How I turn my receipts into cash

Now that I'm a wife, I've become more budget conscious and eager to find ways to save and get value for our money.

I downloaded this app called Snapcart (it’s available on iTunes and Google Play Store), which allows you to take photos of your receipts and gives you cash in return.

Read on to learn how!

Romy Roams Tokyo: Where to Eat

Happy 2018, dear readers! I know it's been a while since I last wrote a post, but I've been busy with the life of being a wife and finishing projects on the side too, so the blog took a back seat. 

Hopefully with the new year comes a new drive to write more regularly. Please don't get tired of dropping by!

So, let's get on with my first post for the year. :)

Now that you've read where to go in Tokyo, it's time to let you in on all the good food we ate! 

Japanese food is something I grew up eating. My brother and I inhale a plate of sashimi within seconds. 

My family and I frequented Kimpura, Sugi, and Saisaki when they were the only choices in Manila. When we grew older, we tried other restaurants to get our sashimi fix and other Japanese food staples. 

So to say I was excited to finally try Japanese food in Japan is a major understatement. 

Here's my Tokyo Eat List! Hope you enjoy these restos and dishes as much as I did. 

Wedding Supplier Review: Our Cake by Joy San Gabriel

Our cake supplier is one of the best decisions I made for our wedding.

Wedding reviews usually come with a rating and I forewent that in my previous entries, but for Ms. Joy, I will tell you that my rating is 5+++.

You know that supplier you can't stop raving about each and every time their product comes up in a conversation? This is that kind of supplier. If I can get married all over again just so I can have a three-tiered, all-edible, whipped cream cake with four different flavors, I would. Her cakes are THAT good.

To be honest, she wasn't my first choice. I didn't even know about her until I went to a bridal fair.

I already had a cake design and a cake designer in mind months before the wedding, and Jay and I even went to a bridal fair so we can avail of a discounted rate just in case we decided to get the said vendor.

But when we were there, the quote given to me was still way over our budget even with the discount, and for a design much simpler than I wanted. I could've worked on it if I wanted, but what made me decide to skip the said vendor was the taste of the cake. Let's just say I was expecting more.

I wanted our wedding cake to not just be beautiful on the outside, but decadent on the inside too. Our wedding cake wouldn't just be decoration. It will be eaten, and it will be eaten heartily. Mainly by me!

Haha. I love cake. Cake is one of my comfort food. I can finish a whole cake by myself , but I'm an adult now so I have to act like one.

So fast forward to another bridal fair my bridesmaid Kat and I visited. There we were, getting overwhelmed with the maze of wedding supplier booths all around us.

We got to the wedding cake vendor aisle and we sampled their products. One stall didn't have a lot of giant cake displays like the others, but they did have a lot of bite-sized samples laid out at their booth.

Different variants of cheesecakes, a carrot cake, a chocolate one, and some other flavors.

I was in cake heaven. First taste of the mango cheesecake and I knew, we found our supplier. But just to make sure, Kat and I went back another round so we can eat the samples again.

That vendor was Joy San Gabriel Young. Ms. Joy wasn't there during the fair, but her husband Martin explained their rates and cake details very well. I wanted to book them already, but of course Jay and I had to decide together.

I sent an email to Ms. Joy for the specific design I wanted. What I love about her is she takes into account her client's budget so she can work around it and still give the client the best product she can produce.

She explained to me the kind of cake we can avail within my budget, the flavors available within that range, and also the extent of the design we can achieve.

There's a fast turnaround for email inquiries, and her replies are clear and thorough.

To avail of the discount, I went to another bridal fair and paid our down payment. Mr. Martin filled out a form and gave it to me, and that's what I brought to Ms. Joy's studio for our cake tasting.

Cake sampling is scheduled on Mondays and Tuesdays only since they have a busy week for events. The studio is located in Galas, Quezon City. I posted the map to her studio at the end of my review.

Our meeting was very productive. Ms. Joy was attentive to all the little details and emailed me her notes the day after. And of course, the samples she served were all delicious. I didn't finish everything so Jay and his family could taste them too.

I also met up with a friend and we were in agreement that everything was good.

