By Lucita Visquiel
They say Filipinos stint themselves on everything once a celebration is on the horizon so that their celebration will be truly special. Very true, and perhaps a Pinoy wedding is one of the best examples of this. Once a couple becomes engaged, the whole thing becomes a splendid family affair…and this is doubly true for Filipinos living abroad, who make the occasion their reason for a family reunion.
Family is of paramount importance to Filipinos, especially those abroad, and when a Pinoy gets married, his or her relatives naturally wish to welcome the new spouse…and in style. Witness the balikbayan habit of working multiple jobs in order to come home in a blaze of glory, sponsoring a town fiesta, a wedding, or some other grand event to mark one’s arrival. Weddings are a good occasion for this.
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Soon-to-weds discover the beauty of wed-
dings in the Philippines as wedding sup-
pliers like Susie Bonaobra of Trends
Wedding Shoppe answer inquiries.
| | It’s never easy preparing for a wedding, and preparing for a Pinoy balikbayan wedding is even more difficult. Relatives must be tracked down and rounded up; a venue must be chosen that is convenient to all participants; and there are costs to be considered. That’s why marrying in the Philippines is such an attractive option; not only can a clan reunion be held for the families of both spouses, but costs are also halved, at the very least. Intimate weddings held in the US can run up minimum tabs of $ 25,000; the same amount guarantees a grand time with top-notch suppliers in the Philippines.
As always, there are a few important things to consider, the most important being that many Pinoys choosing to marry back in the Philippines need to be able to trust their suppliers—especially when they often have to book sight and reference unseen. This trust was often betrayed by unscrupulous fly-by-night suppliers who preyed on balikbayans eager for a bargain. And someone thought, "There has to be a better way to coordinate weddings in the Philippines from abroad."
Hence the 1st "Kasal Pilipinas -Wonders of Weddings" was born in San Francisco last August 11, 2006 at the St. Patrick’s Church on Mission St. , and coinciding with the annual Pistahan Festival celebrated at the Yerba Buena Gardens across St. Patrick’s church. Co-presented by Manila Bulletin’s About Weddings, Wedding Essentials Magazine, Celestial, Ibarra’s Party Venues & Catering, Menagerie, Creative Event Expert, and Andrea Isabela Catering, " Kasal Pilipinas 2006" is organized and produced by the Filipino-American Development Foundation (FADF), Esy Creations, and the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT), in close partnership with the Consulate General of the Philippines in San Francisco, the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Philippine Center, the San Francisco Filipino Cultural Center (SFFCC) and St. Patrick’s Parish Council.
FADF Program Director and Kasal Pilipinas coordinator MC Canlas is proud of this pioneering effort. "Our double aim is to promote weddings in the Philippines, and showcase Filipino entrepreneurship and the country’s booming wedding industry. That’s why Kasal Pilipinas 2006 features affordable wedding celebrations and the wonders of Filipino weddings in the Philippines and in the Bay Area." Certainly the event is a godsend for soon-to-weds in the United States who want to get married in the Philippines, or for those who wish to have a Philippine-style wedding in the Bay Area. "This fair has some of the best the Philippines has to offer," Canlas adds, "which is perfect for those who wish to draw on their rich cultural heritage to make their weddings more memorable."
Impressive credentials
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Manny and Evelyn Aldaba of Lily Flower
Boutique spruce up the grounds of St.
Patrick’s Church for Kasal Pilipinas
Wonder of Weddings. | | "Kasal Pilipinas -Wonders of Weddings" brings together more than thirty Filipino wedding suppliers, entrepreneurs, and service providers under one roof to offer an array of products and services for weddings in the Philippines and in the San Francisco Bay Area. But it’s not just a random collection of people; each supplier and sponsor has been chosen for a good reputation both here and in the Philippines. Take co-presentor Wedding Essentials, the best-selling wedding magazine in the Philippines despite being only on its fourth issue, is known both to suppliers and brides for its well-written, useful articles, artistically-shot photography, and lovely layouts. Many recent brides declare Wedding Essentials to be their "bibles" while planning their weddings. " Another co-presentor, Ibarra’s, has many strategically located venues, and is constantly opening new ones in order to satisfy the demand for their services.
