000 for the six-hour reception in 2015, but it's now Php 40,000 for the Lawn Area and Php 50,000 - 60,000 for the Social Hall. We also paid additional fees for ingress and egress by the hour. This includes the day-before-set-up and day-after-egress of our tents and the early preparation of K by Cunanan.<br />
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[Edit: Pasa Tiempo's 2018 rate is Php 60,000 for the Lawn Area with Php 8,000 for additional hours beyond the 4 hours that were allotted. There are different charges for the ingress/egress.]<br />
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<b><i>Do I need a sponsor?</i></b><br />
Yes! You will need a resident or a lot owner who lives in Montecito Nuvali to sponsor you to hold the wedding and reception in Our Lady of Guadalupe and Pasa Tiempo. Even a mere ocular and entry to the place would need a sponsor.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/35039209470/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" style="text-align: center;" title="Wedding Reception & Guests"><img alt="Wedding Reception & Guests" height="534" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4281/35039209470_2ff136499a_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
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<b><i>Is there a "catch"?</i></b><br />
The chapel and the village are very exclusive and unique, and they want to maintain it as such; thus, they require a hefty security deposit six (6) months before the day of your wedding. The amount is quite significant - more than the actual rental of the chapel and lawn area plus some more - and it's a requirement to reserve the place. We quickly got the refund one month after our wedding, and they deducted all the venue fees and additional ingress and egress fees there.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/35426301805/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="With hosts Janeena Chan & Gino Quillamor"><img alt="With hosts Janeena Chan & Gino Quillamor" height="534" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4267/35426301805_95cf94a1f7_c.jpg" width="800" /></a></div>
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I hope that this post is helpful to all the brides, grooms, and wedding planners researching this beautiful place. I cannot stress enough that the chapel is still my favorite part of our wedding. It was ALL worth it!<br />
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Let me know if you still need more information about Montecito by commenting below or emailing at abbiereal[at]gmail[dot]com. Let me know if you successfully book the place and if you'll be a Montecito Bride (or Groom!) like me.<br />
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ALL photos from this post are from <a href="http://www.nicolaimelicor.com/">Nicolai Melicor</a>.<br />
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Here's the list of contact details for all the suppliers mentioned in this post:<br />
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<b>Montecito Nuvali </b><br />
Contact Person: Ms. Ethel Paner<br />
Canlubang, Calamba, Laguna<br />
(632) 519-4043<br />
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<b>JS Mina Sound System Rental (Tagaytay)</b><br />
Mernan Adarlo<br />
(0998) 996-2503<br />
<a href="http://jsminasoundsystem.net/">jsminasoundsystem.net</a><br />
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<b>The Leggiero Strings & Chamber Orchestra</b><br />
Merl - (0919) 316-9252<br />
(632) 843-6705<br />
E-mail - leggiero.strings.orchestra@gmail.com<br />
<a href="http://leggierostrings.com/">leggierostrings.com</a><br />
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<b>Tent King</b><br />
(0923) 748-4452<br />
Facebook - <a href="http://facebook.com/TentkingPH">facebook.com/TentkingPH</a><br />
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Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265494155672178468noreply@blogger.com8Canlubang, Laguna, Philippines14.1856278 121.0535867-14.124606036178845 85.8973367 42.495861636178844 156.20983669999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6756132.post-47383385567733857222017-06-12T23:09:00.002+08:002023-05-26T01:52:47.025+08:00REVIEW: SEDA NUVALI - OUR WEDDING PREP HOTEL<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We got married in <a href="http://www.abbiereal.net/2017/06/our-beautiful-montecito-nuvali-wedding.html">Our Lady of Gudalupe in Montecito, Nuvali</a>, Sta. Rosa Laguna last December 2015 and had Seda Nuvali as our wedding preparation hotel. There are a lot of beautiful wedding and reception places in Laguna, Cavite, and Tagaytay areas, but the problem is the lack of charming big hotels in the area for wedding preps. </div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">My wedding planner initially discouraged us from having our wedding preparations in Seda for the lack of Presidential or Bridal suites that would fit all the wedding suppliers and entourage. We scouted the area, and our closest (other) option was an AirBnb in Ayala Westgrove. We ended up booking 6 rooms at Seda. We had 2 Premiere Rooms and 4 Deluxe Rooms for the whole wedding party for two days. We searched the area and concluded that this is (still) the BEST hotel in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.</span></div>
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Premiere Room's King Bed</div>
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My "bridal suite" was a Premiere Room with a King Bed and an adjacent Deluxe Room with Twin Beds. The Premiere Room was where we had all the photographs, while the Deluxe Rooms were where we had the make-up and the preparations. I dub this our "Clean Room" and "Mess Room." It got crowded when my entourage arrived, but everything went well. We also advised the hotel that we would use the rooms for wedding prep, so everything was fine and approved when our suppliers (photo, video, make-up, flowers, planners, etc.) went up to the rooms. <span style="font-family: inherit;">My husband also had a similar set-up with a Premiere Room and adjacent Deluxe Room for his "groom suite'.</span></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/35134020821/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Wedding Prep at Seda Nuvali"><img alt="Wedding Prep at Seda Nuvali" height="533" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4230/35134020821_da032cb4de_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/35264100875/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Diane and I at Seda Nuvali"><img alt="Diane and I at Seda Nuvali" height="533" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4219/35264100875_72773abcd0_c.jpg" width="800" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">They charge an additional Php 10,000 if you want to use the hotel grounds and other hotel interiors for bridal photo shoots. If you book 10 rooms or more in one booking transaction, this will be waived. Ours was waived because of the number of stays and spaces that we booked together with some of our guests and entourage.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"></span><br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/35097895882/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Hair & Make-up by Eds Go"><img alt="Hair & Make-up by Eds Go" height="533" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4223/35097895882_5e44ba6c09_c.jpg" width="800" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span> <span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">The lobby and rooms of Seda are charming, modern, and well-kept. They also have a big parking lot and a massive ground compared to the other Seda Hotels I've been to in the Philippines. The swimming pool is also lovely and is a perfect background for photos.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"> Despite the light rain we had on our wedding day, I insisted on having photos by the pool. It was all worth it. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/35097821952/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="IVY_7947"><img alt="IVY_7947" height="400" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4237/35097821952_d1d9b6a5fc_z.jpg" width="266" /></a> <a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/34876918630/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="D4S_7048"><img alt="D4S_7048" height="400" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4230/34876918630_b951f67bfe_z.jpg" width="266" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Pictorials at the grounds in Seda Nuvali </span></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/35223683906/in/album-72157664105573805/" nbsp="" title="My bridal entourage at Seda Hotel"><img alt="My bridal entourage at Seda Hotel" height="533" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/4235/35223683906_700b3cc2cf_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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With my entourage before leaving the hotel</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Seda's business center is also very efficient and commendable. I asked them to print something for me (my vows!), and they just asked me to e-mail it to them, and they printed and delivered it to my room after a few minutes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">The complimentary breakfast buffet has a wide selection (bacon: check!). Still, I like the taste and presentation of their Misto branch's breakfast food and buffet in Seda Cagayan de Oro City.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"> </span></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/34454955003/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Seda Nuvali's Room View"><img alt="Seda Nuvali's Room View" height="533" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4240/34454955003_fdfd47cb8a_c.jpg" width="800" /></a></div>
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Choose the room with the lake view on the upper floors.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Seda is a business hotel that primarily caters to the many offices and headquarters in Laguna Technopark. But since the Sta. Rosa-Laguna-Cavite-Tagaytay area is fast becoming a favorite spot for weddings - I hope they consider converting some of the rooms into bigger bridal or presidential suites. We saw 3 brides when we checked out the day after our wedding.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">I still recommend Seda Nuvali as a good wedding preparation hotel. Just get adjacent Premium & Deluxe rooms like what we did. The hotel is less than 10 minutes away from </span><a href="http://www.abbiereal.net/2014/12/st-benedict-church-in-silang.html" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">St. Benedict's Church in Silang</a><span style="text-align: left;">, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">2 minutes from Monochrome, and around 8 minutes from Montecito, Nuvali, where we had our wedding and reception. </span><span style="background-color: white;">Seda is also suitable as a family staycation hotel. It's still the best in the area, with nearby shopping malls and a recreation area (Republic Wakepark is nearby).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">More of our wedding posts & reviews are from this <a href="http://www.abbiereal.net/p/wittabbie-wedding-posts.html">link</a>.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">[Update - 30 June 2017] My brother-in-law also had their wedding prep at Seda Nuvali. We stayed in Seda for two nights for his wedding. I observed that the soundproofing of the rooms could be better. I can hear voices in the adjacent room - where the rest of the family were billeted - and even in the room next door. I didn't notice this when we had our wedding preps in 2015. We were assigned to a higher floor then and had rooms on the 3rd floor on our last visit. </span><br />
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<b>Seda Nuvali</b><br />
Evozone Ave., Nuvali, Sta. Rosa, Laguna<br />
(049) 255-8888</div>
Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265494155672178468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6756132.post-37626615962242506182017-05-04T05:44:00.002+08:002023-05-17T20:20:50.720+08:00HACK: BRINGING BACK THE OLD LUCKY ME PANCIT CANTON<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I usually don't blog about food hacks, but this one is worth sharing. </div>
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We were discussing noodles the other day when my colleagues told me that the OLD (and better tasting) <a href="https://shope.ee/6UsZmbAPSU">Lucky Me Pancit Canton</a> is back. They said to me that John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo even had a digital video about it. More on this below.</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/33593402264/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="The Newest Lucky Me Pancit Canton"><img alt="The Newest Lucky Me Pancit Canton" height="602" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4158/33593402264_bedafb79d1_c.jpg" width="800" /></a></div>