Ms. Joy also gave me a sample of her cheese roll. Back then, they were still finalizing the details of a stand-alone kiosk for their baked goods to be sold in malls. And now, it's a reality! You can find their soft and yummy cheese rolls and ensaymada at Marketplace by Rustan's inside Powerplant Mall.

Our final design was a three-tier, all-edible whipped cream cake with four different flavors. Yes, four, because the bottom layer could be divided into two flavors. Isn't that awesome? My main design element was a cascade of light peach peonies with green leaves made of sugar icing.

But in the end we just chose three flavors because the strawberry shortcake was out of this world. That was our bottom layer. Our other two flavors were mango cheesecake (top) and moist chocolate (mid).

The three tiers were sized as follows: 6x5, 9x5, and 12x5 round cakes.

The best part is, we ended up with a cake that cost less than our budget! It's because of the 5% discount we availed at the bridal fair. And of course, Ms. Joy's generosity.

The other flavors you can choose from include coffee caramel, tarta San Marco, apple, or carrot.

For other weddings, after the couple slice their cake, it just sits there like a sad kid forgotten by the others. But not me. I had plans for our cake. Since we already had several dessert options for our guests (including a white chocolate cake, I planned on reserving the wedding cake for us and our families.

What's great is Ms. Joy offered to convert out top two tiers into styrofoam for the wedding day, and give us FOUR boxed cakes (two 6-inch mango cheesecakes and two 9-inch moist chocolate cakes).

It was perfect because we were able to give them to our families. As for the bottom layer, our lucky guests who stayed until the end of the wedding got to take home our cake too.

They have other options like converting one or two layers to cupcakes of mini-cakes. Just talk to Ms. Joy about your options.

Friends, don't overlook your wedding cake. It will be the first thing you taste during your reception proper (your coordinator is supposed to feed you before the program, but that doesn't count), and you want to make that memory great.

Choose wisely. Choose Joy.

Hehe sorry got a little carried away there with my copywriting brain. But, trust me. Go ahead and sample her cakes at bridal fairs. Drop by her stall for cheese rolls and ensaymada. You will not regret it.

Joy San Gabriel
Address: 3F PNB Galas Branch Building, 20 Bayani Street, Galas, Quezon City
Email: sangabriel.joy @gmail.com
Contact Numbers: +63917-5278837 / +632-7439306 / +632-2114820

Wedding Supplier Review: Preps at Oakwood Premier Joy~Nostalg Center Manila

This is a long read, but hopefully it will help you in your search for a good hotel for your wedding (or other event) preparations.

When I was researching for a good hotel to hold our preparations for the wedding day, I was looking for one with big rooms, affordable rates, good natural lighting, and one that was not strict with the number of people and outside food coming in. My search led me to Oakwood Premier Joy~Nostalg Center Manila in Ortigas. It received a lot of good reviews with former brides. Later on, another plus point was that they didn't have extra charges for shooting within their hotel premises. I remember during my brother's wedding, we had to do a guerrilla shoot on our way to church because the hotel only permitted shoots when the reception would be done there. Others charge exorbitant fees and don't even allow aerial drones.

The one concern with Oakwood was it was far from our church, the INC locale of San Francisco in Del Monte Avenue, Quezon City. But when I learned that my on-the-day coordinator handled a wedding with hotel preps in Oakwood and an even further church in the INC locale of Capitol (Commonwealth Avenue), I became confident that we could do it. This was more because I trusted my OTD.

We initially booked two rooms in November, two one-bedroom suites for me and for Jay who will stay with his family. Later on, I thought Jay needed his own room so he can relax during his last night as a single man (hehe) and in the morning the room needed to be clean for the photo and video shoot. He was going to stay with three women in the other one-bedroom suite and I knew there'd be a lot of things there. So in January we booked another studio for Jay. We got this at a higher rate so my first tip is to book as early as possible, because the nearer you are to your wedding date, chances are the rates will be higher.

We booked my room for three nights, my in-laws' room for two nights, and Jay's room for one night. The day before the wedding was our check-in. We arrived late and since I had my wedding gown delivered to the hotel, the wedding gown arrived before us. I just called the concierge and asked them to receive it for me. When we arrived, it was at the lobby but it was arranged in an orderly manner, the gown in the mannequin was on a hotel trolley and the skirt part was covered with a black trash bin bag.

