Here's how our suppliers fared during Hannah's baptism - 10 being the highest and 1 the lowest score.

Church - Santuario de San Antonio
Price - Php 4000
Rating - 9

Pros:
Transacting with the parish office was a breeze and the baptistry was clean.

Cons:
The only baptismal candles that can be used are the ones purchased at the parish office. This wasn't really a problem, but I wasn't too fond of the color or the design.

Reception Venue - Conti's Bakeshop & Restaurant (Greenbelt)
Price - Php 55,580 or 694.75 per person (80 pax)
Rating - 5

Pros:
Both the food and venue weren't bad. The function rooms are located on the second floor and has its own toilet (two actually - separate for males and females).

Cons:
- Initially they didn't want to honor the contract. We paid the deposit in May and signed the contract for 60 guests. But when we inquired about increasing our guest list, they informed us that the original rate they quoted is no longer valid as they will be having a price increase in July. I asked them what was a signed contract for if they had no plans of honoring it? In the end, the rate for the first 60 pax stayed the same and they applied the rate increase for the additional guests.

- Terrible customer service. We had an appointment with them at 3:00 PM to check the venue and pay for the extra guests. We arrived on the dot and was met by one of their sales agents. After less than five minutes she went downstairs and WE NEVER SAW HER AGAIN. We waited for 15 minutes before checking up on her, then we asked at least four other people and either they said she was coming back or we didn't see them again too. Our event stylist was also there with us to confirm the schedule and the layout so we were both just waiting for someone to show up.

After 30 minutes, I got mad. I was able to speak to an agent named Mia to inquire on who we could talk to and she basically asked us in an exasperated tone, "What else is there to talk about?" I replied back, "A lot!"

Take note, we had an appointment. If they're so busy that they can't attend to their customers properly, then they shouldn't have confirmed.

- They wouldn't let our guests in the venue. The reception officially started at 1:00 PM but I told them during our meeting that I've asked the guests to arrive at 12:30 PM. They said okay. On the day itself, they refused to let our guests in until 1 PM. One of my friends had to convince them to open the doors.

- The food was late. One would expect that if an event starts at 1 PM then the food should be ready by then - especially since they charge a fee if we stay past 3 PM. More than 30 minutes later, they started serving the buffet but it was incomplete. They told me that the missing food will be served to the tables directly. I said that would look horrible - buffet line with at least two chafing dishes empty?

The dessert (cake slices) was also not part of the buffet, so we had guests who never got to eat as they had to leave early.

- They ran out of dessert. I asked if we could bring home the excess cake slices and I was informed that there were none. I asked how could that be when an entire table of 10 left early and didn't get to eat? To make up for it, they gave a small cake to take home.

- They assured me that the venue can accommodate 100 guests. Realistically, it can only fit a maximum of 80 people. We had less than 90 guests and they were packed liked sardines. Many people had a hard time getting in and out of their chairs especially if they were in between other tables.

- No elevator. So if your guests are in wheelchairs, you'll need to ask for help. In our case, the servers helped my aunt in going up and down the stairs.

Event Stylist - Dianne Khu Designs
Price - Php 23,000* + Php 2170 for loot bags, crew meals & signage
Rating - 8

*Inclusions:
1. Overall Theme Design Mood board, layout
2. Stage Backdrop – Flat/Tarpaulin
3. Table Decor Custom Table Numbers and Flat Placecards
4. Ceiling Décor Lanterns (max of 3 colors)
5. Manpower & Delivery

Pros:
Dianne was easy to talk to, I loved everything she did, and her rate was reasonable to boot! I'd definitely recommend her to anyone who needs an event stylist.

Cons:
She initially came up with a design that I didn't approve of and already had it printed out, but she rectified the situation beautifully. Just tell her exactly what you want and ask to see the final layout before she sends everything to the printer.

Apparently, it's her policy to only get approval for the anchor areas - the stage and/or the dessert table - the other areas (such as small printables and entrance signages) are upon request.

Photographer - Mhel Mesa Photography
Price - Php 3000
Rating - 1

Pros:
The price.

Cons:
- Most of the photos were blurred and a lot of them had weird angles (as though they were trying to follow the rule of thirds but not quite making it).

- It seems they only took pictures at the start of the reception so some of our guests were not in any of the photos.