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I was so happy and excited when I learned that my "old beloved" is back because Lucky Me Pancit Canton is MY ultimate comfort - and fattening - food. I discovered it in our dorm way back in college and continued my love affair with it before I got married in 2015. I stopped eating Lucky Me Pancit Canton when it had a "make-over" middle of last year. The pack is now bigger, but the noodles are flatter and thicker to give that <a href="http://www.philstar.com/food-and-leisure/2016/06/29/1597840/will-old-pancit-canton-be-back-maker-speaks">"umami" slurp</a>. I don't like it, and I stopped eating it. It's not just the same. The Internet agrees with me, and there are a lot of articles and petitions on bringing back the old. I personally don't like the thickness of the noodles and the difficulty to blend the powder, oil, and sauces on it. I also had to add Knorr Liquid Seasoning to add some flavors to the noodles.</div>
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I was skipping all the way to our nearest 7-11 to covet packets of "the old" Lucky Me Pancit Canton. I was very disappointed when all I saw were the new Lucky Me packaging versions in different flavors. I asked the 7-11 people, and they told me that there are no new "old" and I have to settle with the new "new." I was very insistent, so I googled the Lucky Me John Lloyd-Bea video dubbed as #OurOneAndOnly to prove a point.</div>
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It was a very classic Popoy-Basha video that tugs the heart. The video intends to remind us of the timeless favorite noodles. The operational word is "intends," and it was very effective. The old Pancit Canton is "NOT super back," but Lloydie and Bea reminded us of feel-good love and how Lucky Me Pancit Canton is #OurOneAndOnly...EVEN if the packaging and noodles are new. The taste and formula of the old Lucky Me was back <i>daw</i> and <i>"mas pinasarap pa"</i> according to some replies from Lucky Me's Community Managers on their FB Page. So the story is: the newest Lucky Me Pancit Canton version has the new packaging with the new flat noodles but with the old formula and taste. But, again, the sauces and powder are not my main issue. But I am happy somehow that they brought back the old taste. My concern with the "new" Lucky Me Pancit Canton is the "new" noodles. I was still kinda disappointed, so I grabbed these super new and super latest Lucky Me Pancit Canton and tried a hack that I've been thinking about for a long time. Check below!</div>
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<b>How To Hack Your Lucky Me Pancit Canton (Original Flavor)</b></div>
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This is very easy, but you need to spend a little.</div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Buy Lucky Me Instant Mami Noodles in any flavor. Shopee has discounted and multi-packs at the Luck Me Store which you can get <a href="https://shope.ee/4pkLnq8nwQ">on this link</a>. The number of packs can depend on how many you can consume.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://shope.ee/6UsZmbAPSU">Buy the new Lucky Me Pancit Canton</a>. Buy one less pack from the quantity of Lucky Me Instant Mami Noddles you bought. (eg. If you got 2 Lucky Me Mami Noodles then just need to get 1 Lucky Me Pancit Canton pack). </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Cook the Lucky Me Instant Mami Noodles the way you want your old Lucky Me Pancit Canton noodles cooked and served.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Get the sauces of the new Lucky Me Pancit Canton and pour/season it to your newly-cooked or boiled Lucky Me Mami Instant Noodles. Voila! </li>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/34050629550/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Lucky Me Instant Mami"><img alt="Lucky Me Instant Mami" height="600" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4193/34050629550_61f7a3265c_c.jpg" width="800" /></a></div>
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This is MY hack on how I can savor the old Lucky Me Pancit Canton again in Original Flavor. My problem with the new version was the noodles, and I figured that the Instant Mami of Lucky Me still uses the noodles that were used in the old Lucky Me Pancit Canton that I loved. I kept the noodles of the new Pancit Canton and the sauces and powder of the Lucky Me Instant Mami and will also try to pair them to avoid wasting them.</div>
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I tried the "hack" twice already, and it was pancit canton heaven just like old times! I "cook" my Pancit Canton by leaving it on very hot water for 20 minutes. I want the noodles overcooked, long, and soft then I mix the powder, oil, and sauces after. </div>
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Let me know if this works for you!</div>
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Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265494155672178468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6756132.post-72593694489013179692017-05-01T18:02:00.000+08:002017-05-04T00:19:17.453+08:002017 BINIBINING PILIPINAS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm back to blogging and I am posting again my favorite "sport".<br />
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Binibining Pilipinas 2017 was held last night and we now have our new queens!<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/34361577146/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Binibining Pilipinas 2017 Winners"><img alt="Binibining Pilipinas 2017 Winners" height="450" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4179/34361577146_d5585e4c8d_c.jpg" width="800" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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Miss Universe Philippines 2017 - Rachel Louise Peters</div>
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Bb. Pilipinas International 2017 - Maria Angelica De Leon</div>
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Bb. Pilipinas Supranational 2017 - Chanel Olive Thomas</div>
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Bb. Pilipinas Grand International 2017 - Elizabeth Clenci</div>
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Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental 2017 - Katarina Sonja Rodriguez</div>
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Bb. Pilipinas Globe 2017 - Nelda Ibe</div>
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Bb. Pilipinas 1st Runner-up - Charmaine Elima</div>
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Bb. Pilipinas 2nd Runner-up - Kristel Guelos<br />
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I must say that this is a very good set of winners. I am foreseeing another good run for Team Philippines this year. There were some surprises but it's an over-all well-deserved win for everyone.<br />
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<b>The New Queens</b><br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/34402468295/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Rachel Peters2"><img alt="Rachel Peters2" height="800" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4183/34402468295_591ea5d99b_c.jpg" width="534" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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I predicted and cheered for Rachel Peters to win the Miss Universe Philippines crown even before the finals. She did not disappoint and delivered the goods come Coronation Night and aced each and every round in the competition. She was sexy and sultry in swimsuit, gorgeous in the long gown, and very eloquent (with substance!) in the Q&A. Those long legs will surely go places!<br />
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/34243527332/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Katarina Rodriguez"><img alt="Katarina Rodriguez" height="800" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2845/34243527332_1af09a8bce_c.jpg" width="534" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">The placement of the winners is <i>okay</i> BUT I wished for a higher placement for Katarina Rodriguez. A Supranational crown, maybe? I was so sure of a Peters-DeLeon-Rodriguez win after Katarina's splendid Q&A (not to mention that gorgeous face that is dubbed as the "Face of the Pageant"). Twitter was buzzing that Katarina was this year's Kylie (read: </span><a href="http://www.abbiereal.net/2016/04/binibining-pilipinas-2016-queens.html" style="text-align: justify;">Kylie was last year's best finalist but she settled for an International crown</a><span style="text-align: justify;">) because of her performance. I beg to disagree because Rachel and Mariel were better performers in long gown and swimsuit. They were even awarded for it. Plus - there's the big issue on Katarina's "height" eligibility. BUT I still think that she deserved a higher crown than Intercontinental. </span></div>
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<i>[May 3 Update: CNN and BBPCI said that Katarina expressed that she may NOT accept the Intercontinental crown. I wonder why. BUT Katarina denied this as of press time BUT someone told me that she changed her mind to resign. No official word yet so we have to wait and see. And I initially thought that this batch is drama-free!] </i><br />
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<i>[May 4 Update: She is keeping the crown. Life goes on!] </i><br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/34271865591/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Mariel De Leon"><img alt="Mariel De Leon" height="800" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4192/34271865591_3575af7261_c.jpg" width="534" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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Mariel De Leon is destined to win last night. I am not a fan but I just know that she will win (gorgeous face, showbiz royalty parents). She is also the top choice of most pageant bloggers and forums. Even international pageant fans are rooting for her. It's going to be a tough and long shot for a back-to-back Miss International win - the Japanese are very traditional when it comes to MI - but I am wishing her a very good placement. I must also say that the Cary Santiago creations she wore at the Evening Gown and National Costume are both nice.<br />
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/33560619354/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Chanel Thomas"><img alt="Chanel Thomas" height="320" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4171/33560619354_61e7858c67_z.jpg" width="212" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script> <a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/34271865301/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Elizabeth Clenci"><img alt="Elizabeth Clenci" height="320" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4175/34271865301_368dc97266_z.jpg" width="212" /></a> <a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/34271864331/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Nelda Ibe"><img alt="Nelda Ibe" height="320" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2847/34271864331_4e290455e3_z.jpg" width="212" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></div>
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<b style="text-align: justify;">The Other Winners:</b><span style="text-align: justify;"> Chanel Thomas, crowned Bb. Pilipinas Supranational, also deserved her win for her fine performance last night. She is very confident and she has a legit chance to get our 2nd Supranational win with her charm and sunny disposition. </span>Elizabeth Clenci, Binibining Pilipinas Grand International, is considered as the lone dark horse of the competition. She was never a frontrunner but surprised everyone with her outstanding finish. Her gown also caught my attention for its simplicity and elegance. Mariel's gown is nice but Elizabeth's is a jaw-dropper. Nelda Ibe, Binibining Pilipinas Globe, was the personal revelation for me last night. She was mentioned in a lot of blogs as a shoo-in for one of the crowns but I was late in the game in noticing her. She was styled very well last night and I find her really beautiful. These three has very good chances in their respective international pageants. It's about time we get our win in Grand International (we are always runners-up) and our second wins in Supranational and Globe.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/34271864711/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Maine Elima"><img alt="Maine Elima" height="320" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2872/34271864711_54a06171be_n.jpg" width="213" /></a> . <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script> <a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/34017767680/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Kristel Guelos"><img alt="Kristel Guelos" height="320" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2841/34017767680_059edfedf2_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<b style="text-align: left;">Runners-up: </b><span style="text-align: left;">The result was an upset for Maine Elima - literally and figuratively - but I think that this is the right placement for her based on her performance last night. She's is still in a good place and she can get more training and improve her communication skills for another shot next year. Same with 2nd Runner-up Kristel Guelos who did a fine job in the Q&A but fell a little bit short in the other rounds of the competition. She was one of the (good) surprises of the night and I find her pretty.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><i>[May 3 Update: If Katarina will resign then let's see how this "vacancy" will be filled in. There are also rumors that Maine Elima will not accept and fill-in either and will just take her chance for a crown next year.]</i></span><br />