During the booking I indicated that the rooms will be used for a wedding so when we arrived at my room, there was a cake with "Congratulations!" written on top. That was a sweet gesture. I also said if it was possible for them to give us a room at the side facing Podium so we can have as much natural light as possible. It wasn't followed, but my room had big windows on two sides so we were still able to maximize the natural light.

We got married on April 7, and that was the time Oakwood introduced the one-time cleaning charge when a room will be used for weddings, functions, and other events. These were the rates:

Studio - Php2,000
1 Bedroom - Php2,500
2 Bedroom - Php4,000
3 Bedroom - 5,000

They were also charging Php200 per extra person, and Php50 per piece of extra luggage per guest (only 2pcs per guest allowed).

I was surprised. At the time of our booking these charges weren't implemented yet, and though I know it's the hotel's prerogative to change their rules, I thought it would have been proper to inform their clients especially since we indicated we were going to use our rooms for wedding preps. The receptionist I spoke to these charges were open to negotation, so I said we were only going to use one room for the preps, my room. So they had me sign the waiver (photo below) and charged us for one room only. As for the Php200 per extra person, we weren't charged for any extra persons during the wedding day. I'll discuss the extra luggage charge in the latter part of my review.

The night before our wedding, our florist delivered our entourage flowers. This was a surprise to me as this was not what we agreed upon. She just told me they were at the hotel lobby already after the fact. We were at the church for our wedding rehearsal so I wasn't able to do anything about it anymore. When we arrived, I was informed that they brought the flowers up to my room already. I appreciated that effort from them.

Our rooms were indeed spacious, Oakwood is a serviced-apartment more than a hotel, so we had a working kitchen complete with stove, ref, microwave, cutlery, plates, even a dishwasher. We also had a washing machine in our rooms.

Come wedding day, all of my suppliers, entourage, and other family members were able to move freely in my room. Since it's a one-bedroom suite, the living area is separated from the bedroom. My entourage HMUA set-up in the living room, while my own HMUA set up at the bedroom. Oakwood gave us keys that had access to the floors of the three rooms so our suppliers (coordinator, photo, and video) were able to transfer conveniently. Food deliveries were also allowed, provided we will meet them at the lobby and bring the food up ourselves. This was taken care of by our coordinator.

This photo was taken by my cousin. Oakwood really has spacious rooms.

During the preps my rooms had a ceiling leak. The area near the closets and bathroom was leaking. It was tolerable at first, until it became big and the carpet was soaking wet. My bridesmaids were having a hard time moving from the living area to the bathroom to fix themselves. I heard my bridal assistant (I was being made up then) calling housekeeping (or whatever department handles this) about it. She called several times, up until we were about to leave the hotel, but I didn't see any officer from the hotel check the room. I have a vague memory of a maintenance personnel checking it, but what my bridal assistant told me was that they wouldn't be able to fix the leak at that time. So before we left, my coordinator told me the arrangement was that we'll just transfer to another room when we get back from the wedding (because we still had a lot of stuff in the room).


After everybody finished their lunch (we ordered from Amber), my coordinators did a good job of cleaning everything up. Even the bed was fixed, so I thought there was really no need for the one-time cleaning fee. I understand there might have been former clients who trashed their rooms (probably had poppers/confetti or spilled champagne and what not during their video shoots), but they should check for damage AFTER the event and then assess whether to charge the fee.

After our wedding, we returned to Oakwood and that was when we transferred to another room. The leak still hadn't been fixed. There was just a bucket under the ceiling where it was leaking. My coordinator also informed me that they were being charged the Php50 per luggage fee, and they weren't allowed to use the trolley to bring the things from the wedding back to our room.

Since my coord didn't want us to incur any more charges, they brought the things up on their own. This didn't sit well with me because I was a paying customer, I was checked in for three nights, and technically, those were still my things. The luggage fee were only applicable to the wedding suppliers who would bring stuff up during the shoot.

But at that time I was so tired from everything that I just made a note to discuss it upon checkout.