Among the participating suppliers and exhibitors in the Kasal Pilipinas Fair are professional designers and couture salons Esy Creations, Merlene Marcelo, Michelle Lim, Susie Bonaobra, and Bonaobra Couture. Michelle Lim, a partner of the prestige Philippine brand Sari Sari Store where she has her own designer line, has years of experience as a bridal gown designer and many highly satisfied clients. Susie Bonaobra owns Trends Wedding Shoppe, a one-stop bridal shop located at Robinson’s Galleria in Ortigas.
Participating wedding and event venues Fernwood Gardens, Gazebo Royale, Oasis, Ibarra’s Party Venues, Studio A, MMLDC, and Coconut Palace, each offer a unique ambience and personalized service. Gazebo Royale and Fernwood Gardens are popular for their romatic garden venues. In San Francisco, affordable and beautiful event venues for truly Filipino weddings are the Bayanihan Community Center, Manilatown Center, San Francisco Filipino Cultural Center (which will soon open at the West Field Shopping Center), the Philippine Center, and St. Patrick’s Church Social Hall.
Of course all this goes to waste without coordinators who can work in the Philippines and the Bay Area, and who can provide extensive references, thus guaranteeing their reliability. The Grand Banquets Network, Solutions Events, Jody Liwanag, and A Magical Event are often booked in advance, almost solely on the strength of personal recommendations.
Now what’s a Filipino celebration without glorious food? Hizon’s Catering, Josiah’s Catering, Lina Vitan Catering, and Andrea Isabela’s Catering (Vallejo-based) are well-known for their tasty dishes. Catering, for them, is not a profession; it is an art, an aesthetic delight. The Manila Catering, for one, represented by the personable Milit Baron, has won three consecutive "Most Outstanding Catering Service Company" awards in the Philippines, in part thanks to its affordable yet delicious packages.
The Cake Artist Judy Uson, Vienna Cakes, and Dexter’s Bakeshop are but a small representation of the talent in the Philippines, but they are among the best. The Cake Artist earned her title thanks to her lovely fondant cakes and her trademark vibrant flower décor.
A wedding is a precious memory, and entrusting its coverage to any of the participating photography and videography professionalsis a smart move. No "couple in a champagne glass" and other silly shots for them, definitely! The formidable credentials of Emil Buencamino, a seasoned wedding photographer of fifteen years and past chairman of the Wedding and Portrait Photographers of the Philippines (WPPP- a certifying body of wedding and portrait photographers with 50 members nationwide), and recipient of countless awards in photo competitions conducted by the Association of Photo Studio Owners of the Philippines (1st place in 1996 and 1999) are but typical of those in his class. Yet Mr. Buencamino and colleagues Ariel Javelosa Photography, Megapixels Photography, Phases and Faces by Edward Unite, Tri-color Photography, NED Photography, Smart Shot, and Nino Vill (based in the Bay Area) are affable, easy to work with, and consistently professional.
Making an impression with a unique invitation is easy with participants Imaginovation, QP Designs, the Write Impressions, Menagerie Invitations, and Technographics Printing. The Write Impressions’s work is often featured in magazines for its attractive, clean layouts and designs. To set the mood, what could be better than music from Bernie Pasamba Music Consultancy, JJS Entertainment, and Vitan Lights and Sounds?
Other participants are Ronnie Rarugal Salon for Men and Women (hair and makeup), Mosaic Moments and Rio Tiaras for Unica Couture (accessories), Flowers of May by Wedding Gallery and Lily Flower Boutique (Flowers and event styling), Celestial (jewelry), and Megaworld Corp. (property developer). Major sponsors Josiah’s Catering, Phases and Faces, LBC, Hizon’s Catering, Oasis, Gazebo Royale, Lily’s Flower Boutique, the Beat Lifestyle Magazine, Merlene J. Marcelo Couture, Bonaobra Couture, LBC, Manila Bulletin U.S.A., and Philippine Asian News Today also contributed to the event’s success.
"More participants are coming in next year," Canlas says. "This is not just an exhibit; it’s a venue for networking, and for exploring the nuances of our culture." And weddings are one of the best places for displaying the beauty and richness of a culture often taken for granted yet which influences and enriches the daily lives of all who have lived—or have roots—there.
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