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<span style="text-align: left;"><i>[May 4 Update: Katarina is keeping the crown so Maine is still 1st Runner-up...for now!] </i></span></div>
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<b><strike>The Two Frontrunners</strike></b><br />
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I posted this at the start of the pageant. These are my guesses and final picks for the crowns:<br />
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Most of my picks made it with the exception of frontrunners Sirene Sutton and Jehza Huelar. Sirene was a favorite for a Top 1-3 finish while Jehza was consistently favored to win one of the minor crowns. Both bombed their Q&A</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Sirene was a major threat to Rachel, Mariel and Chanel in most of the segments. I was in total awe when she came out in her Evening Gown presentation in the beautiful violet gown. She could've easily won the top plum but she bombed the Q&A. She wasn't able to answer...AT ALL. I don't know if it's a case of nerves or lack of coherence or communication skills. I hope that it's the latter because that beauty and body deserves to be showcased internationally. Sirene should sign up with Aces & Queens (she has no beauty camp) pronto and train for next year beginning tomorrow. </span><br />
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Last year's 2nd Runner-up Jehza Huelar improved a lot. I don't like her last year but she has more confidence and her styling improved so much this year. She started well but failed in her Evening Gown presentation and styling last night. Almost there but not quite. She is only 22 so I am hoping to see her again next year.</div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><b>Final Thoughts</b></span></div>
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I generally like this year's Binibining Pilipinas and I like all the winners. It was still a very looong event and I hope that next year's iteration will be better and shorter. BBPCI and ABS-CBN should work on their programming and time slots to reduce the more than 5 hours event.<br />
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Next year will be an exciting year because past runners-up and cross-overs are expected to join. There are already some buzz for Catriona Grey, Laura Lehmann, and Angelica Alita. I am also expecting that Sirene, Jehza, Charmaine, and Kristel will join again next year to improve their standings this year.<br />
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Until the next pageant! <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo Credits: Missosology & Bb. Pilipinas </span></div>
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Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265494155672178468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6756132.post-47315407861004810422016-11-01T23:42:00.001+08:002016-11-03T15:19:50.034+08:00STARBUCKS CHRISTMAS CHEER 2016<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I love Starbucks! I love being in Starbucks. I also love working in Starbucks because of the sense of familiarity and comfort it brings. </div>
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I especially love Starbucks City Mugs and Cards. I've been a serial Starbucks collector since 2007. I am especially active now since I joined the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/egsbcollectors/">Filipino Starbucks Collectors Group</a>. The hobby of trading, selling, receiving, and buying mugs and cards truly gives me ultimate joy. </div>
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I went to Shangri-La Mall last Sunday to check out the preview and first look of the Starbucks Christmas Collection in their event dubbed as the Starbucks Christmas Grand Launch 2016. It's a weekend event of the Philippine Team which featured the new drinks, blends, pastries, THE planners, merchandise, and My Starbucks Rewards holiday cards for the merry Christmas tradition. </div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/30581482551/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Starbucks Christmas 2016"><img alt="Starbucks Christmas 2016" height="480" src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/6/5785/30581482551_082f5db755_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/30374056760/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Sip Some Cheer"><img alt="Sip Some Cheer" height="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5475/30374056760_8d2c782129_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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One of the highlights of the event is a sampler of this year's new Christmas beverage called the Santa Hat Dark Mocha Frappuccino. It's not very sweet and it even has a bit of tangy taste. I'll reserve my review and judgment once I get a taste of a full cup. The new drink and the rest of the merchandise (including the sticker collection for the planners) will be offered starting tomorrow, November 2, 2016.</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/30669507825/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Starbucks introducing Santa Hat Frappe"><img alt="Starbucks introducing Santa Hat Frappe" height="640" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5823/30669507825_41ef03b74b.jpg" width="480" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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Starbucks Christmas will not be complete without the famous planners. 2017 will have two planner editions: The Blue Siren (inspired by the famous logo no less) and the Coffee Stain design. I've been ignoring the planners in the past years but this year's designs are to-die-for. The inside pages are colorful and it also has provisions for notes. The planners will come with a pouch, an erasable pen, a magnetic bookmark, stickers, and vouchers. It will cost 18 stickers with 9 of it coming from the Christmas beverages (Toffee Nut and Peppermint Mocha will be back as usual).</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/30582388501/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Starbucks Philippines Planners 2017"><img alt="Starbucks Philippines Planners 2017" height="480" src="https://c6.staticflickr.com/6/5649/30582388501_fd4a80b8dc_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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Here are the other merchandise and stuff for this wonderful Merry Tradition:<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/30373988990/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Starbucks Christmas Merchandise 2017"><img alt="Starbucks Christmas Merchandise 2017" height="640" src="https://c7.staticflickr.com/6/5335/30373988990_c70a906019.jpg" width="480" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/30067677963/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Starbucks Christmas 2017 Merchandise"><img alt="Starbucks Christmas 2017 Merchandise" height="640" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/6/5719/30067677963_a485187c2a_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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There are new mugs and tumblers. One of the ceramic tumblers even has Swarovski crystals on it.</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/30072301373/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="IMG_20161030_201347"><img alt="IMG_20161030_201347" height="480" src="https://c6.staticflickr.com/6/5684/30072301373_1a0d28263d_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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My favorites in the collection are The Starbucks Silver Relief Manila and Cebu mugs. I love the Relief designs and I am already starting to collect the various city editions available. Manila and Cebu Silver Relief will be released by December 5. I will definitely get both of them (Hello, Cebu Friends!).</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/30669513846/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Starbucks Silver Relief Manila and Cebu Mugs"><img alt="Starbucks Silver Relief Manila and Cebu Mugs" height="480" src="https://c7.staticflickr.com/6/5764/30669513846_503fdc5a53_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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The other holiday merchandise were already on pre-selling at the event.</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/30073093833/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Starbucks Christmas Tumblers 2016"><img alt="Starbucks Christmas Tumblers 2016" height="480" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5643/30073093833_628b301c8b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/30707272425/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Starbucks Christmas Tumblers 2016"><img alt="Starbucks Christmas Tumblers 2016" height="480" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5636/30707272425_177fb8805c_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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Aside from the wares, Starbucks will also introduce a bunch of Starbucks Rewards holiday cards on November 2, November 10, December 5, and December 26. Load and purchase for these cards are consumable and can be used to buy drinks, food, pastries, and merch in Starbucks. There will be 10 new cards and it will cost Php 6,700 if you will collect them all. The cards on the right side below will require Php 300 load, the Red Cup card will require P1,000 (not in photo), the Polar Bear and Holiday Squirrel will come as a set and you'll need Php 1,000 each set to get it. The Special Edition Holiday Card in celebration of Starbucks Philippines' 19th year will need Php 2,500 to activate.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/30040185663/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Starbucks Rewards Cards"><img alt="Starbucks Rewards Cards" height="480" src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/6/5669/30040185663_e3fb5fe311_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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The most coveted Special Edition Holiday Card wth Metal Wrap will be available by December 5 on select 50 Starbucks Stores. </div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/30040241323/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Limited Edition Starbucks Card."><img alt="Limited Edition Starbucks Card." height="640" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/6/5651/30040241323_921c65a578_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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Starbucks Christmas will commence tomorrow, November 2, 2016. Expect a lot of lines beginning this week for the hoards of people who will get drinks for next year's beautiful planners.</div>
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#StarbucksChristmasPH #SipsofCheer</div>
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[All photos were taken using Huawei P9 Plus. Available via Smart under Plan 1499.]</div>
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Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265494155672178468noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6756132.post-26467074602087605242016-09-06T00:21:00.000+08:002019-03-16T13:00:04.146+08:00REVIEW: BUTTERFLY ON MORRISON<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I am really terrible with this blogging thing! I've been busy (as always) and quite uninspired lately to write any decent post. I still owe myself a lot of blogging thoughts and reviews from our wedding. We've been married 8 months already, and I only did <a href="http://www.abbiereal.net/2016/01/our-wedding-highlights.html">a couple of posts</a> <a href="http://www.abbiereal.net/2015/12/our-wedding-misalette.html">about it.</a> </div>
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Now on to the <i>honeymoon</i>! Instead of having a one-time-big-time honeymoon, Witt & I decided to have small trips and staycations throughout the year. We already had a mini-vacay last May in Hong Kong, and we are planning to go to Boracay and Japan later this year. </div>
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One of the things I loved in our Hong Kong trip was the boutique hotel we stayed in: the <a href="http://www.butterflyhk.com/eng/our-hotels/butterfly-on-morrison/default.aspx">Butterfly on Morrison</a>. I now prefer modern boutique hotels or <a href="http://www.abbiereal.net/2015/11/wittabbie-pre-nup-x-airbnb.html">AirBNBs</a> as opposed to big grand old hotels of the past. We were able to book the hotel via <a href="https://www.agoda.com/">Agoda</a>, and the transaction was quick, easy, and they even threw in some promotional discounts. </div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/29381235711/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Butterfly on Morrison"><img alt="Butterfly on Morrison" height="640" src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/9/8850/29381235711_05cc1442eb_z.jpg" width="427" /></a><br />
