MC3 Fashion Boutique 1st Video Ad

MC3 Fashion Boutique's 1st advertisement video aired on Ilocos' local channel Core TV some years ago. Instead of hiring local stars to model for this ad, we asked Mija's cousins and my siblings to do it instead. They were all game, and as a result, we had produced a fun and nice ad. Thanks to Bolet, Ogie, Charlou, Chummy, Jarel, Chokoy, Choki, Mika, and with the special participation of Wake Up Ilocos' star Ms. Jana Siratranont, and also to Nana Dalen.

Eat Bulaga: Juan for All, All for Juan

It's my daily routine to watch Eat Bulaga in our house. Just this noon (March 29, 2011) when i switched on the TV just in time for their segment Juan for All, All for Juan, I read from the TV screen that Jose, Wally and Paolo were in West Kamias. My eyes popped of what I saw because we are from West Kamias. I immediately called my siblings, Popop, Jr, and Ogie who were all in their rooms and told them about it. We went out to check on it and we learned from our neighbor that the Sugod-Bahay Gang were just one block away from our house. So we went there to watch.

The set was pretty much overcrowded with equally excited spectators banging at each other like mad  buffalos, just to have a glimpse of Jose, Wally and Paolo. We stood at one corner waiting for them to pass by, but next thing we knew we were running and chasing the Eat Bulaga Van with the rest of the crowd. I took pictures of the three and stopped when I realized I had taken enough. After that we all returned to our house with all the pictures I took and watched from our TV the rest of the segment.  Here are the pictures i took using my iPhone:

Mija's 30th Birthday

Mija chose to celebrate her 30th birthday in Ilocos so she could invite some of our close friends and relatives in the province. She just wanted her birthday celebration to be simple and intimate.

The venue was in their rest house in Salomague, Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, in a hot noon last March 14. It was supposed to be a pool party but the pool was still under construction that time so we just had a by-the-beach party. My mother prepared most of the food served while Mija and I were the ones who took care of everything else, including the setting up of the projector screen, arranging the tables and seats, decorating the area with balloons, etc. We were expecting only 15-20 guests, but it turned out, a little over 30 came.

With a little help from my mother and a househelp,
we nailed a nice party place for Mija

Nothing could beat a birthday lunch
by the beach!

Mija was surpised she had 30 balloons for her 30th birthday

While waiting for her guests to arrive 

Excited for party to start?

Lobsters, clams, malaga, popollo, lechon, and everything!

delectable, indeed!

Food all set and ready

We started the celebration with the showing of the video presentation I made (with the help of my brother, Jr). That video presentation was actually my surprise gift for Mija. A week before her birthday, I asked some of our friends and relatives, here in the Philippines and abroad, to record a video greeting for Mija and to send it to me so that I could put them all in one video presentation. Most responded and sent me their videos. So, Jr and I put them in one video presentation but added some of Mija's earlier pictures and heartwarming messages to make it a complete package. We made a really great work because Mija liked the video so much when she watched it and it even made her cry. I uploaded the video in my earlier blog. Here is the link: http://mpcachapero.blogspot.com/2011/03/mijas-30th-birthday-video-presentation.html

All eyes on the video presentation

Video rolling

Tears and smiles for the birthday celebrant

After watching the video, we all rushed to the buffet table and devoured all the delicious foods we served until we were all satiated. Good food, nice place, and a happy celebrant. What else can I ask for? This is definitely one of our best birthday parties ever.

1st time all of Mija's aunts and uncle from the father side came in full force

Mija's relatives from mother side

Cabugao delagates

MC3 Fashion Boutique staff with Tita Venice and Lola Cel

My Vigan Home Hotel staff with my friend Chado

My mother's friends

Happy 30th birthday Switie!

Hong Kong Pictures

Here are our best Hong Kong pictures through the years:

It would be difficult to blog about all our trips to Hong Kong so I just collated all our best pictures in Hong Kong and put them in a single entry.

TOP LEFT: This picture was taken in front of the The Peak Tram ticketing booth. It was my first time to ride the tram and reach the Victoria Peak. TOP RIGHT: This was taken inside the mall of our hotel (Marco Polo Hong Hong). Hong Kong has this kind of set up where malls and other commercial establishments occupy the 1st and 2nd floors of the building and the remaining floors are for hotels, offices, and residential condominiums. MIDDLE: This was taken at the top of the Victoria Peak. You can see at the background the two islands of Hong Kong, Kowloon and Central or Hong Kong Island.

