Wedding Venues in Quezon City and Metro Manila

Come February is my BIG DAY. I will formally exchange my vow to my loving husband at the church . We are already civilly married and since we are both Catholics we decided to have a church wedding in Manila so my family, some of my relatives and cousins could attend. Hubby said when we had our civil wedding his side of the family are present but my side is not because the civil wedding took place is America. Since I live in Quezon city long before I migrated to the US I consider looking for a church and venue within Quezon City and since Manila is also famous for its historic and old churhes I decided to include it in my list. After a thorough thinking and planning I decided to take the church of San Agustin in Intramuros, Manila and get a venue there for my reception. Though I know that planning the wedding is tiring and I know that it would take time looking for place of venue I compiled this list of venues and post it here to help those who are planning to have their weddings in the Philippines.

1.Fern wood Gardens, Sanville Subdivision - this place is quite well-known, you may heard it already but don’t exactly know where the place is. A number of celebrities and well-known personalities held important events in Fern wood sample is the Aiko Melendez and Martin Jickain's wedding, television news journalist Katherine "Kat kat" de Castro and Eric Rada Cruz's wedding. If you're not from the area then you might have a difficult time going there. Because it is situated inside Sanville Subdivision, which is not exactly easy to find since it's more like an open village. But once you get to Sanville, there are a lot of signboards that point to Sanville, and they provide a map too. I may see this is an expensive venue but if you can afford this is a good place to hold your memorable wedding.

2.Gazebo Royale, in Visayas Avenue - According to its website, this place boasts
artistically landscaped surroundings where
rare ornamental foliage abounds. I'd say this
is quite true (even though I haven't entered
it yet) because when you look at Gazebo
Royale from the outside (let's say you're passing by Visayas Avenue), it looks like a it’s a place where you buy plants and flowers. Gazebo Royale is a bit near Fernwood but probably easier to find since it's along main road.

3.Grand Terrace, Commonwealth
Avenue -This place has four air-conditioned venues that can accommodate 800 guests
at one time. The Venus Garden can accom modate 300 guests, Lotus Garden 100 and the main pavilion, which can be divided into two, about 400 people.


4. Patio Ibarra, Quezon Avenue -I've passed by Quezon Avenue a thousand times and

I don't think I've noticed this place. However, I've read good reviews about Patio Ibarra and they seem to have good party packages for weddings, baptismal receptions, birthday parties (especially debuts), children's parties, and Christmas parties.
5. Plaza Ibarra, Timog Avenue - Plaza Ibarra and Patio Ibarra are both under the Ibarra group, so I guess they offer the same amenities and services.



6.Solea, Baler Street - Who would've thought that a place like this would exist in the San Fransisco del Monte area? I am from Frisco but I didn’t hear this place. Solea is also a garden venue affiliated with various churches like the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice (commonly known as the UP Chapel), Santo Domingo Church along Quezon Avenue, Santuario de San Jose in East Greenhills, and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Shrine Parish in New Manila.


7. Batis Asul, Hereos Hill - Batis Asul was established in 1981 by a family of caterers from Pampanga. They have wedding and kiddie party packages, as well as a "regular package" for other types of venues.

8.THE TEATRILLO, Intramuros
Manila –this place is just one of the historical place inIntramuros area. A tourist destination one can be proud of. Ideal for romantic weddings, exhibits, seminars, stage presentations, and other functions, the place accommodates 200 for sit-down receptions and seating for 300 for theatre presentations. I choose this place because of the seating capacity and its cheaper. And San Agustin Church is
where I will have my formal vow, is just
near here.
9.SALA FILIPINA ,
Intramuros Manila -The restaurant offers you the good life with a sense of history and culture --delectable international cuisine, with piano and string accompaniment. The place host special occasions with fine dining, in a hall reminiscent of gracious living in the 19th century. Sits up to 180 guests.

10.CASA MANILA PATIO ,
Intramuros-The captivating Spanish colonial setting at the PATIO makes it the perfect choice for weddings and receptions. Sits up to 150 guests.


11.PLAZA MORIONES & TRELLIS, Intra muros- Once a promenade for residents of Intramuros in the 19th century, the wide expanse of greens in this plaza provides a magnificent view of historic Fort Santiago gate. Can accommodate up to 500 guests.

12.SAN DIEGO GARDENS,
Intramuros-Reached through a spiral stone stairway, the fascinating 16th c. ruins of Fort Nuestra Sra. de Guia make the bulwark a most exquisite spot. Sits up to 1,000 guests.




13.PUERTA REAL GARDENS -A stone's throw away from the Luneta lies a place of lush tropical greens and coconut palms surrounded by 18th century stone walls and chambers of Revellin de Real. The restored Puerta Real and drawbridge make it an even more enchanting locale for open-air functions. Sits up to 1,000 guests.