- Mhel said that they would send the DVD with all the shots (edited and unedited) three weeks after the event which was held on December 26. Almost two months later (February 20), she said she was already uploading the photos. More than a month after the first follow up, she claims that she had "issues in life" and thus was not able to send the DVD. As of today, we have yet to hear from her.

Planning a Baptism: Photographer Search

It took me a few months to look for a photographer mostly because I could not make up my mind. Do we splurge on a more experienced supplier or settle for someone not as known?

Little People Lifestyle Photography

Mhel Mesa Photography

Rio Jones Photography

In the end, we decided that we just needed a photographer who could do a decent job of documenting the day. So when someone recommended Mhel Mesa, I was thinking that trying out a newbie might work. The photos she posted online looked good to me and her rates were definitely appealing.

Planning a Baptism: Using an Event Stylist

Since none of my friends are creative or artistic, we decided to hire someone to spruce up the reception venue. After searching online, we asked the following stylists for a quote:

DianneKhu Designs

Party Magic

Choosing DianneKhu Designs was a pretty easy decision to make. Aside from the more attractive rate, I liked her sense of aesthetic.

Planning a Baptism: An Update

Overruled by both Hannah's pediatrician and grandmother, we have postponed her baptism to the end of the year. They pointed out that a one month old baby's immune system is still quite weak and she would needlessly be exposed to so many harmful viruses. They were also not in favor of the baby taking a plane ride to Singapore (according to her doctor, it will only be safe to travel on her third month). We did feel a twinge of guilt for risking Hannah's health in favor of being together as a family, but Earl needed to go back and we didn't want to be separated for that long.

So, the baptism has been moved to December - same church but with a different reception venue. I'm pretty happy with this date change because first, we'll be getting the 11 AM time slot. Originally, we had the 4:30 PM schedule, but since it coincided with the anticipated Mass, our guests would have had a problem finding a place to park.

Second, the family reunion I envisioned will now be possible. Because we will be seeing all our relatives on Christmas Day, they will most likely inquire about our plans for the christening and we can't tell them, "Oh, it's tomorrow but you're not invited..."

The new venue is Conti's Bakeshop & Restaurant located in Greenbelt and here's the buffet menu we've decided on:

60 pax at Php 625 per head = Php 37,500

Pumpkin Soup
Buttered Vegetables
Steamed Rice
Shanghai Rolls
Chicken Pastel
Baked Salmon
Lasagna
Sans Rival
Moist Chocolate Cake
Bottomless Iced Tea or Lemonade

Baby Registries: A Comparison

We weren't planning on signing up for a gift registry since our guest list is quite short. But a staff member of the Baby Company told me that we could save 10% on regular items if we registered.

This got me thinking, if we bought the Graco Pack 'n Play On-The-Go Playard which costs Php 7999.75, the discount would be around Php 800! Also, some of our friends have already asked us what we want for the baby so this seemed like a really great idea. In the end, we did the registry, but not at the Baby Company as their options were a bit limited compared to other stores in Manila.

Baby Company (Mall Boutique)

Pros
- For a minimum of Php 500, registrants and their guests get a 10% discount for regular items on the wish list (cash or credit card)

Cons
- There are only a few branches - four (4) in Manila and one (1) in Cebu
- Toiletries and diapers are not included in the discount
- Only the guests get SM Advantage points

Mothercare

Pros
- Has a wider range of items to choose from including nursery furniture

Cons
- No discount for either the registrants or their guests

SM Store

Pros
- Registrants and their guests get a 10% discount for regular items on the wish list (cash or credit card)
- Registrants get a 10% discount on any regular item within the SM Store (including the in-store Baby Company outlets) for a month before the event date
- Bonus SM Advantage points for the registrants from guests' purchases
- Free delivery service to one destination within city limits
- You can view and manage your wish list online
- Free specialized wrapping service

Cons
- Personally, I find that the items here are more basic especially when it comes to clothing - I prefer the style selections at Rustan's and Mothercare

Rustan's

Pros
- Registrants and their guests get a 10% discount for regular items on the wish list (cash or debit card)
- Registrants get a 10% discount on any regular item within the Children's Section for a month before the event date

Cons
- Discount not applicable to credit card purchases
- Discount for registrant not applicable to the other areas of the store except at the Children's Section

Planning a Baptism: The Reception

A huge family reunion was what I had in mind when it came to the baptism of our first child. Earl though had other ideas and my entire family backed him up instead of me. As my sister pointed out, there were less than ten people at my baptism including my parents.

