THE SAME SEX WEDDING IN THE PHILIPPINES

July 24 was the day that New York State Marriage and Equality Act went effect which was signed into law by the Governor.  The Town of North Hempstead opened the Town Clerk's Office to issue marriage licenses and perform weddings.   In Philippines, the Metropolitan Community of Metro Baguio held a same-sex mass wedding the following day, June 25, 2011.  The mass same-sex wedding was officiated by the pastors of MCC-Metro Baguio and was participated by eight of lesbians and gay couples.

On July 09, 2011 a same-sex wedding happened in the island of Guimaras particularly at Rumagangrang beach on the top of the searock formation as the wedding venue.  It was a destination wedding. Only a few selected guests were invited.  We traveled from Iloilo City to Guimaras island and stayed there for two days and one night.  FYI, since 2009, destination weddings continued to see growth compared to traditional weddings.  A lot of couples these days opt for destination weddings for a smaller size and less expensive. 

THE WEDDING VENUE- Rumagangrang beach, Cabalagnan, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras

the searock formation- the wedding venue

THE WEDDING DECORATION

Wedding decorations are the centerpieces of the ceremony.  They are essentials in creating the wedding scene.  The most common decor that you will find in any wedding is the flower arrangement.  Shyne who is a wedding planner slash director know what is best.  He is the one who helped organize and coordinate the activities and tasks needed to execute the Romeo-Joyce wedding and made it happened.   He is the most creative in that field.  The rest of the AVATAR members were there to support as well.  That's one of the good traits I learned from them.  "Walang sapawan!"  Be the top scorer (back to zero)-Wilma zero, KC two( mga ganyang banat).  Ha-ha

THE WEDDING FLOWER:

Tulip is the only wedding flower that Shyne chose.  Oh well, tulip's native range extends from as far west as Southern Europe, North Africa, Anatolia, and Iran to the Northwest of China.  However, there's always a substitute.  Shyne used specialty paper as an alternative.  It turned Tulips in variety of colors- pink, purple, white and yellow.  The tulips were also in the wedding bouquet.

the wedding venue

THE GWAPINGS REUNITED

Last weekend, Harry and I were boarding a cab on our way home when the music being played caught our attention.  The song was "Farewell" sang by Raymund Lauchengco.  It's the most popular graduation song in the Philippines during the 80's and 90's.  In fact, it was our high school graduation song.  Harry asked me then, "Remember the song?".  "Oh yeah!".  It was the song that made me cry during our graduation ceremony.  I know, our classmates saw me in that moment or kaganapan.

It's almost 17 years already.  Soon we will have our class reunion.  Some of us are meeting or nagkabanggaan minsan pero getting together as a group medyo bonggels.  We will reminisce the high school life and mag-okrayan na naman.

We had set of friends or barkada we named after the combined first letter of our names like the JR JABS etc.  Harry, Willie and I (parang, me, myself and I) named our group GWAPINGS.  Sikat kasi yung tatlohan noong time namin.  Mark Anthony Fernandez was Harry's idol.  Jomari Yllana was Willie's idol.  And I was the fan of Eric Fructuoso para kumpleto.

Harry is very active in extra-curricular activities eversince.  He was a varsity volleyball player, CAT officer and folk dancer.  He was always stand-out-all-out student.  Go speak ENglish, chok!  Pero nag-away kami niyan dahil sa magazine lang naman.  Deadmahan, ha-ha.

Willie on the other hand is a breadwinner until now.  He liked to read pocketbooks.  He was a member of the cheering squad.  He was the only one who visited me when I was sick and confined on bed.

Ako naman sobrang mahiyain.  Nasa upuan lang ako palagi.  Issue sa akin ni Harry noong high school, yung school uniform ko daw tuping-tupi.  Sa art projects ako bumabawi.

 Last month the GWAPINGS reunited.  Si Willie kasi was working outside Iloilo.  This year lang talaga kami nag-meet na kumpletong tatlo.  Nag-iba na ang anyo namin.  Si Harry, fierce na fierce ang dating.  Si Willie turned virgin-looking.  Ako naging astig ang dating.  Indeed, we are enjoying in the world we chose to be in.  There's a total acceptance na.  Sa pagtanda namin dala pa rin namin yung memories bilang mag-best of friends.  I can't forget the happy and kadramahan moments at higit sa lahat hindi ko SILA makakalimutan.

I am pretty sure you also have your own story about your high school bestfriend(s).

DAMIRES HILLS

Damires Hills is the newest inland resort in Iloilo.  It is just opened last quarter of last year 2010.  It is located in Brgy. Damires, Janiuay, Iloilo.  It is more than an hour from Iloilo City.

Some of my office mates decided to experience that eco-friendly inland resort.  But it was unplanned.  Humabol pa kami na mag-outing kahit over na ang summer.  It was June 4, 2011.  At dahil on the spot trip, hindi kami nakapagbook.  Fully-book yung resort pagdating namin.  Buti na lang may isang cottage na nakareserved pero na-cancelled.  Swerte namin. 

Welcome to Damires Hills!

going to the top.

the function hall

way to the pool and cottages

lunch time.  a little bit late na

we're going to the pool

we checked some rest house sa taas na part.

looking the beautiful view below.

miniature waterfalls

the infinity-like pool

swimming, swimming

goin home

the souvenir shot

Medyo late na ang post na 'to.