An Afternoon Tea Party (Moon Festival Theme)

Office get-together are almost always difficult to organize, but will a little creativity and loads of patience, anyone can pull off a simple afternoon tea party for a team of 20 people.

It's the Moon Cake Festival and I found out only a handful of my colleagues have tasted a moon cake so I decided to incorporate moon cake into our party theme. We purchased some cheap Chinese lanterns as an added highlight.

 

It's an Afternoon Tea Party so I made the tea sort of the centerpiece. These special boxes of teas were sent by my boss' wife from Sydney (she said she bought it from a tea boutique in Hong Kong). The Oolong Berry was the best among the tree as its sweet aroma and taste made my colleagues forget they were drinking tea not fruit juice.

 

I later learned from my boss that these special tea cost more than what we spent for all the food we served that afternoon :)

 

Of course there's mooncake! I scored these from Eng Bee Tin at Php120 per piece. I sliced each moon cake into 8 (like pizza) and told my colleagues it's the proper way of eating moon cake. No, you don't take it whole like a hopia.

 

I threw in 2 dozens of mini pork buns (siopao) also from Eng Bee Tin. They are delicious and filling even if you can finish it in 2 bites. They only cost Php75 per dozen if frozen but when you dine at Mr. Ube (Eng Bee Tin restaurant), they are served for Php30/2 pieces.

 

Good thing we have a small rice cooker in the office which we used as steamer to reheat the mini paos.

 

 

 This 3-layer stand is a treasure for parties! Even simple breads and donuts look instantly delicious when properly setup. I got this gem from Dapitan Arcade at only Php200.



Empanaditas and Munchkins

 

Total spent for this mini afternoon tea party good for about 22 people is about Php1800 including softdrinks for those who refused tea. 

 

 

Party Venue : Unilab's Bayanihan Center

It's our first time to attend a party at Bayanihan Center at United Laboratories' compound. In fact, the first time I heard of the place was when I got the party invites for the twins of our good friends Ning and Edison. I think the venue is more popular for corporate events rather than children's parties or weddings.

I am so pleased that I was able to learn about this 'reasonably-priced' and elegant venue that is very accessible for commuting guests and also offers free parking for those bringing their own vehicles. I would love to hold one of my children's parties here someday.

Lovely entrance to Hall A. It's a Fairy Princesses party for the twins!

 

Look at this beautiful ballroom/function room! This is Hall A which can accommodate 160 to 250 pax. It's only a portion of the huge venue that is Bayanihan Center. For large events and/or conventions, the whole events hall (Hall A and B) can easily accommodate up to 400 people.

Nails and hooks are not allowed so you have to tell you venue decorator or balloon artist to use floating balloons or to improvise a way to put in your balloons, swags, drapes and other décor materials.

This explains why the balloon artist used flying balloon tied to each table centerpiece to form an arc. Very clever and creative idea!

Bayanihan Center can be your party venue at an affordable price as follows:

Hall A (160-250 guests) - Php22,000
Hall B (140-220 guests) - Php20,000
Hall A and B (300-400 guests) - Php40,000

The fee is for 4 hours use but does not include the ingress and egress pegged at Php1500 per hour.

BAYANIHAN CENTER

8008 Pioneer Street, Unilab Compound, Kapitolyo, Pasig City                                                      

Phone: +63(2)8581978

At Jollibee The Fort, They Don't Need A Mascot

Note: This is a cross post from my personal blog. This might entice moms to hold their party at Jollibee The Fort.

Last week, I did some treasure hunting from my closet. This week, I was sorting digital copies of pictures and found this video from almost 2 years ago when we attended Ross' 2nd birthday party at Jollibee The Fort.

It makes me laugh like crazy just watching and was reminded of how hilariously amazed we were during the actual performance. I thought we were in an audition for Pinoy Dream Academy. Production number talaga ito ng bonggang bongga!

But in fairness, how many parties at Jollibee or McDonalds have you attended and was welcomed by a dance number?

 

Sa Jollibee bida ang party host!

Party Venue : Park Place Swimming Pool

If your child's birthday falls on April or May, it's likely that you want to do a swimming party. The question is where do you hold an exclusive swimming party without paying an arm and a leg? Good news for residents of Cainta, Taytay or Pasig, there is a swimming pool tucked neatly in Park Place Executive Homes that could cater to a wade and splash party or just a simple family gathering.

I am recommending the place based on my personal experience. I had my son's birthday party blocked from 12 noon until 6 o'clock in the evening and I say that time is just enough for kids and adults alike to wade in the pool, bond with your guests through good food and drinks and even sing 'til your lose your voice with their karaoke for rent (a measly price of Php400!) 