When we were about to check out, I discussed with the receptionist all of my concerns. I told her the one-time cleaning fee should be a case-to-case basis. I also asked her why no one was able to fix the leak in our room. It caused so much hassle to everyone. We discussed all of this in a hurry because Jay and I still needed to buy something at SM. So I settled our bill and we left our stuff at the concierge first.

But everything was still bothering me, and I also asked my friend who's a manager at Manila Pen if they were charging a fee for rooms booked for wedding preps. She said no. So after we returned from SM I asked if I could speak to the manager on duty at Oakwood. It took a while, but I waited. When I spoke to the manager, I expressed my disappointment in a very cordial way. I did it out of concern, really, because Oakwood has a good reputation and good standing as a venue for wedding preps. I told him how no one even apologized for the leak, how no one assisted my coords for our stuff when I was still checked in (for two more nights). I said, "What if I was a guest and I shopped really hard and came home with dozens of bags, would you charge me for them?" He apologized for this and said it shouldn't have happened.

The ending was, our one-time cleaning charge was waived. But I think this was more because my room had a leak. If it didn't have a leak, I don't think they would have waived it. Still, I'm thankful that the manager was very receptive to my feedback and he handled my concerns well (which is more than I can say for the receptionist).

This happened in April, and in the wedding group I joined, someone took the initiative to contact Oakwood. It was resolved that everyone who made a booking before April 1 would have their cleaning charges waived. But after that, the charges would apply.

TIPS:

1. Check the rates at booking sites like Agoda or Booking.com. We booked through Agoda and their rates were much lower than what Oakwood gave us. Book as early as possible.

2. If you want to further save on cost, book rooms without breakfast included. Since Oakwood is not strict with outside food, you can order fast food delivery, or you can also cook in the functional kitchen.

3. Look for a hotel that has a lot of areas you can use for your photo and video shoot. Oakwood didn't have a lot of these. You can only shoot in the rooms, hallways, lobby and outside the hotel. But what I love about Oakwood's rooms are the huge windows and abundance of natural light.

4. Clarify with your hotel first about extra charges, and read your booking contract until the fine print. So you'll have something to back you up in case you will contest charges that come up during check in or check out.

5. If you'll still go for Oakwood, ask your suppliers to bring their own trolleys, or ask your coordinator to help them.

6. Talk to hotel management cordially. Let them know about your side, and if it's possible to have a workaround with your concerns. I believe everything can be fixed when we don't let out heightened emotions get in the way. At the same time, be firm with your stand.


Supplier Contact Details:

Oakwood Premier Joy~Nostalg Center Manila
17 ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City 1600
Telephone numbers: (632) 637-7786 / (632) 910-8888
Email: premiermanila@oakwoodasia.com
Website: www.oakwoodpremiermanila.com

Wedding Supplier Review: Our Wedding Rings by Tolosa's Jewelry

You will be wearing your wedding rings your whole life so it is important to invest in them. They can still be within your budget, but make sure you research on reputable suppliers that do quality work. I've read a lot of problematic vendors who don't follow what's in the contract and create a lot of headaches for brides and grooms. I'm happy that our chosen jeweler was hassle- and stress-free.

Tolosa's Jewelry is owned by my bother's high school friend Kris. His family has been in the jewelry business for many years and they have a shop in Sta. Mesa, Manila. But because I already sent Kris the designs I wanted via FB Messenger, we didn't have to go to their shop. We just met in QC to discuss the details. I sent him three designs we were choosing from, and then he sent me price quotations for each pair. Jay and I discussed and decided on a design that was both beautiful but also within our budget. Our bands were made in 18k white gold and smooth finish, only mine had 5 pieces of small round-cut diamonds. Jay's band was also thicker since it's for men.

This is one important tip I'd like to give brides out there. Discuss with your jeweler the thickness of your band. When Kris asked me whether I'd want my band to be the same width as the diamonds, I said yes. Of course I had imagined something similar to the photos I sent him, but you know, photos can be deceiving hehe. So when we got the rings, I was initially surprised that my ring was thinner than I imagined. BUT! Eventually I found it to be perfect because it went well with my engagement ring. If my wedding band was thicker, I'd be too hesitant to wear my two rings together because they'd look too much, too over-the-top for my taste. But with the thinner wedding band, my two rings together now look just right.

