da.u.de

Across our office building in The Fort is a new classy tea lounge named da.u.de [da-you-deh]. The facade is very inviting it will make you want to try it. Colorful jars give life to its black, white and silver interiors and tea leaves displayed by the window show they serve real tea. 

Despite my numerous attempts of going down during break time at work, I didn't get the chance to visit da.u.de until that Friday night when Toto decided to visit me. Finally I got to try our neighborhood tea! Mia came in a bit late, too, and enjoyed her berry beer! 

A beautiful scene and a courteous staff will welcome you at this not-so-secret hiding place.

YUM!

Well, Young, Spike -- that's how they define their teas. I love how brilliant the idea is. I actually want to try them all! But what makes da.u.de much more exciting is the fact that it's managed by a Filipino. Renee Sebastian is the country's first Certified Tea Master. Let's talk about professionalism despite the countless tea shops in and out the metro! 

With my dear Toto while waiting for our resident nocturnal, Mia. 

Mia finally arrived! And puyat si girl. Haha!

<3

It's a Monthly Period day tomorrow! I hope to see the rest of the group this week! I think it's a good idea to spend time together at da.u.de. Whatchuthink?

Know more about da.u.de by clicking this link. Follow them on Twitter, too: @lovedaude

Have a great week ahead!

♥,

Marianne

Safely Home

"When you lose someone that you love, take comfort in knowing that they are now with God."

Three deaths in three weeks. First, my high school classmate, Niqquo. Then Tito Dolphy. And now, Tito Bobie, the father of my good friend Kim.

I don't know what death means. I cannot define it unless I'm in the situation. But when I'm already there, how will I know? 

My friends and I shared a lot of happy moments together. Birthday parties, wedding days and other special gatherings, times of laughter and cheers. But now feels so different. Today is the first time we were all brought together to mourn, to grieve. And today we realized how important it is to celebrate life.

It's very hard for me to write this post. No words are coming out from my mind. What I want as of the moment is to comfort and hug my friend but I want Kim to take her time with her family. 

Losing a parent is something I cannot bear. I'm too afraid to accept the fact that one day it will also happen to me. I don't even want to think about it. I feel a pinch inside and a mini heart attack whenever I put myself into the shoes of others who are suffering from the loss of someone so important. 

Everyday, I guess, we should live life as if it's the last. Live for today, show our love to our dear parents in numerous ways. Let's hug them, kiss them, cherish them and appreciate them. For we will never know when they will be taken away from us. There may be times they annoy us and drive us nuts, but let us not forget who they are. 

To my dear Kimmie, we are here with you no matter what. We will always pray for you, for Ate Aron and Tita Amy. I also want to take this opportunity to share something to you and I hope it will make you feel better. It may not be now, but I hope, sooner. I love you.

SAFELY HOME

I am home in Heaven, dear ones;

Oh, so happy and so bright!

There is perfect joy and beauty

In this everlasting light.

All the pain and grief is over,

Every restless tossing passed;

I am now at peace forever,

Safely home in Heaven at last.

Did you wonder I so calmly

Trod the valley of the shade?

Oh! But Jesus' love illumined

Every dark and fearful glade.

And He came Himself to meet me

In that way so hard to tread;

And with Jesus' arm to lean on,

Could I have one doubt or dread?

Then you must not grieve so sorely,

For I love you dearly still:

Try to look beyond earth's shadows,

Pray to trust our Father's Will.

There is work still waiting for you,

So you must not idly stand;

Do it now, while life remaineth--

You shall rest in Jesus' land.

When that work is all completed,

He will gently call you Home;

Oh, the pleasure of that meeting,

Oh, the joy to see you come!

♥,

Marianne

So Far, July!

Little happy things that made my July worthwhile <3

Nei-Nei!!!

Kim, Susie, Rachel and I with Nei-Nei a week after our Subic trip. Too bad I missed Mommy Tine and Soyti.

Inside a lift with my new teammates. Minna, why so cute? 

One Friday night with some of TV5 Heads at Agave :) 

With THE Eddie Garcia. Catch him on Third Eye!

Here you go! May we all have a wondrous weekend. Enjoy the rain, too!

♥,

Marianne

TV5 Press Launch

What we worked for over a week was the TV5 Press Launch which happened last Tuesday at Elements in Eton Centris. 

TV5 launched its new primetime programs: Enchanted Garden, Third Eye and Artista Academy. Raffle prizes, gorgeous giveaways and different pakulo were all present in the event. 