 

The swimming pool is huge, clean and well-maintained. There is a separate section for kids which is perfect for wading.

For a fee of Php5000 (for daytime use), you can rent the whole swimming pool plus the covered dining hall for 6 whole hours. That's half a day of water fun already for the little ones!

The dining hall has about 6 ceiling and wall fans which should be enough to cool down the place in the merry months of December to February, but come summer time, it could still be hellish hot! Bring extra fans if you must!

 

There are also Nipa cottages for rent inside the pool vicinity and outside (rental fees on top of the reservation for the pool).

Below are more details (lifted from their FB account):

Php. 5,000.00 ( day time )
Php. 7,000.00 ( night time )
6 hrs only (time allotment for reservation)
50 persons allowed per reservation
400.00 videoke rental
50.00/ head non-swimmers
300.00 cottages (inside the pool )
(NO FOODS AND DRINKS ALLOWED inside the pool)
500.00 cottages ( outside the pool )

Interested? Here are the contact details:

Park Place Executive Homes Swimming Pool
(Boardwalk Street)
Tel. No. 212-5459
Email: ppevhaipool@ymail.com

DIY: Super Easy Marshmallow Pops

You don't have the knack for baking but wants those cake pops for your dessert buffet or for give away for your little princess' party? Try marshmallow pops instead!

It's super easy to make as you don't have to touch the oven (maybe just the microwave to melt the chocolate coating) and you don't have to worry about making the cake into perfectly shaped balls because your pops just take the shape of your marshmallows. All you need are a few ingredients and lots of creativity!

I am speaking from experience, I tell you. I did marshmallow pops for the first time and called it "Mushroom Wands" for my daughter's fairy party.

 

 

You too can do this and these are the ingredients/materials you will need:

 

- Lollipop sticks OR

- Colored straws (the hard ones, not those used for softdrinks) OR

- Barbeque sticks (if colored straws are not available)

- Marshmallows (the huge ones) in your desired color/s but I recommend to use white

- Candy sprinkles, (vermicelli sprinkles is the one I used in my mallows above) or other colorful sprinkles in various shapes (I've seen stars, hearts, and flowers at Chocolate Lover)

- White chocolate - I prefer to use this especially if sprinkles to be used are of light shades (baby pink, light green etc). I find the chocolate color a bit messy to look at.

 

Here's the very easy steps:

 

1. Melt the chocolates using a double broiler. Some would recommend using a microwave but I find it doesn't melt the chocolates evenly and the possibility of burning the chocolate is likely.

 

TIP: If you don't have a double broiler, the easiest way (but slow) is to put very hot water into a bowl then put a smaller glass bowl on top of the water. Melt your chocolate on the smaller bowl. Chocolate melts better in small chunks so slice the bar into bite size pieces for melting.

 

2. Insert a lollipop stick into each marshmallow and gently dip it into the melted chocolate. You can dip the entire mallows or just half of it, depends on what you want or the design you want to achieve.

 

3. Gently shake off the excess chocolate and roll or dip into the candy sprinkles!!

 

It's as easy as 1, 2, 3!!

 

Party Venue : One San Miguel Avenue Building Penthouse (49th Floor)

Perhaps unknown to many, there is a lovely function room on top of this very tall building in Ortigas. The function room is managed by Baby Nathan's Kitchen, the sole food concessionaire at One San Miguel Avenue Bldg (OSMA). Baby Nathan's is part of the CateringTrio group that manages the function rooms at Prestige Tower at Emerald Avenue and Deh-Tah Restaurant at Camp Crame.

Anyway, the roofdeck function room at OSMA can accommodate 140 guests but you have to lay out the tables wisely as the room is not square but rather a long rectangle with huge pillars.

Baby Nathan's allows clients for a food tasting meeting after you have chosen your menu. Grab that opportunity so you know exactly how your food will fare with your guests. You can also comment if the dish is too salty, bland etc.

As to the food presentation, I will give them 2 thumbs up. They use elegant chaffing dishes that are usually used in hotels. The buffet setup is made better by their individual spot lights for each dish although they don't have any buffet centerpiece.



Rental for the function room is FREE for four (4) hours provided you reach a food order of Php25,000 plus service charge.

Interested? Here's what I think are the points to consider when renting this party venue:

Pros:

1. The huge annoying pillars were covered with full length mirrors to compensate, thus giving an illusion of extra space (and elegance).

2. Baby Nathan provides the stage, sound system, screen if you are using an LCD projector all FREE of charge.

3. There's no corkage fee if clients bring in 3 dishes (including lechon) and they will even provide you with the chaffing dishes for the outside food. They will even provide (setup nicely) the lechon table and chop it - without corkage!