Earl has to return to Singapore by March 28 and as much as possible, he doesn't want to go back without us. My husband thinks that if we have too many guests, it will be difficult to coordinate and he wants our daughter baptized before we board any form of aircraft. He also pointed out that the money we save at the baptism can be used to furnish and decorate our new apartment (we plan to move to a bigger place by June).

So, there will only be around 20 guests in attendance comprising of our immediate family members, the priest, and our closest friends (some of whom are also the godparents).

With the Church and the guest list settled, it was now time to search for a reception venue. We needed a small function room that can accommodate a maximum of 25 people, has ample parking space, and is easy to locate. But most of all, we should like the food being served.

Here's our short list:

Chateau 1771
- Minimum guarantee: Php 20,000 consumable
- Deposit requirement: None unless you order food in advance
- Inclusions: None
- Notes: Maximum 20 pax, sit down only no buffet set-up

Circles Event Café
- Rate: Php 1800 per person with taxes and service charge
- Minimum guarantee: 30 pax or Php 50,000 (if you have less than 30 guests, then the difference can be used towards drinks)
- Deposit requirement: 50% two weeks in advance
- Inclusions: one round of coffee or tea

Niu
- Rate: Php 1457.40 per person with taxes and service charge
- Minimum guarantee: 20 pax
- Deposit requirement: None but one person has to be there before 12 Noon otherwise the reservation is cancelled
- Inclusions: Unlimited drinks including house wine and fruit shakes
- Notes: Maximum 24 pax in the Norway and Denmark function rooms when combined

Sentro 1771
- Minimum guarantee: Php 10,000 (11 AM to 2PM) or Php 16,000 (1 PM to 4 PM)
- Deposit requirement: None unless you order food in advance
- Inclusions: None
- Notes: Room is good for three hours, charge of Php 1000 (consumable) for every excess hour. Corkage fee applies to outside cake and alcoholic drinks. Maximum room capacity is 25 pax.

Italianni's
- Minimum guarantee: Php 20,000 consumable
- Deposit requirement: None unless you order food in advance
- Inclusions: None
- Notes: Room is good for three hours, charge of Php 1500 (non-consumable) for every excess hour. No corkage fee for bringing your own cake. Maximum room capacity is 35 pax.

Earl did not like the first three on the list and when he saw a picture of Sentro's function room, he immediately asked, "No windows?" We then did an ocular and he said it reminded him of a very cramped office conference room. I had also considered Conti's but they're fully booked on our chosen date, and parking could be a problem over at Milkyway Café.

I was starting to run out of ideas when we walked by Italianni's in Bonifacio High Street and on a whim, I decided to stop and ask if they had a function room. The lady said yes, we took a look, and my husband declared the reception venue search to be over. He liked that the place was not only bigger, but also brighter.

Planning a Baptism: Finding a Church

Santuario de San Antonio Parish

A bit of panic ensued when we found out that due to a decree by the Catholic Archdiocese in 2011, parishes can only baptize residents within the boundary of the church's assigned area.

What this means is that a baby can only be baptized at the nearest church where the family resides. Since we are currently staying in Alabang Hills Village, the closest one is Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Hillsborough Village. I attended a public baptism there once and found it to be quite chaotic. They give a short talk for the godparents on their duties before the ceremony and the lady who conducted it sounded like she was selling fish at the wet market. Unfortunately, they do not offer solo or private baptisms.

My sister and I both had private baptisms and I find that this is more solemn than the public version where all you think of is getting out of there as quickly as possible due to how crowded the place can get.

You could have your baptism elsewhere provided you can obtain a permission letter, but they refused to give one as they advised they are not allowed to give such letters out. My question is, if priests are banned from issuing permit letters, then why is it even listed as an option? Why not just dictate outright that people don't have a choice?

Luckily for us, if you are based abroad, you can skip this requirement and have the freedom to choose your own baptism venue. In our case, we decided on Santuario de San Antonio as they have their own baptistery (see photo below), it's easy to get to (especially for the godparents who all live north of Manila), and there are many restaurants nearby for the reception.

