Hacienda Villa Escudero...feel rich!

A tour in the museum of the Escuderos...and then our couch brought us to the pool for lunch! Our feet were in the water while we were eating. Although wet, it was very refreshing.

Swam afterwards to keep being refreshed :-)

Boat race and who won??? Of course us! Neri and Nico hahaha. It was also Geli's birthday!

October 2006 Philippine Wedding

Nico and Neri

At the Bellevue Hotel October 14, 2006

Our most awaited day has come. After a year and a half of preparation, excitement and stress, the fruits of our labor were sown...and they were sweet.

Together we have united the Janssens family and the Palacio family that special day. For the first time, Nico’s parents met my parents, brother and sister, and they them.

That morning, we had a relaxing breakfast and then off we went to The Bellevue hotel for a nice massage, warm bubbly jacuzzi/spa and a plunge into the pool. Afterwards, its time to start "the works". Make-up, hair-up, dress-up and looots of shoot-up!

The ceremony at St Jerome-Emiliani Church finally started at around 3pm and ended up almost 6pm (including pictorials of course).

St. Jerome Emiliani Parish Church

Officiated by Fr. Grato Germanetto, CRS

Ayala, Alabang

Around 6pm, guests stormed in to the Grand Ballroom of Bellevue Hotel in Alabang. Like any avant premier nights of any launching movie when the main actor and actress shows up walking on the red carpet, we were introduced as Mr and Mrs Nico Janssens. A big round of applause and hoots livened up the scene...it was a night to remember!

Food from the buffet was passing in every plate like crazy, bottles where emptied, cakes were cut, the boquet was passed on, the garter as well, music was playing the whole night and the dance floor was alive!

Blindfolded Neri trying to catch the the next bride!

And luckily, every moment of this day was captured...

PICTURE PERFECT!

Mabuhay Manila!

Arrival in NAIA

October 12, 2006 (From left to right: Veerle, Danny, Papa Vic, Nico, Neri and Mama Lisette) <br/>

During the few free days we had before the wedding, we made a tour around Manila and Makati, just to give them a glimpse of what Philippines is. Mama Lisette, Papa Vic, Nonkel Staf, Tante Mireille, Danny, Veerle and Lukasz were part of the group. Tatay, Nanay, Daniel, Geli, Joy and JM were our hosts. And not forgetting our ever entertaining Lola! The first itinerary was trip to Intramuros. We had such a funny guide explaining to us everything from the burning bamboo tree - the footsteps engraved on the walkway - why he doesnt understand the game golf - to the dungeon where Rizal was imprisoned. After Intramuros, we also had a small-heart attack-trip with a horse carriage by the Extramuros. From the stadion where Pope John Paul II celebrated World Youth day - Rizal Park - until the busy street of the university belt in Manila (crossing the red light with our fast- as-lightning horse!). The famous Chinese Cemetery was also on the list. We visited this cemetery (weird you think? hehe it was a little bit interesting) where the living offers and supplies the dead with their favorites here on earth. From food, to drinks to money! But the weather was not on our side, drizzle here, drizzle there and quite a lot of mosquitos cut our cemetery visit short...although I can say, "Rich is rich, dead or alive!" After that breath-holding trip with the caruaje (horse carriage), the mosquito battle at the Chinese cemetery, and the trip to the Lechunan, we went to Makati for dinner. We ate at "The Kitchen"...and this time Lukasz was able to join. Nico picked him up at the airport after the Intra-Extramuros trip. Tatay also joined us for dinner. We ate the night away! Fun talk and loooots of stories were shared that night. Its nice to see everyone come together, as a family.

Mama Lisette and Papa Vic

with the carabao in Makati

The Moment…our moment

February 14...Valentine's Day...the day when everybody, all lovers in the world cherish each other.

Some get flowers

Some get a kiss

Some get a letter

with some news and bliss...

Steak and pasta was the planned dinner that night. "I would be preparing dinner" I told Nico.