4. You and your guest can enjoy the beautiful view of Metro Manila at night from the rooftop!

Cons:

1. The huge pillars positioned almost near the center of the room make lay outing challenging especially if you are bringing in food carts and you have an elaborate program.

2. Stage can be setup only in the middle, facing the main entrance which would mean the guests are watching from the side.

3. The function room is exclusive only for Baby Nathan's Kitchen. No outside catering service is allowed.

Interested to have a party here? Contact the following:

Baby Nathan's Kitchen

9th Floor, One San Miguel Ave. Bldg

San Miguel Ave., cor Shaw Boulevard

Pasig City

Tel. No:

Look for Sheng or Annie

You may also check their website for more details on their menu.

Shakey's Kiddie Party - Not a Typical Fast Food Party

Fast Food chains are slowly becoming a popular choice for kiddie parties especially by parents who doesn't have the luxury of time to plan and the bulk of a moolah to pay for an extravagant birthday bash.

Now that we have 3 kids, I sort of consider myself very well versed in party planning so I thought I wouldn't spend so much now on by youngest child's birthday but still give her an unforgettable, fun and 'hindi mukhang tinipid' kiddie party especially that it's her first birthday.

We've attended dozens of kiddie parties in fast food chains like Jollibee, McDonalds, Burger King etc but the party at Shakey's stands out to me as good choice for a 1st birthday. First, my daughter is still too young to appreciate Jollibee and there's McDo at almost every corner of Metro Manila. I also read in another blog that Shakey's can serve the party food buffet style.

 

I checked various blogs before proceeding to a Shakey's branch so I already know that the buffet food is actually their Monster Meal Deal which they will serve buffet style. And why not, MMD is good for 10-12 people and contains all party food (pasta, garlic bread, chicken, mojos, pizza and drinks). It's a great deal for Php2079 (SC not included) per set.

I chose a branch with a Fun Zone area. Fun Zone is a small arcade where kids can buy tokens and play. As of this posting there are only 4 branches with Fun Zone - E.Rodriguez,  Katipunan, Quezon Avenue and Marcos Hi-way. We're from Rizal so Marcos Hiway was our branch of choice. It has a huge party area that can accommodate up to 120 guests. There's also ample free parking spaces around the branch.

The party themes available are Barney and Justice League, both of which did not appeal to me so I requested be allowed to create my own theme. This would mean I would drop their party amenities which includes game prizes and party give aways. Luckily, the agreed and wasn't charged a dime.

The money I saved for not getting the party amenities, I of course used to purchase our own game prizes, loot bags and other kiddie party ornaments bearing our own theme which is Tinkerbell. The staff still happily arranged them on a dressed table for the party and helped me with the setup.

 

 

They also provided the party host free of charge even though we did not avail the party amenities. The party host did a great job with the kids especially with the games. She basically ran the whole program.

 

I was also allowed to put my candy/dessert buffet to complement the Chocolate Fountain service that I booked (a partner of Shakey's). The dessert buffet and chocolate fountain were actually one of the best ideas I put for this party as it served as finger food for the guests, kids especially, while waiting for the meals to be served.

It's a bit tedious putting the candy buffet together and manage it while I host the party, but then that's the price I have to pay for wanting to have it DIY :) hehe. (Tips on how to setup your own Candy Buffet to follow).

So for those mommies out there who is considering Shakey's, allow me to enumerate what I think are the pros and cons of having your party there:


Pros

1. Just like other fast food chain kiddie parties, a Shakey's party is only for 2 hours. Best to plan the program neatly to maximize the time. If the store allows it, try to haggle for an extra hour especially if they don't have a booking after your party. You will be charged an extension fee of course (Php1000 at Marcos Hiway).

 

2. Unlike other fast food chain parties, Shakey's allowed us to serve the cake to our guests. In other words, di masyadong maarte. I heard other branches would ask for a waiver to be signed, but luckily for us at Marcos Hiway, this was never asked.

 

3. Fun Zone tokens are being sold at only Php10 each and can be used as prizes for games to those arcade addicts enthusiastic kids.

 

4. The food is good! The chicken parts are huge and crispy. The pasta are filling and you have 2 choices pa. Best of all, they now allow you to choose your pizza (because before they have only Pepperoni and Manager's Choice).

 

5. They are not too strict (at least at Marcos Hiway) and tried to accommodate all my requests, including additional balloons, additional dressed tables, party hour extension (must be made WEEKS before the party and not on the spot), photobooth service from a non accredited provider and many more!

