Originally, we wanted to have Rafael's baptism ceremony to be held at the UST Church (Santisimo Rosario Parish), where Ronnie and I got married in 2012.  However, most Catholic churches in Metro Manila, including UST Church, require a baptism seminar for the godparents of the baby who will be receiving the sacrament.  We honestly don't have anything against seminars like this but we think that it will be more convenient for everyone, especially to OFWs like us who don't have the luxury of time to stay for long here in the Philippines, to just skip the baptism seminar thing.

So I started looking for an alternative church for Rafael's Christening ceremony.  After several days of searching the internet for churches that don't require baptism seminar, I ended up having only two options: (1) Sanctuario de San Jose in Greenhills and (2) Christ The King Parish in Greenmeadows.

In planning special events like this, it is important to always take into consideration the comfort and convenience of the guests since they  will be required to travel from the ceremony to the reception venue.  Both churches were actually a good option since there are several restaurants nearby where you can hold the reception.  However, since we will be having Max's Restaurant for Rafael's Christening reception (with the Tiendesitas branch's function room being more spacious than Greenhills branch), we decided that Christ the King Parish would be the better option among the two.

The church offers mass baptism, also known as "binyagang bayan," for Php 500 and special baptism for Php 3,200.  We wanted a more private Christening ceremony so we opted to have a special baptism instead.  The requirements include a completed baptismal form (provided by the church) which includes the list of godparents, original and photocopy of the child's birth certificate, and the parent's marriage certificate.  Since Ronnie and I were both in Abu Dhabi and we won't be coming to the Philippines a day before the event, I just provided an authorization letter in order for mama to book the schedule on my behalf.  Communicating with the parish office was incredibly easy and hassle-free.

Let me share with you a few photos of the event!

To clarify things, I decided to call them and I was informed that UAE is running a National Polio Campaign from November 16 - 27, 2014 and January 11 - 22, 2015. According to the leaflet that they were giving away in the health center, UAE had been polio free for several decades already but new cases among neighboring countries had been recorded, thus this National Immunization Campaign was initiated to make sure all children under five are fully protected.  So even if Rafael has an updated immunization, he still gets an extra shot of polio vaccine for further protection.

One thing I am really grateful about living in this country is that they provide full coverage of my child's immunization. Yes, you read it right! children's vaccines are given here for free.  I hope someday, the Philippine government will be able to provide this kind of benefit to its people too. After all, disease prevention has been proven to be far more cost-effective than treatment and rehabilitation.

Image source:  www.groupon.ae

I've been here in Abu Dhabi for almost two years already but this was the only time I got the chance to dine in the famous Tiara Restaurant of the Burj Al Marina.  Actually, it just took me a long time to convince my husband for us to try it.  He was very hesitant in the beginning because this place is pretty expensive.  However, since he knew how much it would make me happy to experience dining in a revolving restaurant, he finally agreed to take the whole family here for dinner.  And I was like, "Is that for real???"  I can't believe my uber kuripot husband will take us to a one-of-a-kind fine dining restaurant!  I was in shock but I managed to dress up immediately before he changed his mind.  Lol.

In order to get to the restaurant, we had to take a few meters walk inside the Marina Mall and take a lift.  The glass elevator will allow you to see the view of Abu Dhabi as it goes up to a height which is approximately 55 floors.  The elevator ride may have been enjoyed by some but not me.  My heart was pounding I could almost hear it.  I was scared.  I even told myself, "What was I thinking to have the idea of dining in a revolving restaurant?"  I totally forgot, I have fear of heights!  But worry not because I survived the night.

Overall, my first encounter with Tiara Restaurant was absolutely fantastic!  I enjoyed everything!  The ambiance, the food, the service, and most specially the people I shared the night with.  (I just didn't know if my husband enjoyed it as well after paying the bill.  Lol.)  It's really one for the books!  I would definitely recommend this as a "must try" for all the tourists who wish to visit Abu Dhabi.  It's just really expensive though but believe me, it's totally worth it.

Burj Al Marina, Marina Mall, Marina Village, Abu Dhabi

Contact number:  02 6819090

Planning an event is a difficult task especially if you are abroad and most of the suppliers that you have to coordinate with can be reached only either by email or an international long distance call.  But since we have decided to have Rafael's Christening in the Philippines, we made it sure to plan ahead of time and choose trusted suppliers that can deliver.