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Butterfly on Morrison is a very nice boutique hotel. We've been to Hong Kong a lot of times but this is the first time we stayed in the Hong Kong Island part. We usually stay in Kowloon (TST, Jordan, etc.). The hotel is located at Morrison Hill Road in Wanchai but it's very close to the boundary and happenings of Causeway Bay. </div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/29460580295/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Butterfly on Morrison"><img alt="Butterfly on Morrison" height="480" src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/9/8524/29460580295_91f8920d5a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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The hotel is very modern with only four (4) rooms per floor. We booked the Deluxe City View room but got upgraded to the Business Class Room (it pays to be honeymooners). The room is a corner room, so we got to enjoy two (2) floor-to-ceiling glass window with a beautiful view of the Happy Valley Racecourse, Central's high-rise buildings, and Wanchai's residential mountain lane. The room is not very big, but it's pretty okay for Hong Kong standards.</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/29172194170/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Butterfly on Morrison"><img alt="Butterfly on Morrison" height="480" src="https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8494/29172194170_dac17fef49_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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The bathroom is modern and is quite nice. It's also big compared to the other baths I've had before (again by Hong Kong standards). They have a separate shower area from the main bathroom with a very nice flow of water from the rainshower head. Towels and other amenities are also changed every day if requested. The bathroom is made of glass and is see-through (with curtain provisions), so it might be weird for non-couple stays. Hehe!</div>
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The service is good, and they act and respond well to requests. We asked for several things like extra utensils and plug converters, and they were quick to reply. Housekeeping is constant and consistent every day and they provide complimentary water each day. The in-room wifi was high-speed and unlimited. They also offered us a mobile phone with unlimited data for our stay which can be brought outside for our data and Internet needs. We did not use it since we were already subscribed to <a href="http://smart.com.ph/International/traveling-the-world/postpaid-surf-abroad">Smart Surf Abroad</a> (data roaming), but it was still a nice touch of the hotel for their guests. </div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/29460593865/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Wanchai in HongKong"><img alt="Wanchai in HongKong" height="427" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/9/8120/29460593865_159daaba88_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Wanchai neighborhood of Butterfly on Morrison</div>
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The location of the hotel is very accessible to public transport. We rode the Airport Express from the Hong Kong International Airport to the Hong Kong Station ($21.92 for 2) and hailed a cab from the terminus to the hotel ($6.45). The HongKong Tram - those vintage double-decker trains that go around Hong Kong Island - is just a 2-minute walk while the nearest Causeway Bay MRT Exit is just 9 minutes away. We usually enter/exit through Times Square. The heart and center of Causeway Bay is very the hotel. It's only 9-12 minutes away from favorites like Apple Store Causeway Bay, Times, Square, Sogo, Hyan Place, and Ikea.</div>
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The area of the hotel is a little bit quiet especially at night compared to the hustle and bustle of Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon. It's not as touristy compared to the other Hong Kong streets, yet it's just a few walks away from where the action is. One of the things I genuinely love about Butterfly on Morrison is its proximity to Dimdim Sum. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dimdimsum.hk.english/">Dimdim Sum</a> is arguably one of the best dim sum places in Hong Kong (or the world!). It's just a 2-minute walk from the hotel, and we got to try it twice in our stay. It's a must-try and must-visit for dim sum foodies!<br />
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We spent around Php 4,300/night ($92) in Butterfly on Morrison. Agoda gave us an excellent deal compared to the hotel's published rates.<br />
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<b>Butterfly on Morrison</b><br />
35-39 Morrisson Hill Road, Hong Kong<br />
+852 3692 8333<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Credit: Photos 2 & 3 are from the Butterfly on Morrison page.</span></div>
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Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265494155672178468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6756132.post-53104201537511633892016-09-03T22:16:00.000+08:002016-09-04T20:46:39.882+08:00KITCHEN EXPERIMENT: TUNA PESTO PASTA WITH MUSHROOMS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I was about to cook some Batangas Longganisa earlier when I chanced upon some ingredients in our pantry which I can "innovate" for a healthier pasta meal. Witt skipped dinner so it was just me this evening. I haven't been cooking lately so it's a good time to go back and get my groove back.</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/29430760415/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Pesto Tuna Pasta with Mushroom"><img alt="Pesto Tuna Pasta with Mushroom" height="426" src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/9/8074/29430760415_77a0402307.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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I used to cook Cheesy Tuna Pesto a lot but I lacked the ingredients for it tonight so I got creative with what we have in our kitchen and was able to came up with a new pasta recipe.</div>
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Here are the main ingredients I used:<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/29351251931/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Ingridients"><img alt="Ingridients" height="438" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/9/8187/29351251931_602291d8b9_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">I actually used Dona Elena's Spaghetti but I was already cooking the noodles when I took this photo.</span></div>
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200 grams Dona Elena Spaghetti (or Fettuccine)<br />
2 tablespoon Dona Elena Olive Oil<br />
2 tablespoon sliced garlic<br />
1 can Century Tuna Flakes in Brine<br />
1 can (248 grams) Jolly Mushrooms Pieces & Stems<br />
1 Clara Ole Cheesy Pesto Pasta Sauce<br />
Salt & Pepper</div>
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<b>How To Cook</b><br />
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It's very easy to cook this recipe. It would only take less than 30 minutes to prepare and cook everything. This is ideal for those busy weekday nights when you just have to prepare something quick yet filling.<br />
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Instructions:<br />
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1. Cook the pasta based on package instructions. I boil them for 13 mins. using induction stove. Set aside the pasta after cooking.<br />
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2. Saute garlic in Dona Elena Olive Oil then add the tuna. I included the tuna oil as well for added flavor.<br />
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3. Add Jolly Mushrooms and cook and saute for a few minutes. Add salt and pepper.<br />
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4. Toss the cooked pasta in the pan and add the pesto pasta sauce. Blend all ingredients together. Make sure that you put just the right amount of pasta based on the quantity of your ingredients.<br />
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Serves 4-5<br />
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I am not so sure about the cost of the meal since I got all my ingredients in our cupboard. Php 200 is my guesstimate. This recipe is good for busy wives like me or moms who need to whip instant meals for their kiddos.<br />
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Hope this helps in your cooking adventures! :)<br />
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Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265494155672178468noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6756132.post-3607604102543678412016-04-19T06:21:00.000+08:002016-08-30T06:47:58.757+08:00BINIBINING PILIPINAS 2016 QUEENS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Philippines is now a legitimate pageant power house so the national Binibining Pilipinas pageant is a huge deal to a lot of people. We were all interested (and we all have a say) on who should be the successor of the reigning Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach. </div>
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We were very fortunate to watch live and seated at the 3rd row of the live event. We were able to see up close the binibinis and even had a photo of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/theoliviajordan/">Miss USA Olivia Jordan</a>! She is very nice. I asked for her photo and insisted on a selfie! I love her!</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/26507877902/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Miss USA Olivia Jordan"><img alt="Miss USA Olivia Jordan" height="640" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1717/26507877902_953f85e00e_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<b>Hello, Olivia!</b></div>
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We now have 6 new queens who are set to conquer the Universe, International, the Intercontinental, the Supranational, the Grand International, and the Globe! This is such a good batch of binibinis and I must say that I wish to see some of the girls go back next year.</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/26509224242/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="IMG_5980.jpg"><img alt="IMG_5980.jpg" height="480" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1599/26509224242_2e5770bf8f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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Congratulations, girls!</div>
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Miss Universe Philippines 2016 - Maxine Medina</div>
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Binibining Pilipinas International 2016 - Kylie Verzosa</div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental 2016 - Jennifer Hammond</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Binibining Pilipinas Supranational 2016 - Joanna Eden</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Binibining Pilipinas Grand International 2016 - Nicole Cordoves</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2016 - Nichole Manalo</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/29037318720/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Miss Philippines Universe Maxine Medina"><img alt="Miss Philippines Universe Maxine Medina" height="640" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8152/29037318720_74773b6291_z.jpg" width="424" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Miss Universe Philippines Maxine Medina</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.abbiereal.net/2016/04/final-picks-for-binibining-pilipinas.html">I actually predicted that Maxine will win</a> Miss Universe Philippines. Maxine is very beautiful, sexy, and has a very sweet demeanor. She has one of the best faces in the pageant and she looks very regal and winnable. Maxine came prepared come pageant night. I love her in the opening number and in the swimsuit competition. I also liked that she decided to put her hair down in the finals. She is not the best girl compared to other standouts and I was actually a bit worried when she was not called & crowned earlier. I am okay that she is our Miss Universe Philippines but I also believed that she was not the best at the Finals. Her evening gown was not nice; I personally don't like the ribbon and the color. She also bombed the all-important Q&A. BPCI had their reason for choosing Maxine and I am hoping that Aces & Queens will polish and help her in time for Miss Universe.</span></div>
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Kylie Verzosa should win MUP 2016. She is consistent & she did well in all categories! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BinibiningPilipinas2016?src=hash">#BinibiningPilipinas2016</a> <a href="https://t.co/fWT1BNGn6p">pic.twitter.com/fWT1BNGn6p</a></div>
— Abbie Real Dimaano (@AbbieReal) <a href="https://twitter.com/AbbieReal/status/721732932218400768">April 17, 2016</a></blockquote>