Cons

1. The party themes at Shakey's are limited and lame. Justice League and Barney? Seriously? Haha. If only they can come up with better themes then I am sure clients would be availing more.

2. The Fun Zone can be both a blessing and a curse. From our experience, I felt the downside of the Fun Zone when the kids became very hard to coax to come into the party area and join the program. They are more interested in the arcade!

3. They have a mascot which nobody knows or even remember. I haven't met a kid who is aware of Shakey's mascot. Haha.

How to Maximize Your Photobooth Rental

Photobooth has become a regular extravaganza during special occasions especially weddings and birthday parties. It's a great alternative to giving a pre ordered souvenir which we're not sure if the our guests will like or even use.

 

 

Being a fan of photobooths, I rented a photobooth for my daughter's 1st birthday as we want our guests to have a souvenir photo from the party. The rental was good for 2 hours with 30 minutes stop-time option. I decided to rent it only for 2 hours (compared to 3 hours during my son's 1st birthday two years ago) because we're holding the party at a pizza chain and the party reservation is only for 3 hours.

Anyway, when I reviewed the DVD copy of the photos from the party and counted the total prints, I was disappointed that there's only less than 40. That means we paid Php100 for each print and for me I could have bought a really nice souvenir with that amount.

 

From that experience that I came up with a list that I will arm myself with next time we will rent a photobooth service. I want to maximize it; ensure all my guests have at least 1 print each to take home and get the value for my money.

1. Inform your guests in advance (perhaps when you email the invites or through your event invites in FB) that you have hired a photobooth service.

2. Encourage your guests to line up and have their photos taken while waiting for the program or party to start.

3. Get a package with a stop-time option. This is to ensure your guests are with you during the highlight of your event and not lined up for wacky photos.

 

4. Base the hours of rental with your party duration. If your party is at a fastfood chain like Jollibee which is strictly 2 hours only, get a 2-hour package only. In fact, a 1-hour package would probably be OK.

5. Choose a layout of only 3 or 2 photos per print. It would not only make the prints less crowded but would also make the queuing time shorter ergo more photos printed!

 

6. Skip the Customized Backdrop option unless it's free. In one of my kid's events, I just used a generic backdrop of the photobooth provider and it looked just fine. Believe me, your guests will care more on how they look at the photos than what's the print behind them. This could easily save you Php500. 

 

7. Occasionally ask your program host or emcee to announce when the photobooth is still open, especially when there's less people waiting their turn.

8. Come up with a game or contest during the party for the "Wackiest Photo" taken from the photobooth. If you have an LCD projector, flash the photos and let your guests be the judge.

Hope other mommies find this helpful. Have a great time posing!

Baptism Ceremony at Christ The King (Greenmeadows)

Christ The King Parish Church at Greenmeadows is one of the most popular christening venues among residents of Quezon City and Pasig City. Aside from it's location which is near Libis where rows of restaurants offer bapstismal reception, Christ The King Church also has a huge parking area.

I would say this church is for parents who can afford a more expensive baptism ceremony. The location of the church itself in the posh Greenmeadows somehow foretells the fee for the ceremony which is pegged at Php600.00 for the first pair of sponsors. Additional sponsor is charged Php50.00 per head. This is for MASS baptism and is held every Sunday at 10 o'clock in the morning only.

For those who wants a solo baptism (which is what I will recommend), there is now a separate room for this called a Baptistry.

 

Back in 2006 when our eldest was baptized at Christ The King, solo baptism was available only to those who can bring their own priest and have the ceremony held on weekdays. We had no choice but to get the mass baptism where the whole ceremony was unorganized and quite in chaos because the officiating priest chose to stand at the altar and have the children brought there for the rites instead of going around. So imagine the horror for those with an army of godparents! The next candidate for baptism was already at the altar while the godparents of the previous child are still trying to make their way back. There was only 1 assistant too and nobody was guiding parents/godparents for the rites and keeping order.

Solo or special baptisms are held Mondays to Sundays except holidays for the fee of Php3,200. They require 50% non-refundable down payment for you to nail the date and time of the ceremony (9:30am, 10:30am, 11:30am, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm).

 

Requirements are as follows:

 

1. Photocopy and Original copies of Registered Birth Certificate

2. Photocopy and Original copies of Marriage Certificate of parents

3. Attire: Baptismal clothes and white cap.

4. Bring your own candle!

 

Church Contact Details:

 

CHRIST THE KING PARISH

Greenmeadows Avenue, Quezon City

Tel. Nos. 633-0280 and 638-4838

 

At Last, We Have Tried a Jollibee Kids Party!