Other venues we considered were Our Lady of the Pillar Parish Church and St. James the Great Parish, but both do not offer private baptisms. St. Alphonsus Mary de Liguori Parish in Magallanes does, but our guests would have to make a u-turn on the South Luzon Expressway just to get back to Makati (if I remember correctly). The National Shrine of the Sacred Heart also provides solo baptisms but the place is not that easy to locate especially if you're unfamiliar with the area.

Reservation Requirements:

1. Photocopy of Birth Certificate
2. Permission letter from your respective parish
3. List of names of godparents (maximum of 5 pairs)
4. Completed Baptismal Form
5. Non-refundable contribution of Php 4000

It is stated on their website that the requirements must be complete before you can make a reservation. But Edna, the lady in-charge, allowed us to just pay the fee and submit the baptismal form first when we explained that we have to return to Singapore as soon as possible (thus the need to plan everything in advance). They allow for a date change as long as the schedule you want is available.

We will be bringing our own priest, Rev. Msgr. Vicente Bauson, who also happens to be a family friend and the one who married us.

Update: It turns out that only our parish priest was problematic. I have a friend who lives in Pasig and she was able to get a permission letter quite easily for her son's baptism.

Tagaytay: Breakfast at Antonio's

We were home for the holidays and on our to-do list was to catch up with friends. Abigail suggested Tagaytay, but she didn't want breakfast nor did she want lunch, she wanted brunch and after checking our options, we settled on Breakfast at Antonio's.

Here's what some of us ordered:

This was off the menu and suggested by our server, Jed. Basically, it's a three-egg cheese and mushroom omelette with grilled bacon on the side. I loved the bacon, but the omelette seemed to taste saltier with every bite I took. This dish is best shared as it was huge. If I remember correctly, this was Php 480.

Smoked Pork Back Ribs

Served with Mexican Rice and Baked Beans

Php 490

Technically, this is what I wanted, but wasn't up to eating the beans that came with it. It's a good thing Junjun decided to order it and gave me a share. The ribs were good - tender and falling off the bone - much better than my cheese and mushroom omelette.

Roast Half-Chicken with Mushroom Chardonnay Sauce

(This poultry is brined for a full day and placed in rotisserie for slow roast)

Served with Roasted Potato or Potato Fries

Php 350

Jenny ordered this, but I asked for a slice and I'm so glad I did. The sauce was creamy and flavourful and if I ever eat here again, this is what I'll be having.

Fresh Corned Beef

Slices of Beef Brisket with Sauerkraut, Horseradish and Mustard

Served with 2 Eggs done anyway you want with Garlic Rice / Sautéed Scallop Potatoes / Hash Brown

Php 400

Earl and Abigail both ordered corned beef (which I also tried) and we all agreed that it was not spectacular. The beef was a bit tough and on the bland side.

Tagaytay on a Saturday in the middle of the Christmas season means that you'll spend most of your time stuck in traffic and expect that the line at Antonio's will be equally long.

Sambo Kojin

My parents treated us to lunch at their SM Southmall branch. At the weekday lunch price of Php 549, it's a better option than Yabu next door which charges the same amount for just one dish.

The marinated meat section was a hit along with their sushi and maki options - the rice used was really good so there wasn't a maki or sushi I met that I didn't like!

Not so great were the katsu and the furai, but their cooked Korean menu options were not bad (at least the few that I tried).

Dessert wasn't bad either, though not spectacular which was okay since I was too full by the end of it to appreciate flavoured mousse.

This is now definitely on my list of places to come back to the next time we're in Manila.

Sweet Bella Cafe

After the rather lacklustre lunch at 1521, we decided to move to Sweet Bella Cafe across the street for dessert.

A friend treated us so I was not able to take note of the prices, but here are the descriptions as taken from their Facebook page:

Mi Camille

Belgian milk chocolate mousse layered with hazelnut praline and french biscuit on almond praline crust.

Strawberry Cheesecake

New York style cheesecake with a hint of lemon topped with fresh strawberries.

Chocolata

Moist chocolate cake layered with rich ganache topped with chocolate glass.