Here's how they look like when worn together:

This is my Instagram post after trying out the Happy Skin nail polish that's why the bottle is included in the pic. Hehe!

Still, it would be wise to discuss specifics with your jeweler. I don't care much about jewelry and I trusted Kris so I didn't have that many questions. I knew they would deliver and they did! A week after our first meeting, our wedding rings were finished. Kris also said they can do rush production of wedding rings (as in two days!), but those are usually for simple wedding bands.

We got a good discount from Tolosa's Jewelry, and they also threw in free engraving for us. :) I think it's just manual engraving, so you might want to check their output first if you're looking for a machine-style engraving.

We made a down payment during our first meeting and paid the rest once we got the rings.

TIPS:

1. Know your ring size. Kris brought as measuring device with him so it'll be accurate. He also suggested we meet near our wedding date since there are instances when the bride and groom would lose/gain weight, and the finger size would be affected. He also advised to get a size that's not too exact, to give way to future pregnancies for the bride. Not to worry because if you have a ring that's a bit lose, you can do this hack! You know those colorful rubber cords you wrap around your phone charger so it doesn't get destroyed? Cut a couple of loops of the cord, wrap it around your ring, and it'll be snug as a bug on your finger! I've seen a lot of brides do this trick.

2. Discuss the band thickness and the diamond sizes.

3. Check if you're allergic to certain metals. This will save you time and money! Some people are allergic to nickel, et al. and it will be sad if you won't be able to wear your wedding ring, or if you have to replace it.

Click on the link below if you want to inquire about your wedding rings or your other jewelry needs. Happy preps!

Supplier Contact Details:

Tolosa's Jewelry Facebook Page

Wedding Supplier Review: Our Prenup Photo Shoot with Bob & Zab Photography

I'm going to jump a few steps ahead of my Wedding Wednesday posts to tell you what happened behind the scenes of our prenup photo shoot in February.

I wrote this supplier review to help other brides-to be out there in their quest of finding their wedding photographers, and to determine if they should even proceed with having an engagement/prenup photo shoot.

I remember when my brother and I were talking many years ago, he told me that he didn't want to have a prenup photo shoot. He said he found it awkward to be posing in front of people he barely knows, and that a couple who already had a lot of photos together (especially ones from their travels) didn't need a photo shoot anymore. It would probably best for couple who haven't been together for long. At that time, prenup photo shoots weren't a staple at weddings yet, and finding a good prenup location was hard especially for city folk.

When Jay and I got engaged, I initially didn't want to have a prenup shoot either. We have been together a long time and have accumulated more than our fair share of photos, including ones of our local and international travels. But my main concern was the budget. I felt like it was an unnecessary expense.

But when we booked Bob & Zab Photography as our wedding photographers, their package included a free engagement shoot. We got a really good deal from them, and I began to warm towards the idea of having our prenup shoot.

There are five main things to consider when preparing for your prenup shoot aside from your photographers:

1. Shoot Location
2. Hair & Makeup
3. Outfits
4. Props/Styling
5. Food & Transportation

If you add all those costs, they can really put a dent on your budget. So I had to make sure we can pull off a shoot without shelling out too much. Fortunately, my good friend and groomsman's family farm in Tanay, Rizal was a great location for our shoot. We didn't really have a theme in mind yet, our photographers just suggested an outdoor shoot and preferably with lots of greenery to blend with their light and vibrant style. After doing an ocular with Jay and our friend Kenneth, and getting the go signal from his lovely aunt to use the farm, we checked number 1 off our list.

For the hair and makeup, the best suggestion is to do a trial with the hair and makeup artist for your wedding. Trials usually come with a fee, so it's best to do a trial when you have an event to attend, or in this case, a photo shoot to do. When I asked my bridal HMUA if they were available for our shoot date, they already had a booking. Since it's harder to book my photographers, I had to search for an affordable HMUA. Tats Dionisio was recommended by a sister from W@W. 