Jollibee is without question the leader in the fast food kiddie party arena. They simply know how to delight both kids and adults. I don't know if it's the mascot or the general ambiance of Jollibee, but honestly, I haven't been to a boring Jollibee party.

The Hubby has always refused holding our kids' birthdays at Jollibee saying that guests can eat at Jollibee anytime they want. I convinced him this time by saying the party is for our child, not for anyone. I am sure our relatives and friends love us so much to not mind eating Chicken Joy for our son's birthday.

And so we proceeded with a Jollibee party. It's the easiest party I have planned in the last 7 years since I had my first child. Book and pay and that's about it! The only extra work I did was order a cake and prepare the loot bags.

 

The cost for the party amenities is Php1250 which includes the use of party venue for 2 hours, mascot appearance, game prizes, crayons and 30 balloons.

 

 

Other party materials like party hats, name tags, tray liners and loot bags are also available if you are willing to pay extra.

 

I chose to create our own loot bag because we did not follow any of their themes. As of this writing, they have 3 themes, My Best Friend Jollibee, Jollitown and Batman.  I know they have Barbie before but for whatever reason, it's not being offered anymore. Back to the loot bags, clients are allowed to bring their own as long as the packaging is generic.

 

 

 

Jollibee also owns Red Ribbon and therefore offers customized Jollibee cakes for Php900. The cake is optional and clients can bring their own. However, if the baker is not Red Ribbon, the cake cannot be served to the guests during the party. To make it short, it's for candle blowing only. (Yes, that's why we still have cake in our fridge 1 week after the party!).

 

Again, since we're having a different theme, we brought our own cake (thanks to Layers & Layers).

 

 

For the decors, the package includes 30 balloons but they are put on a stand and the venue will not be decorated. Although Jollibee Greenmeadows branch's party area is designed and furnished with party colors, I still think additional balloon decors will help. Hence, I brought simple balloon decors at least for the front area where the program will be held.

 

DIY balloon decors

The highlight of the party is the appearance of the Jollibee mascot. It's amazing how both kids and adults alike enjoy having their pictures taken with Jollibee like he's some sort of celebrity (technically, he is!).

 

 

I like how the Jollibee mascot entertained our guests for 30 minutes by gracing the photo op, going from table to table for more photos, and even doing a dance number. Really, Jollibee is the most popular party mascot. Award!

 

For the food cost, the lowest package is Php3870. There is an option to Create Your Own Meal as long as a minimum food cost of Php4000 is achieved.

 

 

From 1-10, I'd rate Jollibee with 9 as I feel they should improve their game prizes (they look so lame, small and cheap).

 

For those planning a party at Jollibee, they now have an online party booking system where anyone can plan, book and pay for their party in the comfort of their home.

 

 

DIY Hanging Balloons Decor

For a balloon decor that is as simple as the banderitas type or popularly referred to by balloonist as Balloonderitas, a professional balloon decorator is almost not required. Do it your own and save money! You can use the extra fund for food or additional give aways.

To be able to save significantly, balloons must be purchased at wholesale price from Divisoria. There are plenty of stores at 168 Mall and Divisoria Mall. Personally, I prefer 168 Mall as it is more accessible if commuting and there is ample parking space if you dare drive to Divi.

A regular sized balloon costs about Php100 for 12 pcs in SM or National Bookstore, but you can purchase them for as low as Php200 for 100 pcs at 168 Mall. You'll be amazed at the selection of colors too, and the sizes. Mylar type balloons are also available.

A simple balloonderitas consisting of 100 pcs of balloons can cost anywhere from Php1500 - Php3000. If you have the energy and patience, you can do your own for a humble price of Php200-Php300 (materials only, including nylon strings).

Here's what I did for my son's birthday bash at Jollibee. I hanged 10 sets of cluster-of-4 balloons as added decor to our party (stage part only). I spent only Php70 (and a sore arm from inflating the balloons).

How to make a balloonderitas (with curled ribbons):

1. Inflate balloons and make sure the sizes are uniform.

2. Attach curled ribbons at the end of each balloon (where you knot the end of the balloon to close it off) either by tying the ribbons or by taping them using transparent tape (Scotch tape).

3. Using a Scotch tape (preferably at least 1/2 inch width), attach each balloons to the nylon string. Tip to secure the balloon on the nylon string: tape the nylon diagonal from the left and right (creating an "x").

