Sunday, August 10, 2014

"Mamamaysan" Team

Hello August!
August is one of the memorable month for us as a family, its my Mom and Dad's month. They'll be celebrating their 34th years together this coming 23rd. But before we celebrate their union, another milestone will happen in our family, our cousin JEP (Joseph Emmanuel Perez) will be getting married on 20th to JHO (Josephine).
Even its not our first in Doha family na may ikasal dito, first was Sze and Shawn then Peach and Glen, iba pa rin talaga siguro yung sa Pinas. Of course here limited lang yung invited I mean we're from a big family pero since dito kung sino na lang ang nandito. Second, kapag dito sa Philippine embassy not in the church, the solemnizing officer will be the consul and not the priest/ pastor unlike in other country na kahit expatriates ka pwede, here in Qatar hindi pwede. Third, the preparation - siguro mas less pressure and stress lang dito ng konti kasi nga since the wedding will be simple, hindi naman nga ganong kadetalye, all you have to have is time to prepare and money to pay.
Last Friday, we agreed to meet up to discuss the details of the program and to know our "role" and responsibilities at the wedding reception...kapit bisig Doha Family! We didn't invite the couple to join us. We called the meeting as "Mamamaysan Meeting"

Meet the "Mamamaysan" Team


I am not sure if all of you knows the term "mamamaysan". Mamamaysan is a tagalog word for groom's family and friends who will do all the chores and preparations before the wedding day. Here's what I found from one article regarding the usual things that mamamaysan and its duties the night before the wedding day:

"At the break of dawn, the groom's family is abuzz, preparing the sundry of things that will be hauled to the bride's place. Vehicles are borrowed and hired –jeeps, jeepneys, tricycles–to haul the kith-kin-and-caboodle, literally. Kin, friends, neighbors, wedding attire, bridal gown, pots, pans, plates, utensils, are crammed inside and atop the vehicles. A single pig will fit in a tricycle. A few pigs, for the occasion of a grander wedding, will need an elf or jeepney. The side of the vehicles is decorated with fresh fronds of coconut leaves (see insert). The jeepney is loaded with passengers to the rooftop, and although illegal, the coconut fronds identify it as a wedding vehicle, and local police usually just turn their heads away.
Arriving at the bride's house, welcoming starts with the "tasting of the kalamay." Each side tastes the others' kalamay' concoction, with the usual exchange of praise as to whose tastes better. Meanwhile, the bridal gown is taken to a designated room in the house; no fitting is allowed for fear that the wedding might not happen.
The kitchen has started to buzz alive. Preparations slow to start, pick up into full swing. On one end of the bilik, a pig is being slaughtered. The blood is collected for the preparation of the "dinuguan" dish which will be the traditional dinner entree. The rest of the pig will be divided and amounts allotted for the preparation of other foods for the traditional wedding feast: embotido (finely chopped meat), apritada (catsup based) and menudo (pineapple based). And if the pig meat supply will afford, the additional dishes of ginulayan (milk), pochero (banana) , sinantomas (bone-based) and rebosado (fried pigskin in batter)."

Nowadays, only few people practice that customs. There are a lot of wedding sites and coordinators that you can check and hire to lessen the pressures and stress in preparing for the big day.
We created our own version of "mamamaysan" since the groom is from our side.

 

That's one of the joy of having a family despite of being away from home, may susuporta even not financially ^_____^ and there are someone who can help you to do some errands on your day, less stress na rin yon di ba?  There are some changes on that list that we did during our meeting. Preparation for a big and important occasion is a bit stressful  here compare to Pinas in a sense na hindi ka basta makakapagfile ng leave of absence sa work mo, kaya you need to maximize all the time you have in arranging everything to your suppliers minus the bridal gown naman kasi since hindi naman church wedding mas simple lang. 
We also discuss the reception program in detailed. And since we're not in Philippines, very limited lang ang mga resources na pwedeng kuhanin namin to execute some of the customs in a Filipino wedding. Just to clear out guys I'm not into "pamahiin" or superstition, of course ang pagsasama ng dalawang tao is depende yan sa kanila, it should be triangle nga di ba - the husband, the wife and GOD. 
We Filipinos have a rich customs and traditions and even in wedding celebration there are some practices that's already part of culture. Hope we can have some of those at the reception program, but first we need to check where to find suman and kalamay ^_____^
I advise you if you are planning to get married, have at least one (1) year of planning ahead. Its better na mahaba yung time ng pagpla-plan kesa naman ngaragness ang beauty mo on your wedding day. 
Wedding is milestone kaya dapat lang pinagplaplanuhan at pinaghahandaan. Di ba mas maganda if you'll have a memorable wedding and a happy marriage? so ngayon pa lang if you have plan to get married next year, start to plan now.