I contacted Tats thru Facebook Messenger, and only got his phone number a few days before the shoot. Tats does both hair and makeup, and he offers unli retouch for the day. His rate is very reasonable, and I only added a couple of hundred bucks for his transportation to our meeting place.

When I was searching for a HMUA for the shoot, I was a bit baffled why they would give an initial rate then ask for an additional stipend for their transportation. I asked my other bride friends why they wouldn't just automatically add them up to their rate. Some told me that it depends on the shoot location/meet-up. And that we need to consider the heavy tools and equipment they would need to lug around especially when they are only using public transpo.


As for our outfits, I knew we wouldn't hire a stylist anymore because that would be beyond our budget. I only planned for three layouts: one casual, one formal, and one for our picnic layout. Jay's suit designer, Bianca Cordero, had an RTW gown at her studio and it fit like a glove when I tried it on. It was light peach/pink and had a long, wide train, perfect for windy and willowy shots. Back story: Jay was supposed to wear a suit for our formal layout, but as mishaps go, he forgot to bring it on the day of the shoot. Hehe. Good thing he had several long sleeved shirts to choose from.

I had a short trip to Singapore before our shoot, so I asked my Maid of Honor to accompany me to Bugis Street to buy some of my outfits. I then picked out Jay's outfits to match mine, and consulted a couple of friends with my choices. Zab also helped me out by suggesting to bring/buy a flowy dress, and to bring matching white shirts. After the shoot though, Jay and I wished we changed one of our outfits as we think they didn't really translate well on the photos.

As for our props, I didn't need to look further than my own stuff! Aside from being a hoarder and natural maarte, I thank my experience doing production management for our high school plays and later on, producing magazine shoots for work. They certainly came in handy. It was also perfect timing that my aunt got married in Tagaytay a couple of days before our shoot, so she gave me several flower arrangements (including her bridal bouquet!) to use. And just to push my wish to wear a flower crown, I bought a simple headband at the grocery, and using the wires from the bouquets, I created my own flower crown! Haha.

For our transportation, we rented a van for Php3,500 for the whole day (driver and gas included). We brought breakfast sandwiches and snacks for everyone, and we had our lunch at a nearby restaurant. Our gracious hosts served us dinner before we left. We were lucky that our photographers and our HMUA waived their out-of-town fees (OOTF) when we informed them that we'll be providing the transportation and food for the shoot.

We decided to meet with Tats along Kamuning in Cubao, and then proceed to Bob's residence also in Kamuning. Bob & Zab brought along their friend Earl to assist them, so all in all there were 7 of us traveling to Tanay. It was a Friday and we thought there would be heavy traffic along Katipunan and Marcos Highway because of the LRT construction, but were surprised that there wasn't. We arrived in Tanay a little past 9am. After showing Bob & Zab around the farm, laying out our outfits and showing them our pegs and props, Zab suggested we take a nap before heading out for lunch.

We started our makeup around 12:30pm. Everything was going well at first. Tats had a light hand, his tools were clean and arranged neatly, and he worked relatively fast. But we hit a snag when my right eye wouldn't stop tearing up because of my contact lens. I thought it was just natural at first as it happens every time I'm being made-up, but when it wouldn't stop even after I inverted the lens, we decided to just remove both lenses. Later on in the bathroom I found a makeup particle on my right eye, but even after flushing it with running water, it was already irritated. Also, I couldn't wash it out properly as I was already fully made up, and we will get delayed if we'll start over again.These things happen.

I'd like to commend Tats for his patience. I've lost count how many times he retouched my right eye makeup. He was also attentive during the shoot, ready with a tissue to wipe away my tears as the winds were picking up and further irritating my eye. I also requested him to take behind the scene shots using my phone. His makeup also lasted the whole day, and aside from retouching my eye makeup several times, he only needed to change my lipstick shade and my hairstyle for the other layouts. In Filipino, his work was plakado (in place or perfect).

Bob & Zab were a delight to shoot with. They kept a light and jovial mood during the shoot, cracking jokes and playing music to keep the atmosphere lively. They would direct us and find our right angles. During the portrait shots, Zab took my photos while Bob took Jay's. Bob also gave Jay tips that proved useful come our wedding day. And when they noticed that we were getting tired, they would remind us to smile. I won't disclose it here, but Jay and I really loved Zab's special way of getting us to smile and laugh. Even after the shoot, Jay and I would do it and it still makes us giggle.