4. Depends on how scattered you wish to decorate the balloons,  a foot distance between each balloon should be fine.

How to make a cluster of 4 balloons:

1. Inflate balloons in uniform sizes.

2. Pair the balloons by tying 2 balloons together. Make several pairs.

3. Get 2 pairs of balloons and twist them together in the middle. You have now formed your cluster.

4. Tie a nylon string to the balloon (at the point where all 4 balloons are joined together) and hang as desired.

If you want a deviation from balloon decors, you can try tissue or paper pompoms.

Happy Partying!

Party Venue: Village East Clubhouse

For Cainta residents looking for a great venue for weddings, debuts or birthday parties, the clubhouse of Village East Executive Homes offers 3 venues.

The cafe area (open air hall) at the ground floor can perfectly fit 80 to 100 guests and is great for semi formal and evening gatherings. It's comfortable even with just only the ceiling fans especially during late afternoon 'til evening.

the entrance

 

left side of the hall from entrance

  

center

right side of the hall from entrance...that door after the bar are the comfort rooms/toilets

corner area, view is the swimming pool

 

For larger parties, the Function Room at the 2nd floor can easily accommodate up to 200 people. It is fitted with enough air-conditioning units to keep the guests cool throughout the event. The room is also L-shaped which suits parties that need a separate area for photo booths, kiddie salon, and other whatnot.

For summer parties, the swimming pool area including the covered hall and tables can be reserved for 4 hours.

Best of all for this venue is that the staff at the Admin office are very accommodating and easy to talk to. Look for Nonet if interested.

Details here:

their flier is from March 2009 but these are the same rates when we had our party in December 2012.

 

Burger King Kiddie Party Package

Yes, you are reading this right. Burger King has joined the kiddie party bandwagon.

When my sister announced they will be holding her son's birthday party at Burger King, I frowned and thought she made a mistake and actually meant perhaps Jollibee or McDo or even KFC. But it's true, Burger King has kiddie parties too!

 

My sister was very happy with the party coordinator. Aside from hosting the party, she helped with the preparations, including the assembly of the loot bags.

They offer only one theme which is the Royal Party (aptly because BK wants to fit the party around the word King in their brand name). My sister wanted Cars theme instead and was allowed to bring her own loot bags and even the cake.

 

 

Note: They allowed the cake to be served but asked my sister to sign a waiver.

The food is just okay but if you are someone who is used to the taste of Jollibee Chickenjoy, you may find BK's fried chicken a bit bland and lacking despite BK being owned by Jollibee Foods too. The burger of course is really good but I must say it's not for kids as they put mustard dressing.

 

The party area is huge and there is sufficient space allotted for games and party activities (at least at Timog Branch). We love the simple balloon decor with swags too.

 

 

Food Packages are as follows:

 

Package 1 @ Php154/pax

1pc. Chicken w/ rice value meal (with drink)
Regular fries
Sundae

 

Package 2 @ Php 204/pax

2pcs. Chicken w/ rice value meal (with drink)
Regular fries
Sundae

 

Package 3 @ Php239/pax

1pc. Chicken w/ rice
Whopper Jr. value meal (with fries and drinks)
Sundae

 

Package 4 @ Php254/pax

1pc. Chicken w/ rice
Chicken sandwich value meal (with fries and drinks)
Sundae

 

Package 5 @ Php284/pax

1pc. Chicken w/ rice
Whopper Value meal (with fries and drinks)
Sundae

There's also a Php3000 fee for party amenities.

 

 

Baptism Ceremony at Holy Trinity Parish (Village East)

After my eldest child's baptism at Christ The King in Greenmeadows, I swore to never avail again of mass baptism ceremony. Our experience at CTK was disappointing as the ceremony was very disorganized. During that time (2006) they don't offer yet solo baptism.

So for my son, we had him baptized at Santuario de San Antonio in Greenhills as they have a separate chapel or room exclusive for baptism. Now for my youngest, I decided I want a church near our place and if lucky, I'll find a reception hall near the church too for the convenience of our guests.

Fortunately, after weeks of ocular visits I found Holy Trinity Parish located inside Village East Executive Homes in Cainta. The church was being improved from the outside but the interiors were already completed. Best of all, Village East Clubhouse is just a few meters from the church too, which is perfect for the reception!

 

There's something unique in this church and their baptism ceremony. Instead of the usual pouring of water on the baby's forehead, the officiating priest uses a shower head for the baptism. Pretty cool, right?

 

 

According to the church assistant, the parish priest is creative and innovative. He was the one who came up with the idea and the design of the baptismal basin.

 

There's a mandatory orientation/seminar for parents an hour before the baptism ceremony for special baptisms (solo) and on a Saturday scheduled by the church for mass baptisms. Baptismal rites fees are Php350 for mass baptisms are that done every Sunday at 10am, and Php1800 for special/solo baptisms done every Sunday at 5pm. They only accept one special baptism every Sunday.