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I tweeted the above above after the Q&A and while the judges were deliberating. Though I placed Kylie for International or Supranational, I honestly believe that she should've win the Miss Universe Philippines title because of her excellent performance in the Finals. She was good in swimsuit, had a to die for gown and presentation, and she was very articulate and eloquent in the Q&A. She was the best girl of the night and she deserved the top prize. However - I also know that the judging, deliberation, and assignment of crowns and titles are based on who will be the best representative of our country in the international competitions. With that in mind, I believe that Kylie has a very very good chance in nabbing our 6th Miss International crown.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/29034556960/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Binibining Pilipinas Supranational 2016 Joana Eden"><img alt="Binibining Pilipinas Supranational 2016 Joana Eden" height="400" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8126/29034556960_ec647c278a.jpg" width="265" /></a> <a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/29214184702/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental 2016 Jennifer Hammond"><img alt="Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental 2016 Jennifer Hammond" height="400" src="https://c7.staticflickr.com/9/8018/29214184702_f4455ac318.jpg" width="265" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Binibining Pilipinas Supranational Joanna Eden & Binibining Pilipinas Intercontinental Jennifer Hammond</span></div>
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I placed Joanna Edena and Jennifer Hammond in my Top 15 and was really surprised on their high placements and crowns. I noticed Joanna in the Binibinibing Pilipinas primer a week before the finals and put her on my list. She is really sexy, sultry and is now making a name for herself. She was also the Best in Swimsuit - which I didn't notice much to be honest - and she had a very nice Emerald Green gown made by Mark Bumgarner. Jennifer Hammond is the dark horse of the competition. I did not place her but I must admit that she really shone in the Finals with her very nice styling and Evening Gown which turned to be the best of the night. The Best in Swimsuit and Best in Evening Gown nods for Joanna and Jennifer are one of the reasons that made them win the crowns. Very few binibinis win these special awards without winning one of the crowns.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/29246165261/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Binibinining Pilipinas Grand International Nicole Cordoves"><img alt="Binibinining Pilipinas Grand International Nicole Cordoves" height="400" src="https://c6.staticflickr.com/9/8406/29246165261_e588f54235.jpg" width="265" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script> <a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/29037337410/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Binibinining Pilipinas Globe Nichole Manalo"><img alt="Binibinining Pilipinas Globe Nichole Manalo" height="400" src="https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8339/29037337410_94130fce33.jpg" width="265" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Binibining Pilipinas Grand International Nicole Cordoves & Binibining Pilipinas Globe Nichole Manalo</span></div>
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The two Nicoles - Cordoves and Manalo - are the winners of the two new binibini crowns. Nicole Cordoves got the Grand International title while Nichole Manalo got the Globe one. People are expecting that these two Nicoles will place higher. Some were even rooting that they will get the Miss Universe Philippines or International crowns. Nicole Cordoves gave a "just good" performance in the finals and was not as awesome as Jennifer and Joanna who each aced the swimsuit and evening gown segments. I also placed Nicole lower in my prediction but seeing her in the post-win interviews made me want to give her (at least) the Intercontinental crown. We need another win in that competition and Nicole's wit can achieve that.<br />
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I honestly don't know why Nichole Manalo was placed in the least popular and one of the hard-to-win crowns (with Ann Colis being the reigning Miss Globe and back-to-backs are mean feats). Nichole Manalo was one of the frontrunners together with Maxine and Kylie. Most expected Nichole to win the top plul MUP crown. I personally liked her in the swimsuit competition but I think that her Leo Almodal gown and Q&A were not really good compared to the rest. Still, a congratulations to Nichole and the Manalo sisters for being the most winnable pageant siblings of our nation (World, Universe, Globe).<br />
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Goodluck to our new Queens!<br />
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Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265494155672178468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6756132.post-48691918821937916502016-04-16T23:37:00.000+08:002016-04-17T16:08:32.470+08:00FINAL PICKS FOR BINIBINING PILIPINAS 2016<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We will be crowning our new Binibining Pilipinas 2016 Queens in less than 24 hours! I am very excited for this because my friends and I will be watching the Grand Coronation live at Smart Araneta Coliseum (yay!). I will try my best to tweet and spoil the results so please mute me on <a href="http://twitter.com/AbbieReal">Twitter</a> if you don't want spoilers. The telecast on ABS-CBN will probably be delayed by at least an hour.</div>
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Here are my final picks this year. I hope that I can get most of it right. I was also <a href="http://www.abbiereal.net/2015/03/binibining-pilipinas-2015-bets.html">an armchair judge last year</a> and I only got 10 out of the 15 semi-finalists but was right with the wins of Pia, Christy, and Ann. Rogelie Catacutan was the only 'dark horse' in last year's bout. </div>
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<b>Top 15</b></div>
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I had an easy time predicting this year's queens but had a harder time in finalizing the line-up of the Top 15. There's a small group of frontrunners and consistent performers this year so it's easier to predict the winers than their courts. I ended with a top 15 with 3 alternates. </div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/26439726526/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Binibining Pilipinas 2016 Glam Shots"><img alt="Binibining Pilipinas 2016 Glam Shots" height="640" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1543/26439726526_a572a28c94_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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Row 1 - #3 Angela Fernando, #4 Kim Penchon, #7 Angelique De Leon</div>
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Row 2 - #11 Nicole Cordoves, #13 Joana Eden, #14 Paula Rich Bartolome<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/26399498231/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Binibining Pilipinas 2016 Glam Shots"><img alt="Binibining Pilipinas 2016 Glam Shots" height="640" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1643/26399498231_07bf3964a1_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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Row 1 - #Maria Lina Prongoso, #21 Jessica Gonzales, #22 Aprile Smith</div>
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Row 2 - #25 Anjelica Lopez, 26# Jennifer Hammond, #27 Dindi Pajares<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/26399509011/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Binibining Pilipinas 2016 Glam Shots"><img alt="Binibining Pilipinas 2016 Glam Shots" height="640" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1495/26399509011_641c4bdbc4_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Row 1 - #28 Nichole Manalo, #29 Maxine Medina, #31 Kyle Verzosa</div>
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Row 2 - #36 Maria Gigante, #37 Jehza Mae Huelar, #38 Anjelica Alita<br />
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My alternates this year are Maria Lina Prongoso, Jessica Gonzales, and Anjelica Lopez. They can be shoo-ins for the semi-final but they are not just there yet. BUT this can all change come Finals night.</div>
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<b>The Queens</b></div>
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There are six (6) crowns and titles which will be awarded tomorrow: Universe, International, Supranational, Intercontinental, Globe, and Grand International. I have my final six and I am quite confident with my selection. I am not just too sure about the placements. I learned from a trusted source that the jury selection stops at Top 6 (or Top 7/8 if we count runners up) then the BPCI committee will select and give the crowns to the ladies based on their international pageant winnability and eligibility. Judges are still consulted with this but with strong recommendations from BPCI based on their pageant expertise. Yes - the top scorer will not necessarily get the Miss Universe Philippines plum. </div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/26439933606/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="29-Maxine Medina"><img alt="29-Maxine Medina" height="640" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1528/26439933606_7b9719883c_z.jpg" width="447" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<b>Maxine Medina</b></div>
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Maxine is in it to win it! I believe that the Miss Universe Philippines 2016 crown is for her to lose. She is the whole package with a nice regal bearing. We probably won't win a back-to-back in Miss U but the whole Aces & Queen beauty camp will ensure that she will get a nice placement to follow-up Pia's success. I also think that the A&Q camp will still get the Miss Universe Philippines crown and title this year. The looming threats for Maxine for MUP are Kylie Verzosa and Nichole Manalo.</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/26399722451/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="36-Maria Gigante"><img alt="36-Maria Gigante" height="405" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1624/26399722451_d32f92a447_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script> </div>
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<b>Maria Gigante</b></div>
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I love Maria and I am probably biased in putting her in the second best crown in the pageant. I know that there are more deserving girls than her but all pageant watchers know that beauty camps play a big role in the decision of the crowning the winners. Nichole Manalo with her sweet and nice demeanor probably deserved the International crown better than Maria but she is can no longer compete because of age limitations. Miss International is KF's turf and Maria is the next best candidate next to Nichole. I really hope that she will win this crown. Threats to this crown are Nicole Cordovez and Kylie Verzosa (still). </div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/26193024070/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="31-Kylie Versoza"><img alt="31-Kylie Versoza" height="640" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1451/26193024070_856d290417_z.jpg" width="439" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<b>Kylie Verzosa</b><br />
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I was hoping that Kylie will be given <a href="http://www.abbiereal.net/2015/03/binibining-pilipinas-2015-bets.html">one of the runners up positions last year</a> so she can come back better and well-equipped this year. She didn't win but she did came back fiercer and with more experience. I honestly like her better last year than this year thus the non-top placement. Kylie and her whole slew of supporters really wanted the Miss Universe Philippine crown and she is really working hard for it. She is the most popular candidate this year and I am really excited to see her live and in action. She can be our Supranational bet but I will not be surprise if she will get the MUP or the International title. </div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/26373564202/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="28-Nichole Manalo"><img alt="28-Nichole Manalo" height="640" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1453/26373564202_faa1aeb70d_z.jpg" width="445" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<b>Nichole Manalo</b><br />
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I was not a fan of Nichole when she joined in 2014 and was surprised that she even placed in the semis. The transformation of Nichole this year was very surprising and it made me realize how serious she is (and the whole Manalo family) on this pageant business. I knew from the get go that she will will surely win a crown and title this year. She is really good looking now and sexier compared to the last time. The International crown fits her perfectly but she is ineligible for it so I think she will get the Supranational or Intercontinental title. Though I will not be super surprised if she will win Miss Universe Philippines either. </div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/26439946416/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="11-Nicole Cordoves"><img alt="11-Nicole Cordoves" height="415" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1604/26439946416_9403b798b9_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<b>Nicole Cordoves</b></div>