We liked all of them! It fittingly provided a sweet ending and saved the day.

1521

Earl and I were in Manila two weeks ago for a short vacation and met up with friends at 1521 in Burgos Circle.

They recommended that we order the Talong Mo Kay Tulfo (Php 280) which is basically fried eggplant stuffed with sisig. We decided to order two of these which was a mistake. Most of us concluded that this dish is more eggplant than it is sisig. We should have tried something else.

We also got the Pinakbet-ter Than Best (Php 245) - definitely not the best pinakbet we've ever had. We've had better elsewhere so we felt that for a simple dish of mixed vegetables sautéed in local anchovies, pork and prawns, this was overpriced.

Lastly, we had the Sinigang na Lechon Kawali (Php 325). This sounded promising since tamarind soup is a favourite of Earl's and it's mixed with fried pork belly which I love. Sadly, this too was disappointing as the tamarind soup was way too sour.

Unless the meal were free, we won't be coming back anytime soon since we can get better food elsewhere at prices much lower than what they are charging.

1976

A cup of coffee for Php 1.50? Porkchop for Php 6? Two softdrinks for Php 3?

Ah, these were the prices 36 years ago when my parents were dating. Yup, they kept the receipts. I was thinking that maybe Earl and I should do the same thing so that our children can one day marvel at how "cheap" everything used to be...

Tokyo Café

Whenever Earl and I feel like having a somewhat healthier lunch, we usually end up in a Japanese restaurant. This meal was at their SM Southmall branch:

Teriyaki Chicken Salad - Php 188

Creamy dressings are not synonymous with losing weight, but I'm just not too fond of vinaigrette. So this salad fit the bill for our "vegetable" requirement and was neither bland nor too salty.

Salmon Cream Pasta - Php 252

I'm a sucker for smoked salmon so when I saw this on the menu, I just had to order it. Also falls under the "lean protein with omega-3" category (hahaha!). It wasn't bad though I added Parmesan cheese to give it more oomph. Also, should have separated the salmon from the hot pasta first as the heat cooked it through.

Ten-Ju - Php 248

Basically their shrimp tempura bento box. It was better than a lot of other tempuras we've tried - and we've had quite a few since Earl will always order shrimp tempura without fail in every Japanese restaurant we go to.

Scorecard: In the same price range as Tempura Grill, but also serves pizza. A good option if you can't decide between Japanese and Western cuisine as this place combines both.

UNIQLO in Manila

They opened yesterday and here's what the line looked like at around 3 PM today:

Phat Wong

I've always wanted to try Chef Ariel Manuel's restaurant Lolo Dad's, but their prices are a little steep for our pockets. So when I read about his new venture for the budget conscious, we headed to Makati to try it out.

For this lunch, I was with my mother and sister and here's what we ordered:

Shrimps, Pomelo and Young Coconut,Coconut Milk and Lime Dressing - Php 270

Best described as interesting since we've never had this salad presented in a whole coconut cup before. But in case you're partial to pomelo chunks when it comes to this Vietnamese dish (like my Mom), you won't find it here. And though we all prefer the Pho Hoa version, it's not a bad choice if you're in the mood for something light.

Phad Thai Omelet - Php 240

If you're not a heavy eater and you'll be ordering other things from the menu, then this is good enough for three. We asked for the chili to placed on the side as I'm not fond of anything spicy, but Mom said it tasted much better with it than without it. My sister tried the sauce and it was way too hot for her liking.

Blue Crab with Crab Fat on Lemongrass Dumpling - Php 180

This was nice though we wish it had been smothered in crab fat. Yup, we're not exactly healthy eaters - hahaha!

Pinoy Duck Mami Shredded Duck Meat, Boiled Duck Egg, Spring Onions and Roasted Garlic - Php 255

Both Mom and sibling found this soup to be very salty but I didn't. Maybe because I was recovering from the flu at the time and my taste buds were not up to scratch?

Grilled Baby Back Ribs Tocino In Garlic and Vinegar Sauce - Php 325

For me, I would not mind having this for breakfast though I was expecting it to be a little bit on the softer side. Probably it's because I automatically associate melt-in-your-mouth tender whenever I think of baby back ribs.

Menu

The verdict? If you're in the area, it's not a bad place to stop by.