our pamamanhikan and the biko

Mama never fails to cook for me whenever there are special occasions.  Now that we are off to our pamanhikan, of course, she will again showcase her wonderful talent.

It was a sunny Saturday morning when Mama went to market almost everything she needed for her preparation.  Her sumptuous meals are planned as follows:

Sinigang  na Maya-Maya

Lechon Kawali

Afritadang Manok ala Evelyn

Biko (Steamed sweet rice)

Our Sunday morning started early as the aroma of the food started to occupy our house.  The biko was the ultimate surprise as it was papa’s sister who incidentally came home from Saudi who patiently prepared it.  B2b’s family specially requested a “something sweet and sticky” menu which is believed to be making our relationship sweeter and stickier J

It was a little after lunch when we arrived in b2bs house.  Her whole family was waiting for us and it wasn’t long after when we started.  Yum opened the beautifully set-up table!  Adorning it are the delicious food Mama prepared plus the extra special menus cooked by b2b’s mom – Hototay Soup and Spicy Shrimp.  The grace started it right which was led by Tita Ligaya and the rest was a long history. J

Not long after, I have seen myself sitting in one of their sofas around with b2bs whole family ready to be char-grilled.  They were all smiling, oh yes they are all smiling while I, did not have the right words to say..  I do not exactly know what to say. I told them that I am not prepared and I was not able Google it, but I started it by asking the hand of my fiancée in front of my parents, her mom, her brother and her closest relatives. Next thing I knew, Mama was crying and everyone started to share their own pieces of wisdom.

It ended with a few bottles of beer, a bunch of stories and a lot of hearty laughs.  I hope even without the magic of the “Biko” our families’ relationship will still grow sweeter and stickier! J

the day she said yes - 06132010 -

“It was not the most flawless proposal, but I was blessed that everything that I need for that day was provided.”

Early this summer we planned to have a summer outing and that brought me to an idea to propose to her at a beach resort. I asked the help of my friend Aldo to find an engagement ring for her and it led me to buy it from an old alahero (jewel merchant) in Lipa City, Batangas.  The shop’s name was Cuenco Jewelry found at the heart of the bayan (city proper) of Lipa.

Initially I told her that we should go to Boracay together with my former office friends.  My idea is that I will ask the help of my friends to distract her while I setup my surprise. J But due to financial constraint and the erratic weather that bothered my fiancée, it did not pushed through. So we opted to go to a place were we can go by driving.  She chose Puerto del Sol, a beautiful resort found in Bolinao, Pangasinan.

My problem here is that I don’t know how I will setup the surprise and at the same time stay unnoticed.  Then I met the resort’s restaurant manager, sir Alfred. We had a little chat in the morning, while b2b was sleeping (hehehe), and I told her my plans to propose and to set Roni’s mood by having a special by-the-beach dinner. Sir Alfred told me that it will not be a problem and that he loves this kind of surprises. He told me that I leave everything to him and just choose the food and the wine that we will have for the night.  I believe a chose clam chowder soup, beef stroganoff as our entrée, halo-halo for dessert and mateus rosé for our wine…

6:45 is our call time at the beach. I was thinking what kind of an alibi I should say to lure her to come with me to the beach.  My innate man skills was not working at this time (joke lang maffie), so I just simply told her the truth that I have a surprise for her and that I need to blindfold her before she can see it.

I was not expecting much from Sir Alfred and the restaurant’s staff but what they did was really special and even amazed me.   Blindfolding Roni added an effect because she and I walked through candle trails to our dinner table. 

I was calm yet nervous... I was thinking when will be the right time... is it already perfect to say the words to her... will she say yes... (this i am confident she will hehehe...). So, In the music of Lucky by Jason Mraz and Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton played in acoustic by our host sir Alfred, I asked her to marry me.  

Also it is true that you should not ask a woman on an empty stomach. Hehehe… This is the day when Roni said yes!!!  I love you Roni!

To Sir Alfred, the staff of Puerto Del Sol, Aldo, Donn, Annie, Neri, Toni and to all the people who helped me my sincerest gratitude to you!