TOP LEFT: This was during our cable-car ride to Ngong Ping to see the giant Buddha. It was my first time to go to Ngong Ping. TOP RIGHT: This was along the main street of the famous Tsim Sha Tsui. Here you can find endless number of stores of luxury brands like Hermes, Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, among others; MIDDLE: This was taken in a mall not so far from Marco Polo Hotel, just beside the Victoria Harbour. Their seasonal decorations never fail to amaze us. How we wish we could also do beautiful decorations like this for our MC3 Fashion Boutique. 

TOP LEFT: This was one of our first pictures in Hong Kong and was my first time in Hong Kong Disneyland or any Disneyland for that matter. It was taken in front of our favorite Disneyland show, the Golden Mickeys. TOP RIGHT: This was in Ngong Ping again. By the way, that was not a real cherry blossom tree. MIDDLE: This was in front of Hong Kong Disneyland and one of our favorite pictures ever.

TOP LEFT: This was taken in front of Hong Kong Disneyland.  That was the time we brought my only sister, Ogie with us. TOP RIGHT: This was in front of Crystal Jade restaurant taken while we were waiting for our seats. MIDDLE: This was in  a mall near our hotel. It was Chinese New Year and winter season in Hong Kong that time that's why we were all wrapped up with thick jackets and winter hats.

TOP LEFT: This was taken along the famous Ladies Market in Mongkok. Everytime we are to Hong Kong we go to Mongkok to buy pasalubong. TOP RIGHT: This was taken in the Avenue of Stars overlooking the Hong Kong skyline. MIDDLE: This was in Ngong Ping again. At the background is the Tian Tan Buddha.

TOP LEFT: This was taken in Kowloon Park in Tsim Sha Tsui. If you want to escape the busy life in Hong Kong without getting out of Hong Kong then it is the right place for you. TOP RIGHT: This was taken on one Valentines day in Hong Kong. I bought Mija flowers that costed me my entire pocket money. MIDDLE: This was me in front of the Ocean Princess in Victoria Harbour. I am afraid of the ocean so cruising is a big "NO" for me.

PAX: The Palawan Experience

I don't know if this is okey but since I don't have any recent activity to share, I thought of writing a blog about something that happened not a long time ago. This is about my Palawan trip in 2006.

My parents were invited to a wedding held in Puerto Princesa and I volunteered to accompany them. It was a 3-day visit to Palawan, from October 19-21. It was so fortunate that I decided to go with my parents, because I did not only get the chance to lay my eyes on the unusual beauty of the province but I was also able to meet some of our relatives I haven't met before. I am referring to the Rodriguez clan whose roots were from Cagayan Valley (home province of my father) but eventually migrated to Palawan. One of them, Atty. Allen Rodriguez, the cousin of my father, and the Provincial Prosecutor of Palawan, received us as visitors. His hospitality was unmatched. His siblings, by the way, are also lawyers - one is an MTC Judge in Brooke's Point, and the other one is the Provincial Legal Officer; and his brother-in-law is a practicing lawyer in El Nido.

With Uncle Allen and my Parents. This was taken at the rest house of the late House Speaker Ramon Mitra

I forgot their names already but the one on the left is the MTC Judge, then the Provincial Legal Officer, and the Practicing Lawyer

We stayed in a resort not far from Uncle Allen's house, but the name I could no longer recall. All I could remember was that it was a decent and nice place. Uncle Allen also provided us with a service and a driver, so on our first day (the wedding was on our second day) we were able to get around Puerto Princesa and nearby towns like Bahile and Sabang. We had also visited some of Palawan's tourist attractions like the Crocodile Farm, Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm, and the breath-taking but hard to reach Subterranean River. We also dined in the famous Ka Lui, the restaurant that serves peculiar but mouth-watering dishes, on the night before we left home.

After landing in Puerto Princesa Airport

Yes, I was visiting some of my relatives here! Joke.

Welcome to the crocodile farm

At my back is the skin of what is believed to be the biggest crocodile captured in Palawan

A baby crocodile. It's heavy

All set to see the Subterranean River. The rock formation at my back is equally impressive

Excited to get inside

Let's go inside this Underground River

Absolutely one of the world's wonders

I hope I can get back to Palawan and go to the spots I haven't seen yet. El Nido and Coron are inviting. Maybe next time Mija can come with me. As of now, all I can do is to put it into our travel wish list.