random thoughts

for the commuter like me who travels to real far places, i noticed that while on these long-distance trips, almost anything comes into mind. since i avoid reading or sending text messages while commuting (i get nauseous, you see), i have nothing else left to do but tinker with my brain. it's amazing how these thoughts range, from the really trivial to the most serious ones.

i went to the main office of the NSO in QC earlier today. being an awfully long trip (as i only commuted), my brain went into auto-pilot. i thought about reception games for our wedding. i even recollected the events of my personal life in the past year! i also worried about the patients that i was to schedule tomorrow at the clinic. heck, i can go on and on! :P

i have work tomorrow and i'll be traveling again to that familiar province of cavite. i've been frequenting it for the last six years, because work is there. gosh, imagine all that thinking! i could have written volumes of those thoughts! :)

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Meeting with Jody
I saw Jody Liwanag, my coordinator from Events Experts, last Wednesday to update her on our wedding preparations. it's been quite a while since we last saw each other. at that time (some time January '05), she was so preggy pa with her baby girl. now, she looked like she didn't even give birth. she was all made up and looked really professional in her black outfit.

she had her checklist with her and we had a rundown of all that was expected/needed for the coming wedding. she will be sending me a detailed program/time-table for the entire event one of these days. this of course will still be subject to our approval. a materials checklist will also be sent to us so that we will know what to prepare on the day itself.

Joseph and i are more concerned with the reception program. since my brother Rex will be our emcee for the night (side-kwento: he does this if he has free time. he used to be a DJ for a radio station in cebu. ü), i asked Jody to just correspond with him through email when it came to the program. what i liked most in all our discussions was her assurance that everything will be orderly and that we won't be harassed with all the small details. as to how to go about this, she discussed with me the details. for every concern i had, she had an answer. i have good faith in her and am confident that she and her staff will be able to deliver. i hope she won't disappoint us.

Trip to the NSO
as mentioned earlier, i went to the NSO to personally request for copies of our marriage certificate on security paper. since it's been barely a month since we got married through civil rites, the lady of the NSO hotline informed us that we still cannot request it over the phone. it takes around three to six months daw from the date that the event occured before you can use this manner of requisition.

and so i went. good thing my brother Dave was so kind to accompany me. although the NSO lady told me that i should go to their main office along EDSA near quezon avenue, we still ended up at the census office along East Avenue. it's a good thing there were FX taxis already stationed near the entrance, whose purpose was really to bring people to the main NSO office (Vibal Bldg). talk about convenience! :)

when we finally got there, i noticed that there were quite a number of people milling around the place. this got me worried because i was anticipating that i might not be able to finish before the lunch break. but surprisingly, when i entered the building, i found out how systematic they were.

at the entrance, there was an information counter where 2 employees were stationed. you just tell them what the purpose of your visit is and they will hand you the appropriate form to fill out and direct you to the counter where you are supposed to submit it. in our case, i was told to proceed to the endorsement section (C) to show the accomplished form and the following: copy of the letter of transmittal from the civil registrar, receipt from the courier (it was LBC for us. others used JRS.), and a photocopy of the locally registered document (marriage certificate in our case). then they directed me to pay the appropriate fees at the cashier (window 1). the cashier issued me an official receipt with the date of when to claim the requested documents written on it.

that's about it. i was done in an hour. i was asked to come back on the 27th of the month. what was good was that instead of standing up to form a line, they made us sit on benches, on a first-come-first-serve basis. their system was quite simple but very efficient. bravo! :)

The Search is Over!
after worrying for months, i have finally purchased my bridal underwear!!! hehe.. i had almost given up on my search because the stores did not have it in my size. giving up meant i would have to settle for one not my size. the fit was actually so-so pero i was still not satisfied. then i talked to the saleslady if there was anyway that they'd get stocks in my size in the near future. they said that they cannot guarantee it. :( uh-oh. i was almost in panic mode. it was either i buy the bigger size or end up with no appropriate undies at all. the kind saleslady (of SM Makati) tipped me though that the shangri-la mall in EDSA recently had a fresh delivery of stocks. she must have sensed my worry and desperation.

and so, after my mission at the NSO, i proceeded to the shang right after lunch. i was actually not putting any high expectations on that visit. i did not want to be disappointed again. i dilly-dallied first at national bookstore, just browsing through books. after skimming through everything in sight, i proceeded to Rustan's. when i got to the Wacoal (yes, it's Wacoal! ü) section, i initially did not see the corset that i so dearly desired. i asked the saleslady if there was one in my size. she took my measurements just to be sure and then she went searching, rummaging through their stocks. then she told me, "Ma'am, wala na yung color black na seamless..."

i immediately told her that i wasn't interested in the black one. then she held up another and said, "Pero meron po yung may lace na skintone." OMG!!! gosh, i was so giddy, i had a difficult time putting it on in the fitting room. my fingers were fumbling in all the excitement. and as predicted, it was the perfect fit. i paid for it immediately, without any hesitation whatsoever. di ko na binitawan. baka mawala pa eh. :P

hay.. the satisfaction you gain from finally getting the one you so truly desire! it's like finding a needle in a haystack. it's like finding "the one!" now i can sleep better. :)