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Nicole started slowly but surely. She peaked at the right moment and at the right time. She was not in everyone's radar before but her fanstastic showing in the pre-pageant shows especially in the<a href="http://www.abbiereal.net/2016/04/binibining-pilipinas-2016-national.html"> National Costume Show</a> made people notice. </div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/25863091643/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="27-Dindi Pajares"><img alt="27-Dindi Pajares" height="640" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1444/25863091643_194e241c27_z.jpg" width="439" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<b>Dindi Pajares</b><br />
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Beautiful, confident, and really sexy are the attributes that Dindi got that can make her one of our queens. Like Nicole - Dindi was also one of the slow but steady candidates who peaked when it counted. She is not too popular from the start but she bloomed as the pageant progressed.</div>
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The top award is a toss between Maxine, Nichole, and Kylie. I think that one of the three will be Pia's successor for the Miss Universe Philippine title and crown. BUT a lot can still happen tomorrow. Plus - the all important Q&A will play a big role in the placements and the results. I did not give names for the runners-up but Paula Rich Bartolome, Aprile Smith, Angelique De Leon, or <span style="text-align: center;">Anjelica Alita can pull a surprise and be dark horses of the competition. </span><br />
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Who are your bets? Do you agree with my choices? :)<br />
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Can't wait! So excited for tomorrow's Coronation Night! It will truly be a #MostBeautifulConnection</div>
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Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265494155672178468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6756132.post-91715129707460492142016-04-10T03:48:00.001+08:002016-04-12T00:35:14.588+08:00THIS YEAR'S NATIONAL COSTUMES<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It's my first time to blog since January! Wow! I know that I've been neglecting this little space of mine in the Internet and it's not for the lack of trying. I've been meaning to post stuff about our new life, <a href="http://www.abbiereal.net/2016/01/our-wedding-highlights.html">our wedding</a>, and exciting things at work. I really really hope that I will have time to write more in the next weeks. </div>
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I'm back to blogging to post about my <a href="http://www.abbiereal.net/2015/03/very-filipina.html">yearly National Costume favorites</a> in Binibining Pilipinas. I wasn't able to focus too much on this year's nationals because I lost interest after <a href="https://normannorman.com/2016/03/08/kim-ross-out-geisha-in/">Kim Ross Delos Santos' disqualification</a> weeks ago. Kim is one of the early frontrunners and it was really a letdown that she was not allowed to join because of some "racy" photos that were leaked. She might try in Miss World perhaps?</div>
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The National Costume Show this year coincided again with the JAG Fashion Show last Wednesday, April 6. Forty (40) binibinis showcased the creations of Filipino designers and their interpretations of the Philippine National Costume. We had a very good batch this year. I saw a lot of creative pieces that are truly world-class. </div>
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Here are my favorites:</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/25728295223/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Binibini #37 Jehza Mae Huelar in Patrick Isonera & Xioti Chiu"><img alt="Binibini #37 Jehza Mae Huelar in Patrick Isonera & Xioti Chiu" height="640" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1443/25728295223_c802a050d3_z.jpg" width="426" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<b>Binibini #37 Jehza Mae Huelar in Patrick Isonera & Xioti Chiu</b><br />
I love the uniqueness and the bold color of this gown that took inspiration from the Iranun tribe in Mindanao. This is a breath of fresh air from the ternos and Maria Claras that are often featured.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/25726200524/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Binibini #36 Maria Gigante in Philipp Tampus"><img alt="Binibini #36 Maria Gigante in Philipp Tampus" height="640" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1522/25726200524_6d3424599d_z.jpg" width="426" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<b>Binibini #36 Maria Gigante in Philipp Tampus</b><br />
I like the simple nude silhouette and the tiara in Maria. She truly radiates on this Filipiana. She became one of my top bets upon seeing this. It was surprising that this was not chosen in the Top 6.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/26305117526/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="#3 Angela Fernando | Frederck Peralta"><img alt="#3 Angela Fernando | Frederck Peralta" height="640" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1627/26305117526_e8d123094f_z.jpg" width="426" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<b>Binibini #3 Angela Fernando in Frederick Peralta</b><br />
I like the modern take on this classic terno. The headdress is also a plus.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/26331072615/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="# 17 Priscilla De Leon | Rocky Gathercole"><img alt="# 17 Priscilla De Leon | Rocky Gathercole" height="640" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1629/26331072615_c8d67d8132_z.jpg" width="426" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<b>Binibini #17 Priscilla De Leon by Rocky Gathercole</b><br />
Bold, outlandish, outstanding, and unconventional!<br />
This should have been in the Top 6 as well.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/26238655662/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="#11 Nicole Cordoves | Mark Tumang"><img alt="#11 Nicole Cordoves | Mark Tumang" height="640" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1669/26238655662_89f65d17ef_z.jpg" width="426" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<b>Binibini #11 Nicole Cordoves by Mark Tumang</b><br />
I was not too sold on this at first but I saw another angle of this terno that showed Nicole's<br />
silhouette and form. It was really nice and it fit her very well.I also like the play of blue and<br />
white colors on the dress.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/26058195780/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="#32 Jennyline Carla Malpaya in Jonti Martinez-2"><img alt="#32 Jennyline Carla Malpaya in Jonti Martinez-2" height="640" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1573/26058195780_67555d378f_z.jpg" width="426" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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<b>Binibini #32 Jennyline Carla Malpaya in Jonti Martinez</b></div>
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Dainty, feminine, and unique. This can double as an Evening Gown. I am not just too sure</div>
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about the sleeves - still on the fence about it.</div>
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Binibining Pilipinas also chose the Top 6 in National Costume. There will be a voting before the finals to decide who will win.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/26331738215/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Top 6 National Costume"><img alt="Top 6 National Costume" height="426" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1488/26331738215_6c6b49fdd4_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<b>Top 6 National Costume</b><br />
Binibini #38 Angelica Alita in Bessie Besana<br />
Binibini #3 Angela Fernando in Frederck Peralta<br />
Binibini #32 Jennyline Carla Malpaya in Jonti Martinez<br />
Binibini #27 Dindi Joy Pajares in Cherry Veric<br />
Binibini #19 Maria Lina Prongoso in Polly Lagyap<br />
Binibini #14 Paula Rich Bartolome in Joel Acebuche<br />
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Lina Prongoso and Paula Rich Bartolome's ternos are in my runners-up list. I am just confused at Lina's gown since I can't see it clearly in photos. Paula's hand painted gown is also nice but it reminds me too much of Grace Poe who's alway in plain white dresses these days. The top plum for the National Costume this year will probably go to either Jennyline Malpaya or Maria Lina Prongoso; but I am hoping that Angela Fernando will nab it. I got it right last year with <a href="http://www.abbiereal.net/2015/03/very-filipina.html">Wynwyn's gown</a>.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo Credits: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/realbbpilipinas/">Binibining Pilipinas</a></span></div>
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Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265494155672178468noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6756132.post-69718032886504940222016-01-05T23:01:00.000+08:002017-06-21T11:50:11.438+08:00OUR WEDDING HIGHLIGHTS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It's my first day back at work as a new missus. I missed my wifely duties and housewife routine of the last two weeks while I was at work earlier. I am still on our wedding bubble and I want to extend for one more week our vacation BUT sadly off to work we go. Gotta save for that honeymoon trips!</div>
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One of the things that made me happy last night was our on-site photo slideshow by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/nicolaiweddings/">Nicolai Melicor</a>. It was the same day edit of our photos that was featured in our wedding reception. We finally got our copy yesterday.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/24086078962/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Witt & Abbie"><img alt="Witt & Abbie" height="400" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1484/24086078962_2255fa5a72_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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Nicolai Melicor is the best! She's one of the first suppliers we booked and met back in January 2015. There are so many good wedding photographers in the Philippines today but we chose Nicolai for her colorful and vivid style. We love the brightness and lifelike style of her photos and her team's. We are not really the dramatic, slow-shutter-low exposure, play of lights kind of couple so we opted for Nicolai and her playful saturation and natural light type of photography. More review on this soon!</div>
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For the meantime - here's our on-site wedding slideshow...</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AVGVScfovUw" width="640"></iframe></div>
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<i><b>Music: </b>Run Run by The Rival</i></div>
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We are very very happy how this turned-out. Nicolai and her team beautifully captured the happy, emotional, and candid moments that we had in our wedding. <i>Wagas ang kaligayahan ko, diba? </i></div>
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Also - here is the list of awesome our suppliers whose works were featured in the video. I am hoping to write a review about each of them very soon. I just really need to sit down and find time to do it.<br />
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Chapel: <a href="http://www.abbiereal.net/2017/06/our-beautiful-montecito-nuvali-wedding.html">Our Lady of Guadalupe, Montecito Nuvali</a><br />
Reception: Pasa <a href="http://www.abbiereal.net/2017/06/our-beautiful-montecito-nuvali-wedding.html">Tiempo, Montecito Nuvali</a><br />
Wedding Preps: <a href="http://www.sedahotels.com/nuvali/">Seda Nuvali</a><br />
Gown: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Gretchen-Pichay-1608261356130242/">Gretchen Pichay</a><br />
Entourage's Gown: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Paolo-Blanco-Atelier/559302184128913">Paolo Blanco</a><br />
Entourage's Suits: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Gardini-Fashion-Center-166025710081467">Gardini</a><br />
Hair & Make-up: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EgMakeUpStudioEdsGo/">Eds Go</a><br />
Flowers: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thefloralartist.signatureflowers">Joel Faller</a><br />
Pre-nup Photography: <a href="http://www.caliberking.com/">Caliber King</a>, Team Pat Dy<br />
Invitation Design: <a href="http://inkscribbler.com/">Ink Scribbler</a><br />
Missalette Design & Other Prints: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/blissfulbymarkat/">Blissful by MarKat</a><br />
Wedding Coordinator: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/margemontemayor">Events By Marge</a><br />
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Our wedding was truly a joyous and love-filled occasion for us and our families. A big thanks and shout-out to our family, relatives, friends, and colleagues who celebrated with us!</div>
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Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265494155672178468noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6756132.post-24135219478632489422016-01-01T18:40:00.002+08:002016-01-02T01:23:54.231+08:00KITCHEN EXPERIMENT: CHICKEN SOPAS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We've been married for two weeks now and living a very domesticated life. There are adjustments here and there but the biggest discovery I had is my hubby's hearty appetite. He has a very strict rule of eating 3x a day (on time and on the dot at that) whereas I only eat when I am hungry. This was initially a problem because I am not exactly Martha Stewart. I cook from time to time but I am not really the Filipina 'housewife cooking type'. </div>