It was the first (formal) event I attended with my new team. As you know, I was transferred to Entertainment from Broadcast Operations. I'm really happy and thankful to have bosses who value the career growth of their people. :)

Everybody, please meet my new Kapatids from the Business Development team of TV5 Entertainment:

Jo-Jo, Jay, Nico and Iya. 

The famous women of TV5 Entertainment with my new boss/mom, Mommy Ris (in blue). Pretty no? <3

One of the boyzzz.

With our Iya-belly because our Minnakins was sick. 

With Myk and M and Chuck of TV5 Corporate PR. 

And of course you know I love photo booths:

Jay feeling his fake hair!

Iya's jeje pose!

Enchanted Garden inspired.

My new family with Habibi :)

I'm so happy to have a new family without leaving TV5. But to be honest, of course I really do miss my Nova family. Konting tiis-tiis lang magkakasama kaming lahat ulit sa Reliance. :)

♥,

Marianne

P.S. -- Please support Artista Academy, Enchanted Garden and Third Eye on TV5 Primetime! 

Sisz, Sish and Munch

I had a date with my friends Eysi, Yxie and Ram last week at Mamou in Serendra. It was a dinner I looked forward to, especially because it was the first time for me to see Ram in person.

I met these three ladies online, but it's them who proved me that online friends can be your real friends. Remember my posts about Seventeen Memories and me being pink.blush*? Like Eysi, we've been friends for almost 8 years now and this time, thanks to Candy Teentalk. On the other hand, Yxie is Eysi's friend since I-don't-know-when and I met her through my favorite Multiply, who witnessed my entire college life. 

L-R: Eysi, Ram, me and Yxie.

Sisz and sish!

With Munch. 

Yxie and Eysi arrived a little later so Ram and I got the chance to talk about personal things, including love life. Hehe. It may be the first time for us to share stories face to face but trust me, it felt like we've known each other for so many years! 

It was a short dinner (I love Mamou's spring rolls and tuyo salad--must try!) because Yxie and Ram wanted cupcakes so we went to, of course, Sonja's! My PB&J craving was finally fulfilled that night. 

Please excuse my crossed arms pose. I was seated beside skinny girls with skinny arms! I did not notice I was all like that in most of my photos with them.

That night was also the night I met Eysi's boyfriend, Mark. I swear they look a lot like each other. Hmm I hope they know what it means. Paolo and I were also being told about that for years! <3

Thanks for a lovely night, ladies! <3

Ram went back to Ilocos now (how I wish I can join her) while Eysi and Yxie are now Manila-based. What's exciting is Yxie continued her medical studies in Fatima, meaning, she's only five minutes away from home. See you again soon! :)

♥,

Marianne

Summer Girls

The summer never ends (even if it's raining damn hard while I write this post)!

If there's one thing my Girlfriends and I love doing, it's going to the beach. Always and forever. We'll never have a strong bonding like this if we weren't gone to the Philippines' most famous beaches--Boracay, Bohol, Cebu, Palawan, and Pagudpud or spent a day or two in the nearby towns of Batangas, Subic and Potipot Island to get our tans and flaunt our bikini bods. Naks!

In the past, we'd go shopping for straw bags in the same style but different colors to have a little bit of identity as a group. We were also called Ribbon Girls once because we wore the same watches with ribbon straps but of different colors in Boracay. Green for me, pink for Phoebe, purple for Kim, yellow for Cha and more. Eventually, we called ourselves Girlfriends because we all realized that all of us are in a relationship. 

We still have beach trips even after we finish college although some can no longer make it due to work and family. I'm pretty sure you know that three of my friends are now moms and two of them just got married. But we make sure to find time to spend with each other to catch up on things and to make our friendship stronger. 

Just when my friend who's based in Macau went home for a while, we called for a reunion. It's nowhere else but on the beach! Cheenee was not able to attend Maan's wedding and my 24th birthday that's why she promised to spend a weekend with us. We drove our way to Subic, thanks to Paolo, and had a wonderful time together. Sun, sand, sea and a company of good friends! 

Susie, Jovy, Dhana, Phoebe, Cheenee, Cham, Kim, Rachel and I. 

Chammie and Jovy's cousin, Dhana, joined us and made the adventure happier. We wished Maan, Cha and Anne were with us though. It's gonna be the happiest for all of us, surely!