We chose Max's Restaurant because of their popular worry-free Christening packages.  If there's one thing that I learned from organizing our wedding back in 2012, that would be to choose suppliers which will be able to address most of the event's needs so you won't need to deal with the stress of coordinating with too many people at the same time.  With Max's, you get a comprehensive party package at a very reasonable price.  This includes 2 hours use of their venue, a party host, decorated party area, theme cake, tarpaulin banner, guest book, invitations, giveaways, gift for the baby, a 5% discount certificate (for the next party), and most importantly, good food!  That's how you spell C O N V E N I E N C E from a customer's point of view.  Good job Max's Restaurant!

For the Christening package menu options, we chose premium menu 2 for Php 27,955 (good for 50 pax) which includes the following:

• Nachos with Bangus Spread
• Soup of the Day
• Pancit Canton 
• Halabos na Hipon
• Beef Caldereta
• Bagnet with Poqui-Poqui
• Open Fresh Lumpia
• Max's Regular Fried Chicken
• Buko Pandan
• Rice
• Drinks

Let me share with you some of the photos taken from the reception.  Enjoy!

As soon as we have booked the church and reception for Rafael's baptism, the next thing I started scouting for on the internet was the souvenir for the godparents.

Looking for a baptism souvenir was a tough task.  I was searching for something personalized, cute, useful, and of course, affordable.  Theme cupcakes were actually cute, sweet, and sensible.  However, as much as possible, I wanted Rafael's souvenir to be something non-consumable.

I wanted something that can be easily seen but not plainly decorative in purpose which would only harbor dust as years pass by.  I wanted something functional, something practical.  I was thinking maybe wind chimes, picture frame, mug, etc. but I was not convinced.  I was already about to lose hope and give-in to the cupcake trend when I chanced upon Clay Land Souvenir Shop's website.

I saw several of their personalized souvenirs which I found really cute.  Clay Land is actually an online shop selling made-to-order give aways (for baptism, birthdays, weddings, etc.) and invitations.  Among the different souvenir items that they offer, I liked the ref magnet more. It's cute, colorful, useful and most importantly, personalized.

I love personalized gifts.  For me, a simple gift becomes more valuable whenever it bears your name or initials.  Indeed, it can make you feel like a VIP, and that's exactly how I wanted Rafael's godparents to feel.  They were chosen to be my son's second parents; to lead by example and to guide him as he grows up so they're really special.

Honestly, in the beginning, I was hesitant to make a transaction with online merchants like Clay Land.  You cannot blame me for having second thoughts because of all the online scam and bogus businesses wandering all over the world wide web.  But their ref magnets were just so cute and simply irresistible, so I decided to try.  I told myself, I would order just a few pieces for Rafael's godparents.  If they would be able to deliver, then well and good.  But if in case they won't, then that would be a learning experience for me.

So, I sent them a message to ask about the price and the process of placing an order.  In fairness to them, they had responded to my inquiry right away.  The price of the ref magnets actually vary depending on the style and the quantity of your order. I will not be disclosing the price here but be rest assured that they were priced reasonably.

I paid the whole amount through bank deposit so that they could confirm my order.  Just a piece of advice, if you are interested in doing business with them, make sure that you place your order ahead of time (at least 2 months prior to your requested delivery date) because they really have tons of orders.  I ordered my souvenir four months before Rafael's Christening and had it delivered a month before the event (so I still have enough time to look for another supplier of souvenirs in case they happen to be a bogus one).  Gladly, they weren't.  They were able to send my package on the day of my requested delivery date and the souvenirs were just perfect!  I am one happy customer of Clay Land Souvenir Shop!

Aside from the ref magnets that I ordered online, we also had Rafael's Christening candles personalized.  However, in this case, the candles were not ordered from an online shop but instead, a DIY project of my younger brother.  Being the production manager that he was of our humble family-owned printing press, he was able to transform an ordinary candle into a unique and classy personalized candle which also served as an added souvenir for the godparents.  Congratulations for a job well done, Hijo!