 

Holy Trinity Parish

Village East Executive Homes, Cainta, Rizal

Tel. No. 474-6362 look for Buboy or Joan.

 

Parish office schedule:

Tues-Sun 830am to 5:30pm; 12nn -230pm breaktime

No office on Mondays.

 

Shakey's Kiddie Party Package

It is very seldom that I am invited to a Shakey's kiddie party. If my memory serves me right, I've only attended 2 parties in Shakey's. The first one was my cousin's 1st birthday and the second was a birthday of a godson.

 

So yes, this was the 3rd time and a lot have changed in their party package since.

There are 2 themes to choose from: Barney and Justice League. Not much choice especially for girls who are more particular with parties.

On positive note, the giveaways/lootbag and game prizes are of good quality (not cheap-looking) and useful compared to the lootbag at Jollibee or McDonald which contain mostly small toys.
 

cupcakes are NOT from Shakey's, hehe

 

I love the Superman capes if you choose to have the Justice League theme. It's fun watching the kids excitedly wear their capes and join the games. Speaking of games, maybe due to the fact that hosting kiddie parties is not one of the key competencies of Shakey's, the party host is not that entertaining. She could further improve with training...maybe she needs to attend Jollibee parties.

 

 

 

For the food, below are the packages, but I also learned you can have food served buffet style. Just check with the branch for more details.

 

 

 

If I could give an unsolicited suggestion to Shakey's, I'd say they should give ample space for their party areas. The space was too limited (at Retiro Branch but I've also been to other branches) for the parlor games and other party activities.

 

For more party info based on personal experience on Shakey's, please click here.

Baptism Ceremony at Lourdes Church

I've stood as god mother to my friends and relatives' children over two dozen times but my experience last week at my nephew's christening was an unforgettable one.

Catholic baptism rites are normally dragging with the priest handing out a booklet so the child's parents and godparents know the proper responses as the sacrament is administered. In most parish churches it involves pouring a small amount of water three times on the forehead of the infant. This is followed by a white cloth or a cap being placed over the head of the baby. The usual lighting of candles ensues at the cue of the priest.

When I got to the baptism hall, I frowned at the sight of babies for baptism wearing only very casual clothes - sando and briefs to be exact, while their baptism gowns or clothes were all in hangers carried by the moms. My nephew was in his tan pair of shorts and shirt so I asked my sister why the baby wasn't wearing decent baptismal clothes. She said that was the instructions of the parish office. Weird.

Anyway, the baptism rites began soon after all the candidates arrived (there were 7 that Sunday). I must commend the priest and 3 church assistants who sang, read the Bible and Gospel and organized the venue. The ceremony was not sleep-inducing and I didn't feel like being hurried and the officiating priest is just doing his duty like baptism is just a paint job that needs to be finished. I actually felt part of the baptism ceremony.

After the usual anointing of oil, the lector asked the babies to be stripped down to their birthday suit. Whoa! That's when we realized the 'wisdom' behind the instruction to have them wear their gown after the baptism. After baptism meaning after they were bathed ala laundry way.

 

 

 

There were lots of forced laughter mixed with nervousness from parents and relatives of the babies being baptized. Come to think of it, when we give bath to our babies we're all careful not to pour water over their eyes and noses - but hey Father Whoever just dip the babies into the water as if rinsing a dirty piece of cloth.

During the days of early Christianity, baptism is done near a body of water (normally a river) where the candidate is immersed in the water. Sometimes the candidate kneels down while water is poured over his/her head. Immersion or submersion are the key words - but during that time people who are being baptized are grown ups, probably way beyond their teens, hence, they could be immersed, submerged, thrown, drowned into the river.

Honestly, I like the baptism ceremony at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes (or Lourdes Church for short). If I could bring back the hands of time, perhaps I'd have my children's baptisms there (that is if The Hubby will not object).

For inquiries, you may call the Parish Office at 731-9306, 740-8878.

NATIONAL SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES
Kanlaon cor. N. S. Amoranto Ave. (formerly Retiro St.) Sta. Mesa Heights,
Quezon City

 

(cross-posted at www.bratinelangkikay.com)

DIY Cheese Fountain (for Nachos Buffet)

Just because it's called Chocolate Fountain does it mean we can only use it for chocolates? Certainly not!

During our New Year's party at the office, I decided to skip the usual chocolate fountain and instead try doing a cheese fountain for our nachos buffet.