Listen to those who need your help

Everybody had somebody to worry about once the deluge began especially when you are far and you don’t know what will gonna happen next. As I was reading the news from the Philippines thru the Manila Times it came to mind that there are two basic facts stand out: this is the worst flooding Metro Manila has experienced since 1967, and the amount of rain that fell in a matter of hours was comparable to the rainfall that submerged New Orleans during Hurricane “Katrina.” The downpour lasted hours, but the misery will last many, many days. Hearing the news from the Filipino Channel that many dead, so many stranded and many have lost so much all you have to do is sigh and pity all these people. Even if you think your family are safe, you still worry and fear for other loved ones, the feeling of frustration will make you feel weak, and you want to help, but don’t know how..
Thanks to the Twitterers and Plurkers, FaceBook and blogs, in the internet concerned people helped focus the energies toward a common goal: disseminate the information and to ensure that cries of help weren’t ignored, that information would be shared and, by so doing, reduce panic and fear. A sense of community was created and bore fruit almost immediately when the rains subsided.
In this situation everyone here has a story to tell about someone they know who has been affected. Rich and poor were not spared. My relatives in part of Laguna, Novaliches, Cainta and in Tumana, Marikina are victims. They are in the roof of their houses and they could not go down because the current of water is too strong. What they did is just wait for the rescue to come. According to them they were rescued Monday morning and they were starve because could not reach them. They lost everything and after the flood they feel weak when they saw the thick coat of mud.
Difficult times can bring out the best in people and the Filipinos' Bayanihan spirit has been evident during this time. The origin of the term "Bayanihan" can be traced to the tradition which is used to be very common in the rural areas. When a family is moving to a new place, their neighbors would volunteer to help them. They would use a strong bamboo frame to lift the house stilts from the ground and men positioned at the poles would carry the whole house to the new location (the house was made of bamboo and nipa). The word "bayani" is Filipino for "hero".
Just as everyone has a story to tell about someone who has been affected, it is heartwarming to see how so many have also done something to help. The Bayanihan spirit, where everyone lends a helping hand to those in need, is still very much alive in the Filipino. We have seen how so many have helped clean up muddy homes, clear the streets of mud and debris, pack relief goods, and donate money, food, blankets, clothes and other goods. So many companies and individuals have done and are continuing to do their part to help out. There are drop off points for donations all over and people have been volunteering to pack and distribute goods. There are medical missions for those affected by the typhoon. Even students have volunteered to help in relief efforts. Baby clothes (for boys and girls and infants)

Blankets

clothes for adults

preparing to put in the boxes

My small contribution is to call my relatives here and inform them if they can send a small amount to help our relatives there. After which, I call my Filipina friends here ask a help and good that they agreed. I did not stop from there I also ask from the cousins of my hubby and they pledge to give me their help. I was happy when my hubby help ask for help from his boss who say yes to him. I was able to gather 3 boxes of used and unused clothing ( from baby to adult), blankets, soap, toys, and canned goods. Right after the packing I contacted the many cargo companies trying to get a discount for these boxes of donations. A friend help me call the one company, I positively get an answer of yes that the Philippine Consulate of New York will shoulder all the expenses and I will just get an approval from them provided that I will sent the box to the big organization in the Philippines which I presume the NDCC who is under the government. But I did not call the Consulate because I want to send the boxes to our organization which is the Citizens Crime Watch spearheaded by my cousin. So I tried again the company where I always send my balikbayan box, again they will give me a discount if I will send the boxes direct to Red Cross again I declined the offer. I said to myself if I could not find a cargo company who will accept and deliver our donations right to our organization I will shoulder the whole cost of shipment anyway per box is just $65 per box and there are also promos of $55 per box and its all picked up here in the US and delivered when it reach the Philippines. Luckily another friend called me and while we are chatting I ask her if she knows of a company that could give a lower pick up rate for my donation boxes. She gave me the number and when I get in touch to the agent he told me that he can lower the rate if I will state in the pick-up receipt that the boxes is for donation and I would put the name of my organization. I agreed and we set a date for him to pick-up. I feel good that the rate was $50 per box. Indeed, I feel relieved to know that the boxes are on its way and by the end of November the recipients can get it. In behalf of our organization once again I am thanking these kindhearted people (though I thank them personally) who unselfishly share whatever they could share to make some of the victims of the disaster happy. They don’t want that there name be mentioned in my post but I’ll just use their first name.

1. Chas
2. Delia and friend
3. Beth
4. Suzy
5. Marie
6. Gerty and Donna
7. Jackie
8. Carmela

Kindhearted friends my fellow kababayans(recipients) will surely be happy like me would say their piece (thank you) knowing that there are people like you who care and love them even if they don’t know who you are. May the good Lord continue to bless you.