In the nipa while our two boys, Paolo and Mon, were cooking.

From denim shorts to bikinis, I missed this kind of scene:

Ooh la la! <3

Kim was wearing high-waist bikinis because she just gave birth to Nei Nei a couple of months ago. Look how fast she loses weight from pregnancy! Hot! :)

I love your long hair, girl!

Looking at my best friend doesn't seem like she also gave birth to our another little princess, Khara! Phoebe's abs are the abs to die for when you're already a mother!

Woot!

No budget for a new pair of bikinis, I wore my Topshop pinky/hearty ruffled bikinis which I wore to Guimaras last year! :)

I gained weight but kebs!

Making the most out of this trip, we recorded our video while singing and dancing the hottest song of the moment, Call Me Maybe! We have version 1 and version 2 by Mon and Ate Mai respectively. Thanks, guys! 

I think our bikinis reflect our personalities! Can anyone tell? 

Oops, before I forgot! Pleased to introduce the two mighty men who drove and cooked for us. They also took our photos and videos. Hee hee.

Marianne and Kim gone men.

Yaaay I love this photo! 

This is also one of my favorite group pictures. 

I had the chance to take photos with each of my Girlfriends! It might take another long time before we have a repeat of this. 

Phoebe

Kimmie

Cham

Rachel

Susie

Cheenee

Jovy

Of course I never left the island without a photo with my Papao! :)

Uhm, I just realized we're both in pink. 

It was a short day tour but every hour of us together is like our moment together back in college. Nothing's really changed. Sarap sa pakiramdam to be surrounded by happy people! 

Love you, girls!!! :)

This weekend is definitely one for the books! It's amazing how best things happen in a day, regardless of what you've been through in the past. 

Love your friends as you love your life! 

♥,

Marianne

Girlfriends - Call Me Maybe Version 2

My sister who works as a video editor at ABS (haha, yes our companies are direct competitors) made a second version of our Call Me Maybe video.

Yay! Paolo is actually the main cast here. He's the baby in Call Me Maybe.


Video by: Mai Marcial
Please LIKE this video on YouTube and Facebook! :)

♥,

Marianne

Call Me Maybe with Girlfriends

On the last day of June, my friends and I went to Subic for a short beach trip. Cheenee, who's based in Macau, had a short break in the country and joined us.

Remember my plan to record a video for our very own Call Me Maybe version during my birthday which I totally forgot about? We finally made it here in Subic!

Call Me Maybe in bikinissss <3

Video by: Mon Inciong

Paolo looked cute in his own Call Me Maybe stint here! I think we're gonna be making more music videos in the future. Looking forward to have Pia, Kim E. and Doms on our next vids! :)

Share and spread the link and let me know what you think. 

♥,

Marianne

June Bride

One last hooray for June! 

It's been a week since I last updated my blog, my Marianne x Hello Kitty post was a headline for days now. I had a happy birthday week and summery weekend with my Girlfriends despite the cloudy days. But before I tell my story about our happy Subic beach adventure, please let me introduce to you the third bride in my college group. 

My friend Maan tied the knot with her longtime boyfriend PJ. When we were still in school, she's the only one who's excited for marriage. And we're very happy that after years of dreaming about becoming a bride and a Mrs., it finally came true. As usual, a bride walking down the aisle made me shed tears. I always cannot help it. I can't remember a wedding without me crying for joy!

Their wedding day was the same day I threw my birthday bash. I only attended the Church ceremony and left for Discovery Suites right after. It was one spontaneous day with two special celebrations our closest friends had to attend. So happy they made it!

Mr. and Mrs. Sales ♥

Maan Castaneda-Sales, finally!

From debut to binyag ng anak to wedding days! 

With Kimmie!

When the ceremony's over, we had to let Maan know that we were there. We also had to get her attention so we can take photos with them so we moved to the front seats after.

Kim, Cham, Kim E., me, Susie, Jovy and Phoebe.

I honestly forgot that her wedding and my birthday were on the same day so I did not get the chance to get a new dress to wear. Luckily, Paolo's mom gave me a new dress from her recent Paris trip, so there! 

Girlies in heels!

WAKEY!

Newlyweds! ♥♥♥

Maan really looked so happy and ever more in love. We can't wait to see her son Inigo in the next two months. Love, love, love makes the world go 'round! Now we wonder who the next bride is gonna be! We're getting old and merrier!

♥,

Marianne