Monday, August 4, 2014

Don't Rush Things

I don't know if its just hormonal but lately I have so many things in my mind. I have so many things in my mind that I want to do, so many plans but I don't even know where, when and even how to start. All I am sure is GOD is in control of me. I'm talking to myself and assure that the Lord is always working, that despite of His silence He is listening to me, that even sometimes I feel He is not answering some of my prayers, He is there watching over me and moving on me.
Like anyone else I am just a human. I have emotions and heartaches. My body get tired and my mind blown away. Like anyone else, my life sometimes is also a roller coaster, full of ups and suddenly it drop down. I feel sadness too, sometimes I feel empty as well.  I become frustrated too when I didn't achieve something I really want. Like any other I am only human.
Sometimes I think of those people who because of depression and even due to frustration was become mentally ill.It sad to know that because someone doesn't love and care, their life seems to be wasted. 
Everyday is a second chance and those emotions are just only by passers. Don't let them win over you but instead be an over comer, show them how you that despite of the not so good thing that happened into your life, you still have million reasons to smile and be happy. Don't cling on your emotions they are not a part of you, remember when you were still a child, everything seems so red, no black nor blues. Happy moments are destined to be always in our mind and in our heart so whenever loneliness are passing by, those happy memories will become your sword.
God gave us free will to do things but don't be too confident and rely to yourself alone that you can do everything. You need GOD in your life. There will be times that you'll get tired. You'll need a comforter, you'll be needing a counselor, a provider, a healer, a Savior and so much more and you can only find that to JESUS.
 Have you ever say "thank you" from the time you open your eyes today? Have you ever say thank you for unexpected things and circumstances in your life, that you consider miracles?
I can't imagine my life without GOD. Maybe I am one of those people inside psychiatric hospital or maybe I have a wasted life or on the other hand enjoying a lonely luxurious life. No one knows.
My life isn't perfect and it isn't an ideal for some. But for me, I am happy and contented but it doesn't mean that I will stop to be better. From time to time I am reminding myself how blessed I am for having the life I have now. 
I don't need to rush for all of my plans to fulfill. I don't need to pressure myself over things that I want to accomplish. Anything worth having is anything worth waiting for.
For how many times God did a miracle in my life, for how many times He opened my eyes and made me realized that His plans are better than mine, that every "no" I received from people are another "yes" for a bigger and better plan He have for me. 
In my mind and in my heart, I will hold on to His words:
" Many are the plans of a man's heart, but its the Lord's purpose that prevails" - Proverbs 19:21
"For I know the plans I have in you", declared the Lord "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and future" - Jeremiah 29:11

Sunday, August 3, 2014

Shakespearean Experience with the Chipmunks

One thing I love with Ramadan is its short work timings. Last month I was able to meet the CHIPMUNKS! They are my friends - the couple, Adrian and Ems are my kumare and kumpare and former colleagues too while me and ate Maribel is still working in the same company. Oh we miss you here, Karen.
It started when Ems gave a comment on one of my post in FB to have coffee since its Ramadan, after two days we ended up together. It supposedly a "girls' night" but since Adrian dropped us in the mall, we asked him to join with us in the dinner.
Its our first time in Shakespeare & Company. I eyed this place everytime I passed by, I really love the ambiance, oh their furniture and frames, the Victorian theme!

 I really love Victorian and "modern-vintage" theme. I am hoping I can get  at least one good piece of these chairs at least in affordable price...hayss kung mura lang at madaling ipa-cargo nakapaguwi na talaga ako!
Lovely and comfy chairs
 Look who's at the mirror?
I really love the place. 
Even we're not in the same office, it doesn't mean na wala na kaming pagkwekentuhan or maguusapan. Hindi matatapos na kwentuhan.
And since its our first time in Shakespeare, we are not familiar to what they serve. Its good thing that most of their crews are Filipino and super accommodating talaga nila and nakasmile, nakikipagkwentuhan pa, mas masarap balikan ang isang place kapag alam mo na welcome ka talaga; even their manager approach us.
Menu book
According to the crew in charge for us, all of their servings are for sharing. We decided to order variety of choices at least 1 each. Before our order they gave us complimentary "shakespearean" bread and butter. Tinapay pa lang nila masarap na and sympre mas masarap kasi complimentary, libre!





And here are what we ordered.

 Their seafood Caesar salad looks dry but believe me its not. You can really feel the crunchiness of their veggies. Perfect for our taste buds!
 They have their authentic taste of pizza, the crust is very different from others and look the cheese and the toppings, healthy na healthy.
 One of their best seller, chicken with gravy and mashed potato. Don't miss to order this when you visit them and aside they have a big serving of this.
It only looks that it has a small serving in the photo but its enough for 4 persons. You can taste talaga na ang ginagamit nila even sa sauce nila is fresh tomatoes or so whatever man na ginamit nila. 
Guys, I'm really encouraging you to give them a try, super kakaiba talaga ang lasa ng food nila, I mean these food na inorder namin cos yan pa lang ang natry ko sa mga menu nila.
They have also fresh fruit drinks na masarap and refreshing talaga.
The price of their food is affordable since their serving is for sharing, mejo mukha lang nakakatakot yung place kasi nga maganda which is some of us kapag maganda ang place naiintimidate kaagad and iniisip mahal pero if we will not try paano natin malalaman. 
We deserve a good place, good food and good service after working so hard.



And the supposedly not included to be with us in the plan, paid our bill. Oh my! Thank you Adrian! We had so much fun, and super thank you kasi treat na nga kami special hatid pa sa bahay. Thank you Adrian and Ems!
There will be a Shakespeare and Co. in The Pear Qatar soon! According to their crew iba nga lang daw ang menu nila doon but definitely the theme of the place is the same or mas maganda pa. And she added that all Shakespeare and Co. restaurants even in UAE ang nagdesign ng place is Filipino! O di ba nakakaproud, iba talaga ang Pinoy, artistic!
And one more thing, if you know someone who wants to be a part of their team, they can go to American Prime agency in Manila, you can search their complete address and phone number on their website.
 The Happy Chipmunk, The Happy Me

Shakespeare & Co.
Dar Al Salam Mall, Abu Hamour Doha
Telephone Number: 66768812
Opening hours: 8:30 AM to 11:30 PM