Our contract stated that our prenup shoot is only for 3-4 hours, but of course we had Bob & Zab for the whole day. The duo is set to get married later this year, and during our breaks we talked about our wedding preps. This is when it dawned on me the importance of having a prenup photo shoot. Not only will you have great photos to remember this milestone by, but it will also allow you to bond with your suppliers, be at ease in front of the camera, and trust that your photographers will capture your best moments on your wedding. Having a supplier that goes above and beyond what is required is a great thing to have on your most special day. 

Bob & Zab required us to bring a laptop or external hard drive and right after our shoot, they gave us all the raw files. This is a good step because you'll already have a copy of the files and you can retrieve them just in case your photographers' files get corrupted.

Because they have a specific style that requires color editing, we didn't get the edited photos right away. Zab just said to choose around 20 photos that they will edit immediately, so we can post teasers on our social media and wedding pages. 

Prenup shoots are usually done around a month before the wedding, but I think it was a good decision for us to hold ours two months before our date. We received the teaser photos around 3 weeks after our shoot, and the whole set of edited photos a couple of weeks before the wedding day. I would suggest this if your chosen photographers still has a small team and do the editing themselves. Zab is a self-confessed OC and has particular standards for their output. But I can assure you, the wait will be worth it. 

For more photos of our engagement shoot, head over here. 

Suppliers' Contact Details:

Bob & Zab Photography

Facebook: Bob & Zab Photography

Instagram: @bobandzab

Website: www.bobandzab.com

Engagement Sessions: Singapore, May 14-22 & Japan, July 3-7

Tats Dionisio Hair & Makeup Artist

Facebook: Tats Dionisio

Instagram: @tatsdionisio

Mobile No: +639361094709

Van Rental c/o Kuya JR

Mobile No: +639225454980

Romy Dines at Bodega Casa Villa

I don't usually venture around the Marikina neighborhood, but after a long day of wedding errands one Saturday, I only had one dinner destination in mind: Bodega Casa Villa on Dragon St., San Roque.

Full disclosure, my grade school friends Karen Villa and Jan Junsay own the place together with another business partner Keanne Andeza, and they asked me to check the place out. I didn't want to come alone because I wanted to try several dishes to give my readers a comprehensive review. So with Jay and Kenneth in tow, I knew it was the perfect time to go.

Bodega Casa Villa is open for dinner service, which starts at 5pm. We arrived early at 6pm, as the crowd usually comes later for drinks and the live entertainment, which starts at 9pm from Tuesdays to Saturdays.

From the outside, the Filipino-Mexican (Filmex) restaurant looks like your neighborhood hole-in-the-wall, with bare cement walls, barbed wires, and a wooden gate. An old garage was converted to an al fresco dining area, where the bar is also located.

Intricately-carved wooden double doors lead to a more family-friendly dining space, decorated with yellow walls, cream tufted booths, and wooden tables and chairs. Warm lighting makes it more conducive to long meals and conversations, in contrast to the low lighting at the bar perfect for friends sharing a drink or two.

One of the two murals at Bodega Casa Villa.

Karen and I were classmates in third grade, and I am very happy to see her as a successful chef and now, a restaurant owner. "It wasn't my plan to open a restaurant," she told me. Karen used to be a chef for the Raintree Group, which operates several restaurants in the country including Chelsea Kitchen, M Cafe, Kabila, and Rocket Room. 

I love the restaurant's plates, carefully chosen by Executive chef Karen Villa and co-owner Keanne Andeza

But when Karen and her family moved houses, their old family home became a bodega for Rey's Auto Shop next door, owned by her parents. When Jan and Keanne asked her if she wanted to team up and open their own restaurant, Karen seized the opportunity.