Last Friday morning, my family and I went to Corniche for a walk.  It has been a few months already since we stopped our weekly walking exercise.  It's not healthy not to do exercise, I know.  I blame it all on the weather!  The summer season here in the Middle East is just unbearable!  It's hot, humid, and the temperature reaches beyond 40 degrees Celsius.  Can you imagine that?  It just feels like you're being baked in an oven.  Good thing the weather is starting to get cooler these past few weeks, so basically, we'll be able to go for long walks again.  Yey!

Corniche is such a nice place that's popular among the locals, expats, and tourists.  My husband loves this place too!  Let me show you around so you'll get to understand why this is considered a "must-see" place here in Abu Dhabi.  In addition, allow me to share with you also several activities that you and your family may enjoy doing here.

1.  Swim.  The main attraction here is the beautiful beach where the water is clear and the sand is white.  And the best part is - it's FREE!  Yes, you can experience the "bora" feel of their white sand beach at no cost!  You also need not to worry about safety because there are plenty of lifeguards available in this place. However, please take note that there are no cottages available here. If in case you would want to have your own private space, you may go to their family beach which has an entrance fee of AED 10.00 and avail a sun lounger with umbrella for AED 25.00.

2.  Play sports.  If you are the sporty type of person or perhaps, you're just not in the mood to swim, you can still enjoy Corniche by playing either beach volleyball or soccer.  There are soccer goals and volleyball nets available and installed already along the beach, perfect for groups who want to have a challenging game while having fun under the sun!

3.  Have a picnic.  Corniche isn't just all about beach.  There is also a park full of trees and carpet grass where you can lay a cloth or mat and enjoy having a picnic with family and friends.  If in case you don't feel like sitting on the grass, they also have several tents with built in tables and benches perfect for sharing a delicious meal or snack.  

4.  Have the kids enjoy the children's playground.  A few weeks from now, Rafael will officially be a toddler and sooner, he'll be able to learn how to walk, run, jump, and appreciate this place where kids are all happy and having fun.  When that time comes, I will surely bring him here so he'll get the chance to experience how fun it is to play outdoors.  I'm sure he'll love this place!  He will not only enjoy the playground but it will also help him become a more social and physically active child.  That's a win-win situation for both of us!

5.  Walk.  This is what we love doing the most here in Corniche.  It really feels refreshing to take a long walk along a pedestrian pathway overlooking the aquamarine waters of the beach and the clear blue skies of Abu Dhabi.  Indeed, it feels more motivating to exercise regularly with this kind of view.  Isn't life so beautiful?

6.  Bike.  Aside from walking, you can also rent a bike for an hour and explore the 8 kilometer stretch of Corniche road.  There are different types of bike available at four rental stations:  (1) mountain bike for adults, (2) kid's bike for children (or even adults like my sister) who doesn't know how to keep their balance on a regular bicycle, and (3) four person pedal go kart perfect for families.  Safety wouldn't be an issue as well since they have a pathway specific only for cyclist.

7.  Dine.  Second to walking, this is one of the many things we love to do most in this place.   With several cafes and restaurants along the beach, you wouldn't really have to worry about getting hungry.  Just watch out what you eat to make sure that you're not taking in more calories than you burned!


  

Lips Cafe stands at the heart of Marina Mall with a casual outdoor seating theme.  Its classic couches are usually occupied with diners of different races which makes it crowded.  Yes, this cafe is really popular and loved by many.  And no matter how I hate dining in crowded places, I just can't help but fall in love with this cafe too.  Let me tell you why.

2.  They have a generous serving of main and they serve lean meat.  As I have mentioned earlier, I eat a lot.  So it's obvious that I would love any meal that has a big serving.  Also,  I love that this cafe serves vegetable omelet because other cafes just don't.  I know, this plate is just screaming too much protein!  (I hope they used olive oil for frying.)  The good thing about this dish is that they have added a thick slice of grilled tomatoes on the plate to somehow keep it balanced.

3.  They serve fresh fruits.  To compensate for the very oily main, you get to enjoy a bowl of fresh slices of bananas, apples, and strawberries for dessert.  Somehow, it helps to lessen that feeling of guilt for taking in too much protein.