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BUT I'm a very competitive person and I always aim to please thus I was able to cook a total of 4 lunch/dinner dishes (Sinigang, Afritada, Fried Chicken, Sopas), successfully marinated some chicken thighs and drumsticks, perfected an over easy egg, and mastered breakfast cooking in my 14 days as a married woman. Mean feat for someone who used to be clueless on the amount of cooking oil when stir-frying. </div>
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Last night, New Year's Eve, I decided to try one of my favorite dishes: Chicken Sopas. I got the recipe from <a href="http://www.manilaspoon.com/2013/11/creamy-chicken-sopas-filipino-chicken.html">Manila Spoon</a> but I modified it a bit according to our preference, brands of the ingredients, and serving size. The hubby approved this but he wants it more 'salty'. You guys can also adjust the salt level through fish sauce or salt. Sharing the recipe below.<br />
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<b>CHICKEN SOPAS</b><br />
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<b>Ingredients</b><br />
1 boneless chicken breasts, cooked then shredded<br />
200 grams Del Monte Elbow Macaroni<br />
3 tablespoon Olive Oil<br />
1 Knorr Chicken Broth Cubes<br />
1 medium yellow or white onion, diced<br />
4 garlic cloves, chopped<br />
2 medium carrots, cubes<br />
3 celery stalks, sliced diagonally<br />
8-10 cups chicken broth (I used the water where I boiled the chicken)<br />
Salt and freshly ground Black Pepper, to taste<br />
Fish Sauce, 2-3 tablespoon or to taste (you can opt with 1 tablespoon depending on your preference)<br />
1 can Carnation Evaporated Milk<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/23473301913/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Kitchen Experiment #5 - Chicken Sopas"><img alt="Kitchen Experiment #5 - Chicken Sopas" height="480" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5819/23473301913_11e878abb8_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<b>Steps in Cooking</b><br />
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1. Boil the chicken breasts until tender and cooked. Shred it with a fork or just with your hands after it cooled down.<br />
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2. Set aside the water where you boiled your chicken breast. You will use this after for the broth.<br />
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3. Cook the Del Monte Elbow Macaroni al dente. I used an induction stove and boiled and timed it for 14 mins. Set aside after cooking. Prepare the vegetables while boiling the macaroni.<br />
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4. In a large pan, heat the oil. Saute the onions, garlic, celery, and carrots until the onions become translucent and the vegetables are tender for about 5 minutes. Add a little salt and pepper.<br />
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5. Add the shredded chicken. Add the boiled chicken water, add the Knorr Chicken Broth cubes, season with some fish sauce, salt, and pepper. Add fish sauce or salt to taste or depending on your preference. Bring to a boil.<br />
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6. Add the cooked Del Monte Elbow Macaroni and Carnation Evaporated Milk and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Adjust seasoning if needed.<br />
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Serves 9 - 10<br />
Cost: Php 250.00 (most of the ingredients are in the pantry so this could be lower)<br />
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Hope this helps! Enjoy!<br />
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Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265494155672178468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6756132.post-79503267366566327852016-01-01T04:51:00.001+08:002016-01-01T04:58:18.279+08:00HAPPY 2016!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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2015 was both an amazing and challenging year for me.</div>
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But the photo below sums up the great happiness it brought!</div>
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Looking forward to a marvelous 2016!<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/23721124219/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="My 2015 can be summed up with this one photo. Thanks for being amazing, 2015! Bring it, 2016!"><img alt="My 2015 can be summed up with this one photo. Thanks for being amazing, 2015! Bring it, 2016!" height="640" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1577/23721124219_d98d16e083_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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Happy New Year | Feliz Ano Nuevo | <span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: inherit; font-weight: lighter; line-height: 36px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;">新年快乐</span></div>
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Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265494155672178468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6756132.post-71109713714426097842015-12-29T23:06:00.002+08:002023-05-26T02:03:17.911+08:00OUR WEDDING MISSALETTE <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We got married in <a href="http://www.abbiereal.net/2017/06/our-beautiful-montecito-nuvali-wedding.html">Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel in Montecito Nuvali</a> in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. It's a lovely chapel that very few heard about. It was the perfect chapel choice for us, and I am still giddy whenever I think about it. I've been getting a lot of inquiries about it via e-mail, and I promise to post about it soon.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/23416430884/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Our Lady of Guadalupe"><img alt="Our Lady of Guadalupe" height="427" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1645/23416430884_1a61d6e1ae_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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The chapel is owned by Montecito, but the servicing is administrated by St. John Bosco Parish in Laguna Technopark. St. John Bosco will provide an officiating priest if requested. For our wedding, we asked our family friend, Rev. Fr. Renie Oliver, of St. Polycarp Parish in Cabuyao, to celebrate our nuptial mass.</div>
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Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel has no strict rules in the wedding mass and ceremony, BUT we still cleared everything with Fr. Renie, including the wedding missalette, hymns, and my bridal march song. He also allowed us to recite our personal vows.</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/24047053905/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="#WittAbbie Wedding Misalette"><img alt="#WittAbbie Wedding Misalette" height="480" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1449/24047053905_828c090583_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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One of the most tedious and time-consuming tasks I did 2 weeks before the wedding was our missalette. I laboriously typed the entire missalette based on a Marriage/Nuptial booklet from St. Paul's Publishing. The missalette was used and approved by Fr. Renie.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>To pay it forward, I'm sharing our wedding missalette file in MS Word and PDF with brides, grooms, and wedding planners. You just need to change our names to yours to complete the template. The file is in a regular Word format converted to PDF. Our awesome printer supplier, Blissful by MarKat, made the layout in a back-to-back printable format using a vellum board that they sourced online. You can check this <a href="https://shope.ee/3AcKxZJQpA">link</a> for samples, reviews, and ideas. </div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">You only need to download the file via Google Drive <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/0B22Eh9eYmaX5NGg0Nmh2LWlPYnc/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=106053037702298124181&resourcekey=0-FuzgRgbfZzJ5_mAoc4SwJg&rtpof=true&sd=true" target="_blank">HERE</a> or on Scribd below.<br /></div>
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<div nbsp="" style="-x-system-font: none; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font: 14px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin: 12px auto 6px;">
<a href="https://www.scribd.com/doc/294204801/WittAbbie-Wedding-Misalette" nbsp="" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View #WittAbbie Wedding Misalette on Scribd">#WittAbbie Wedding Missalette</a> </div>
<iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="0.7068965517241379" data-auto-height="false" frameborder="0" height="600" id="doc_61884" scrolling="no" src="https://www.scribd.com/embeds/294204801/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&access_key=key-Hw0tN7mcMexqhasu5QOO&show_recommendations=true" width="400"></iframe><br />
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You can also download the MS Word format through this <a href="https://www.scribd.com/doc/294194685/Witt-Abbie-s-Wedding-Misalette">Scribd link.</a> Hope this helps!<br />
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You may also contact our printer supplier for missalettes, invites, other wedding printing needs, and customized souvenirs:<br />
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<b>Blissful By MarKat</b><br />
(0926) 256-1360<br />
(0926) 781-9440<br />
E-mail: <a href="mailto:blissfulbymarkat@gmail.com">blissfulbymarkat@gmail.com</a><br />
FB: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/blissfulbymarkat">Blissful By MarKat</a><br />
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P.S.<br />
Trivia: Brides usually have 'wedding nightmares' before the wedding or during preps. My only nightmare was the wedding pushed through, and we had no wedding missalettes for the guests. </div>
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Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265494155672178468noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6756132.post-41954596605453916752015-12-25T00:01:00.000+08:002016-01-02T02:24:48.093+08:00MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE DIMAANOS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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May this Season leave you with precious memories: </div>
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a Christmas filled with light, love, and joy all around! </div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/23349371093/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Merry Christmas from The Dimaanos"><img alt="Merry Christmas from The Dimaanos" height="800" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5700/23349371093_9888f69f4e_c.jpg" width="536" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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Happy Christmas from our home to yours!</div>
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- Witt & Abbie Dimaano</div>
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P.S.<br />
Been married for a week now. Yeah! </div>
Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265494155672178468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6756132.post-64806185046880304132015-11-18T05:09:00.003+08:002015-11-20T02:17:41.488+08:00OUR PRE-NUP SHOOT IN AN AIRBNB<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I am not really keen on having engagement or pre-nuptial photos. I am used to seeing a lot of engagement photos of couples dressed to the nines, in an island, in a forrest, in a quirky cafe, etc, etc, and I honestly don't see myself and Witt in those positions. I was thisclose to forgoing any pre-nup photo sessions but Witt cleverly came up with a nice pre-nup concept that got me onboard.</div>
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Witt wanted a photo shoot that is very casual in a 'daily grind' indoor set-up with our everyday stuff. I immediately liked the idea because it defines us and our personalities. We are homebodies who prefer indoors instead of going out for adventures. We love lounging around, social media, mobile games, our gadgets, and our mobile phones (and the stuff you can do with it).<br />
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I was already scouting for venues as early as March to complement the idea. We searched for the best condos, hotels, and staycation places in Manila. Our shortlist included Joya in Rockwell or Oakwood in Ortigas. This changed when my colleague, <a href="http://instagram.com/jeanarboleda">Jean</a>, told me about their staycations in Airbnb flats here in the Metro. It was a eureka moment for me because Witt and I are Airbnb fans as well. We like unconventional and unique accommodations and we stayed in an Airbnb in Kuala Lumpur last year.<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Airbnb is an online marketplace for people looking for listings of vacation rentals, homes, and flats for lodging. People host and rent their place for guests looking for accommodations. It's an improved version of the "couch surfing". Airbnb has over 1.5M listings in 34,000 cities and 190+ countries. </blockquote>