We started our meal with one of their bestsellers, the Mucho Nacho Bodega (Php220). The photo doesn't do it justice, the serving is huge! It is topped with a mix of Filipino-Mexican ingredients: salsa fresca, jalapeño, lonnganisa, kesong puti, garlic cream, and quezo sauce. Even with a mouthful of toppings, we loved how the nachos weren't too heavy that it ruined our appetite. I'm not a fan of spicy food, but I tried them with the Bad Boy Tikboy hot sauce, and man what a bite. Not for the faint of heart diners.

Next we had the Taco Trio (Php295), where you can choose three among six variants: crispy buttered ox brain, lamb adobo, beef barbacoa, chicken inasal, fish sinigang, and pork bagnet sisig.

We chose (from left) fish sinigang, beef barbacoa, and chicken inasal. They come with salsa verde, chopotle salsa, and garlic cream sauce. Even without the dips, the tacos burst with flavor and I like the beef barbacoa best. The chicken inasal with atchara is also good. I liked the crunch of the fish taco, though it needed more of the sour taste of the sinigang soup.

Kenneth ordered the Sticky Pork BBQ Ribs (Php295), which we all loved. I often try ribs in restaurants that serve them, and this one is a winner. It's sweet and tangy, the meat tender. Bodega Casa Villa's servings are generous, and their plates can be shared among 3 people if you're ordering several dishes. The BBQ Ribs come with grilled corn and cilantro rice, which was a pleasant surprise. 

Jay and I split the Grilled Chipotle Lamb Chops (Php340), which comes with grilled corn and Mexican rice. This is best eaten upon serving, but because we had so much to eat, we weren't able to finish it and had the rest packed to go (like I said, huge servings). 

By the time we finished our entrees, Bodega was almost filled-up, with families, couples, and friends among the mix of diners. A few days later, the restaurant hosted a girl's Frozen-themed birthday party. Four months into their operations and the joint is already becoming a Marikina neighborhood favorite. 

We ended our meal with a must-try, the Boleros (Php170). They're deep-fried donut holes sprinkled with confectioner's sugar, and come with salted caramel, maple, and chocolate dips. 

Guys, I can't recommend this enough! Warm and packed, this dessert immediately made it to my Ultimate Comfort Food List (together with mac and cheese, ube, pudding, and truffle cream pasta). It's the kind of food you eat with your eyes closed, and you groan with happiness because it's so good!

Coming back for you, my loves!

With everything we ate, there was still a lot of things we will come back for. Their large burritos, squid aligue pasta, and chimichanga mac and cheese are just some items that caught my eye.

Reasonable prices, top-notch food quality, and great service are what you can expect from this humble Marikina spot. Don't you just love servers who automatically refill your water glasses, and are attentive to your needs without being overbearing? I do, and Bodega's staff does just that.

Can I just also tell you quickly about their restroom? How cute is this! This is the powder area, and flanking this station are the his and hers restrooms, aptly labeled Senyor and Senyora.

I want to take home the mirror!

Thoughtful details extend to the restroom. 

Some food for thought while in the loo. 

Another noteworthy detail that we immediately noticed upon entering the restaurant, it smells good. Not "cooking food" good (which you worry might stick to your clothes), but like how a home smells like. Fresh and welcoming, which says a lot about how Bodega Casa Villa is. It's an inviting place to come together and hang out.

Tired but full! 

With restaurants and food parks sprouting left and right, it's refreshing to see a well-thought out concept that's also executed thoughtfully, but with good food still at the forefront. From the interiors to the regularly-updated menu offerings and their clever names (check out their cocktail list which includes Saging Ni Adan and Treau The Fire), Bodega Casa Villa is a work of love. Each owner is hands-on with the operations, with Karen at the helm of the kitchen and dining areas, Jan overseeing the bar, and Keanne in charge of marketing and entertainment.

Lunch service is in the pipeline, as the parking situation still needs to be addressed. For now, guests can park across the restaurant and at Rey's Auto Shop.

I'm excited with how the menu will further develop, and I tip my hat to my two grade school friends who made this unexpected project a reality. Congrats Jan and Karen!

BODEGA CASA VILLA:

48 Dragon Street, San Roque, Marikina City
+632-6451952
Operating Hours: Tuesdays-Sundays, 5:00PM-12:30AM
Accepts cash and credit card.

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