My colleagues were pleasantly surprised to see the very inviting bright yellow fluid flowing through but what made them even more surprised was when they learned how easy it was to make the cheese dip.

There's no secret to it, really. All you need is a good old cheese spread (I used Cheez Whiz), fresh milk and a microwave oven. That's it!

Procedure:

 

1. Empty a jar of cheese spread (plain, do not use the one with pimiento) in a microwaveable container.

 

2. Pour 1/2 cup of milk on the cheese spread and mix. Expect that the mixture will not be smooth but rather lumpy.

 

3. Put the mixture in the microwave for 3 minutes in medium high setting.

 

4. Remove and stir. The cheese spread should now have a smoother consistency and should easily mix with the milk.

 

5. Keep stirring while the mixture is still hot. If still lumpy, stir in more milk and  put back in the microwave for another 3 minutes. Do this process until the desired consistency is achieved. The reason why microwave only for short period is to avoid burning the cheese.

 

6. Pour into the fountain and enjoy!

 

If you have a double broiler then melting the cheese and mixing with milk is a lot easier as you can see the 'output' as you go along. There's also less chance of burning the cheese.

 

Enjoy!

Party Venue : Palladium Clubhouse

Accessible party venues are hard to find. Normally, clubhouses are located in the middle of a village and guests either need to go by taxi or tricycle.

Thankfully, that's not a problem with Palladium Clubhouse as it is within a short walking distance from the entrance of Palladium. Guests who will take public transportation going to your event can alight at the gate along Shaw Boulevard and walk to your party.

There are actually 2 options for rental: The function room and the poolside.

We've rented the function room twice already and I'd say we were happy with the venue. The room can accommodate up to 100 guests or maximum of 120 if the buffet table is setup outside.

The only downside that didnt go well with me is they prohibit sticking of decors on their walls and ceilings. It's a nightmare for mommies who love elaborate decors for their parties.

I had to content with floating balloons to address this decor challenge just so my son's baptism reception would not look dull and lacking. I also instructed our caterer to use tall and elaborate table centerpieces to augment the decorations.

As for the poolside area, it is spacious and clean and can approximately hold 150 guests. Swimming is not allowed though as well as floating decors on the pool.

Pros:

1. Convenient location - guests can take public transportation going to your event without difficulty.

2. Easy to find - no need for maps or detailed directions as Palladium is along Shaw Boulevard and very easy to locate.

3. Budget-friendly - considering the location, accessibility and the appearance of the function room, the rental fee is reasonable.

Cons:

1. Decorating challenge - sticking anything on the walls and ceiling is strictly prohibited. Only the glass windows and glass panels are allowed to be used for sticking decorative materials. So say goodbye to ceiling swags and hanging balloons (unless your decorator can do magic).

2. A security bond of Php8000 needs to be paid beforehand and is refundable (subject to deductions for breakage, damages, time extension, electrical fees etc if applicable) a week after the event.

Notes:

1. There is a minimal electricity charge of Php300 for any electric-powered equipment brought in.

2. Spot cooking is not allowed.

3. List of guest names and suppliers need to submitted to the Clubhouse admin prior to the event.

Rates (as of February 2013) for 4 hours use:

Weekend booking (Sat-Sun):

Function Room - Php10800

Poolside (swimming not included) - Php14000

Weekday booking (Mon-Fri)

Function Room - Php9000

Poolside (swimming not included) - Php12000  

Palladium Clubhouse

The Palladium (Village)

Shaw Boulevard, Brgy. Wack Wack

Mandaluyong  City

Tel No. 533-3048, look for Margie

Layers & Layers (Cakes by Arlene)

I consider myself an avid and loyal patron of Layers & Layers. The cakes taste as good as they look and the staff are so familiar with me they accept my orders even with just 2 days notice. Ahhh! I am spoiled!

Here's what they've made for my kids' various celebrations:

Hello Kitty satellite cakes

Dora, the Explorer plus cupcakes for my daughter's 2nd birthday. The cupcake tower was rented from them too.

Princess Ariel as the Little Mermaid...

Spongebob Squarepants complete with all his friends! Both layers are real cake and edible, no styro.

Toy Story crew (cupcakes from another baker)

The best thing about Layers & Layers is that you can bring a photo of the character or design for your cake and you can be assured they can execute it perfectly.

Price range from Php1000 to Php3000 depends on size and frosting.

Layers & Layers (Cakes by Arlene)

No. 11-C West Capitol Drive, Barangay Kapitolyo, Pasig City

Tel. No.:633 2810, Mobile Nos.:0917 3201988/0917 8486030

They have also a branch at Fun Ranch Fortera Verde, Pasig City