4.  For drinks, you not only get your choice of coffee or hot chocolate, but a glass of fresh orange juice as well.  Nothing beats a plate of breakfast with a cup of hot chocolate!  But having an extra glass of fresh juice for your daily dose of vitamin C, isn't that just awesome?
Having all these for breakfast will definitely leave you feeling full.  The best part of it is, it only costs AED 48.  Aside from their food, I must say that I also love their service!  The staff were friendly, accommodating, and sensitive to their customer's needs.  They also serve food fast, so waiting isn't going to be a problem.  Indeed, Lips Cafe's American Breakfast is the most sulit breakfast meal that you can ever find in the city!

Ground Level, Marina Mall, Marina Village, Abu Dhabi

Contact Number:  02 6818191

A few days ago, my husband and I celebrated our second year wedding anniversary.  It has been two wonderful years since our wedding day and I must say that my decision to marry Ronnie is one of the best things I've ever done in my entire lifetime.  Those people who knew me personally might have found themselves surprised upon knowing about my wedding because my husband and I have only been a couple for less than two years before  we decided to finally tie the knot.

I am not an expert when it comes to love and relationships but I knew in my heart, the moment Ronnie became my boyfriend, that he is the man I'm going to marry someday.  If you have been following this blog, you would know that I prayed for "signs" in order for me to find Mr. Right.  It may have took a decade before my prayers had been answered but it's fine.  My husband was definitely worth the wait anyway!

I may have been blessed to identify Mr. Right with the help of divine intervention, but if in case I was not, I would still marry him because along our journey as boyfriend and girlfriend, I was able to take note of several characteristics that he possesses which made me realize, he's "the one.

1.  He makes me happy (and I want to make him happy too).  I have had a few serious relationships before I finally met my husband, but he was the ONLY person who has made my life happier.  I don't actually know how he does it, but he never fails to put a smile on my face every single day.  Everything just feels right whenever I'm with him.  It sounds cliche, I know.  But it's true. It's hard to explain, you would just feel it in your heart that he's the one.  Trust your instinct!

2.  He is trustworthy. This is one of the most important things that I consider essential in order to have a successful relationship.  Also, this is one trait that I love most about him.  He never tell lies.  He would always choose to tell me the truth even if he knew I would end up being disappointed.  I'm sorry to say this (Bato bato sa langit, ang tamaan wag magalit), but there are just a lot of guys out there who are such professional liars.  I cannot even imagine how they can pretend to appear innocent without their conscience bugging them.  Rihanna's song is just perfect for this topic, and it goes something like this:  "And the award for the best liar goes to you..."  I may sound a little bitter and probably getting off the topic, but what I'm just trying to say is that an honest man is like a Goliath frog; not because he would turn into a prince once kissed by a real princess, but because he is considered an endangered species.  So if you happen to have found one, never let him go!

3.  He respects me.  Is chivalry dead?  I used to believe so.  In a world where hook up is becoming more rampant, (what did ever happen to today's generation???) it's no longer surprising that it would really be a big challenge to find a REAL gentleman.  Hear me, ladies.  A gentleman does not only come in the form of a man opening the door for you or doing other similar gestures.  A real gentleman is someone who would understand, respect, and uphold the values that you believe in.  In addition, he is someone who would know your worth and treat you the way you deserve to be treated - with utmost respect.  A man who knows how to respect a woman is a true gentleman.  Again, they're considered endangered species.  So if you happen to have found one, lucky you!

4.  He accepts me for who I am.  I remember when we had our pre-cana seminar, the facilitator said that true love is a matter of acceptance.  It is impossible for us to find a perfect person because there's no such thing.  So find someone who can love you inspite and despite all your imperfections.  Because if you are hoping that one day, love can change the other person for the better, chances are, they won't.  Take it or leave it.  It's as simple as that.

5.  He is responsible.  Any woman in her proper state of mind, who is looking forward to having a lifetime commitment with her partner, would always choose a man who is hardworking, with a decent job, of good character, and financially literate.  As a woman, of course, I would want to marry a man who would be a responsible father and a good role model to our future children too.  I know that most, if not all women, share the same feeling too.  Unfortunately, these kind of men are hard to find and what you are most likely to encounter nowadays are the total opposite.  No wonder an article was published saying that many single men in the Philippines are unappealing. So if in case you happen to find one, you're blessed!