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There's A LOT of good Airbnb rentals in Manila. Top condominiums and buildings in Makati, Taguig, and Ortigas has a lot of listing targeting tourists and staycationers. We were very lucky when we chanced upon Clare's <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/5841667">Modern Loft with Golf Course View</a> in Bonifacio Global City's Burgos Circle. The loft is very nice and is very Instagram-worthy! It's perfect for our pre-nup session.<br />
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Here are some photos.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/22703812889/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="#WittAbbie Pre-nup BTS"><img alt="#WittAbbie Pre-nup BTS" height="360" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5649/22703812889_b518d43136_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/22677652958/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="#WittAbbie Pre-nup BTS"><img alt="#WittAbbie Pre-nup BTS" height="500" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5700/22677652958_7e9ae46063.jpg" width="281" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script> <a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/23107317141/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="#WittAbbie Pre-nup BTS"><img alt="#WittAbbie Pre-nup BTS" height="500" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5748/23107317141_9f7505e0b0.jpg" width="281" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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The small details and touches made the loft nicer.</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/23069940166/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="#WittAbbie Pre-nup BTS"><img alt="#WittAbbie Pre-nup BTS" height="360" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/670/23069940166_22491341f5_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/23158620511/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="#WittAbbie Pre-nup BTS"><img alt="#WittAbbie Pre-nup BTS" height="360" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/761/23158620511_99f3fa05c8_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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The golf course view is also amazing!</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/22474814313/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="#WittAbbie Pre-nup BTS"><img alt="#WittAbbie Pre-nup BTS" height="360" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5633/22474814313_4452ae4a33_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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We were not really fuzzy with our engagement shoot and we only had 2 simple lay-outs - plaid and denims. Plus a 3rd top change and look for me. The place truly complemented our desire to have social media-worthy photos that shows our passions and hobbies.<br />
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Our photographer for the shoot is the great <a href="http://www.caliberking.com/">Caliber King</a> of Team Pat Dy. Cali guided us in the shoot and he made us relax and get through with it. We still don't have the official photos but here are some behind-the-scenes from Instagram and our cameras:<br />
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<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="5" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
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<a href="https://instagram.com/p/9-2qlsypmF/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Preview of our pre-nup photo session. #WittAbbie</a></div>
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A photo posted by Abbie Real (@abbiereal) on <time datetime="2015-11-12T10:52:39+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Nov 12, 2015 at 2:52am PST</time></div>
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<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="5" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
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<a href="https://instagram.com/p/9_FD7yypsR/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Thanks to our pre-nup style team! #WittAbbie @itsedsgomakeup @nikkiabella</a></div>
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A photo posted by Abbie Real (@abbiereal) on <time datetime="2015-11-12T12:58:27+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Nov 12, 2015 at 4:58am PST</time></div>
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From our stylist's camera phone.</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/22525506884/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="#WittAbbie Pre-nup BTS"><img alt="#WittAbbie Pre-nup BTS" height="640" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5674/22525506884_81ab68584d_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/22525454593/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="#WittAbbie Pre-nup BTS"><img alt="#WittAbbie Pre-nup BTS" height="640" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/584/22525454593_908d5e26ca_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
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Our glam team.</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/22473311984/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="#WittAbbie Pre-nup BTS"><img alt="#WittAbbie Pre-nup BTS" height="480" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/653/22473311984_c27f6af8a0_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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Our shoot was also a success because of our glam and style team led by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EgMakeUpStudioEdsGo/">Eds Go</a>, my make-up artist, and Nikki Abella, our stylist. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EgMakeUpStudioEdsGo/">Eds Go</a> is truly God-sent and I was very fortunate that I was able to book her for the wedding and the pre-nup shoot as early as February this year. She is now one of the most sought-after bridal make-up artists as evident on the number of page views, e-mails, and inquiries I got when I blogged my <a href="http://www.abbiereal.net/2015/02/make-me-up-part-2.html">Eds Go make-up review</a> months ago. I will post another one for the three special looks she made for me for our pre-nup.<br />
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Our stylist, Nikki Abella of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dreameventexpress/">Dream Event Express Planners</a>, was a last minute decision BUT I am very glad that we got her. It was very stressful to have a pre-nup production and Nikki was always a step ahead in ours. She made sure that we followed the schedule, we have the right clothes and looks, and she ensured that everything is in order. She also provided some props and helped us shopped two days before the shoot.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/22677624917/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="#WittAbbie Pre-nup BTS"><img alt="#WittAbbie Pre-nup BTS" height="360" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/769/22677624917_f153aba7e9_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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Our pre-nup shoot is not as fabulous compared to other couples' but I am very happy because it's very us - laid back, simple, and relaxing BUT it had very nice, contemporary, and bright details and touches.<br />
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Oh, some #SmartAirbnb plugging...<br />
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One of the reasons why I love Airbnb is because of Smart's partnership with them. This is one of our coolest partnerships this year together with Uber (shared economy FTW!). We launched the offer and partnership a couple of weeks ago in an Airbnb house in Forbes Park in McKinley. All Smart subscribers can get Php 2,500 off for Php 8,000 and above bookings. All you need to do is text SMARTAIRBNB to 2855 to get the discount code which you will input when you book your rental. This is good for bookings until March 2016 and for travels until December 2016 in any Airbnb listing anywhere in the world. Check this out for more info: <a href="http://smart.com.ph/airbnb">smart.com.ph/airbnb</a>.<br />
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I wasn't able to use the discount for our loft booking since I booked prior to the offer but I will surely use it in our honeymoons and travels next year!<br />
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Countdown starts today! Thirty days to go before the big day!</div>
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Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265494155672178468noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6756132.post-83441854773009342962015-10-12T04:38:00.002+08:002015-10-16T00:18:03.303+08:00OUR MONOGRAM<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It's only sixty seven days before our wedding! Whew, breathe in, breathe out! I am not yet ready! There are so many things that I still need to do before I say I do. September and October are very busy months at work and I am already panicky because I need to concentrate 24/7 on our wedding preparations. I met with our super wedding planner, Marge, late last month and looks like we are on track (I hope). I just need to finalize our Strings and we are done with the big suppliers. </div>
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One of the things I accomplished last month is our monogram and invitation suite design. I'm NOT supposed to splurge on invites but scrimping on design and style is unacceptable for me. The monogram and our invitation elements will set the mood for the whole wedding. It will also be the pattern for all the styling for our big day.</div>
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I cannot show yet the suite design but I want to share with you our monogram. Tada...<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/22097021045/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Our Monogram #WittAbbie"><img alt="Our Monogram #WittAbbie" height="640" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/747/22097021045_3cc8a842e6_z.jpg" width="639" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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Nice, right? The design was made by Alexis Ventura's <a href="http://www.inkscribbler.com/">Ink Scribbler</a>. We had a couple of revisions on this monogram because I initially wanted modern calligraphy or watercolor for our names. They gave us several options and Witt and I fell in love with this classic calligraphy instead of our original pegs. </div>
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I did a lot of research for our invitation suite and I am very happy that I hit the jackpot with Ink Scribbler. It took me almost 6 months of inquiry and hours of Pinterest and Internet surfing before I stumbled upon Ink Scribbler. I was very happy when I saw their portfolio and I even enrolled in an afternoon calligraphy class with Alexis last July. I highly recommend them! They are very creative and they do their revisions very fast (a must for 'impatient telco clients' like me). Check their portfolio through their <a href="http://www.inkscribbler.com/">site </a>or <a href="http://www.instagram.com/inkscribbler">Instagram</a> account. Shout out to <a href="http://www.instagram.com/abbeysy">Abbey Sy</a> for recommending them to me.<br />
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We are hoping to finalize the invitation suite within the week. For the meantime - I would like to share with you the mood and inspiration board that we sent to Ink Scribbler. I'm very busy busy busy (as most of you know especially if you're a business colleague) but I really set aside time to create wedding boards for our suppliers.<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/21474589764/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="#WittAbbie Invitation Pegs & Inspiration"><img alt="#WittAbbie Invitation Pegs & Inspiration" height="393" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/730/21474589764_7d5d5fbbc3_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/21909258040/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="#WittAbbie Invitation Pegs & Inspiration"><img alt="#WittAbbie Invitation Pegs & Inspiration" height="393" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5793/21909258040_25563d6005_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbiereal/21909539278/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="#WittAbbie Invitation Pegs & Inspiration"><img alt="#WittAbbie Invitation Pegs & Inspiration" height="390" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5807/21909539278_5b1ea38b5c_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><br />
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<span style="text-align: justify;">I can't wait to show-off our invites! It was definitely a bride moment for me when I first saw the draft. Haha! </span></div>
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Abbiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14265494155672178468noreply@blogger.com4