4 o'clock, work is done, time to go home. On my way home, I got a call..."Hey Neri, I dont feel like eating steak tonight. Could we just prepare it next time?" asks Nico in an exhausted-from-work-and-traffic-voice. "OK" I said. So I went home, got to the train station. Normally, if Nico is home earlier than I am, he picks me up from the train station, this time HE CAN'T! So I took the bus and went home.

Knock! Knock! Knock! Neri is home! Nico opened the door, the room was dark..I only see silhouette of burning tea light candles at the background...hmmm...something is going on.

Nico was hiding something from the table. Oh my! Nico prepared dinner!!! But wait, we are not going to eat yet...Nico took my hand, brought me to the living...and knelt down! Oh my god!

"Neri (while holding my hand) I fell in love with you the moment I saw you...Will you marry me?" and the rest is better left unsaid...

Of course I accepted while my tears rolled down my eyes from joy! Its a totally different feeling, difficult to describe and to imagine. As if our relationship has gone into this special phase, we have crossed over. Then Nico has on his finger this beautiful golden ring with 5 small diamonds...put it in mine accompanied with a bouquet of flowers...and we toasted on it with a bottle of champagne.

From that moment on, I felt like a real lady, asked by a true gentleman to be with him for the rest of lives...

Our Life: Warm Together

With my experience, living together gives you the time to discover things that your partner does not really show unless you are under the same roof or before getting married. It’s different, totally different but at the same time such a learning experience (and to add, by this, I mean - living together without any naughty little kids around...yet)

The Facts

Morning Yawn

During the busy working week, no morning passes by without a good morning kiss, a big yawn while saying the morning greetings, and a scratch on the tummy. It always does well. It’s nice to wake up in the morning seeing Nico’s face, just like an angel…even if I have to hurry up to the shower, dress up and run outside with those high hills to catch my bus. However…never forgetting the “Have a nice day”, “Take care”, “See you tonight” and the “I love you” s.

(Although, to be fair, married couples to that to, I probably just watch too much of MARRIED WITH CHILDREN)

During the weekends, we relaxingly wake up around 9, hug each other a little bit longer before getting out of bed, if we get out of bed…say good mornings with eyes still closed…and continue sleeping for the next 2 or 4 hours. These days we have the right to call ourselves L-A-Z-Y. No need to hurry up to bring any children to weekend school or having the need to get up to prepare breakfast for hungry little vultures.

Breakfast

During weekend breakfasts, there is always an alternative if we both forgot to buy bread the day before.

On active days, we go out, bike to the bakery and buy ourselves a fresh loaf of gray bread. And during those days-that-we-not-speak-of (the lazy and very cold days) and we don’t have any bread at home, there is always yoghurt in the fridge or we bake ourselves the "ever famous" Nico pancake.

During weekdays, I never eat at home…too busy to slip in the activity EATING in my 45min morning schedule, unbelievable but true. What I prepare my sandwich..if there is, if there is nothing available to prepare, I buy one from Panos and eat in the train.

Nico, on the other hand, makes time to eat in the morning and watch the news review. During the days that he runs short of time, he makes himself a sandwich and eats it in the car, explains the mountain of crumbs in Peugeot before.

Grocery Time

We never go to grocery during peak hours. Around 7.30 or 8pm, we rush to Carrefour, run through our list and choose the shortest lane to pay. Normally we are out there in 30 minutes with a cart full of goodies (fruits and vegetables!). With children, there would be small kids wanting to come along and be tagged while Mom and Dad push the cart like how they drive the car.

Going out for a nice romantic evening

Going out is never a problem. We do not have any children to worry about (where to bring them? who will nanny them? did they eat good? did they sleep on time?). We can enjoy the night as much as we want, go home whenever we want (although the last few years is not the same anymore as when we were younger…our age starts to be the dictator of when we have to go home…but still, it’s a matter of perseverance and FUN.

I think Im enjoying it like this. Although things would turn out one day into something totally different…whatever it will be, as long as it is with Nico, I will do it with all pleasure!