Swabeh Reloaded: Reloading all things Swabeh!: The Kasalang Batagueño-Ilocana Suppliers Rating (The Church)

This would be our contribution to the group. As much as possible, we won’t be using the word OC (since it has been overused here already) and we would detail our rating so it could serve you as a guide. Our verdict is based on how we coordinated with them (from start to finish) and it shouldn’t be a sole basis whether you book this certain supplier or not (different strokes for different folks). Here is how we would be rating our wedding team. Sorry for the very long delay XD.

All photos here were taken by Ariel Javelosa and Joey Boquiren

Legend:

5 and Up: Oh Yeah! Swabeng-Swabeh!!! (Book them while still available)

4 - 4.99: Swabeng-Swabeh!!! (Very Good)

3 – 3.99: Swabeh!!! (Quite Ok)

2 – 2.99: Swabeh Lang!!! (Needs Improvement)

0 – 1.99: Hindi Swabeh!!! (Now you know)

By Ariel Javelosa

Church: Santisimo Rosario Parish

Address: UST Compound, España, Sampaloc, Manila

Contact: Ms Melba or Ms Nida

Tel No: 731-3062, 731-3125 (Local 7302), 440-8257

Cost: Php 12,000 (2009 Rate)

Inclusions: Non-Parishioner/Non-Alumni Package

1. Decorative sidelights of the church

2. Royal Red carpet along aisles

3. Organist and Soloist

4. Fresh flowers, Ribbons and lace along the aisle pews.

5. Marriage rite souvenir booklet for the couple

6. Lunch and two Merienda during the Marriage Dialogue

7. Stipend for the Officiating Priest

8. Registration of the Marriage Contract

9. Marriage Certificate

10. Solemnized within the Mass

Verdict: Rating will be divided as follows:

Pre-Wedding: Swabeh Lang!!!

Pre Marriage Dialogue: Swabeh!!!

Canonical Interview: Swabeh Lang!!!

Wedding Day: Swabeh Lang!!!

Wedding Officiator (Priest): Swabeh!!!

By Joey Boquiren

Wedding Kwento: After we decided to get married, we started to look for our church. Manila Cathedral was only my choice since I wanted to get married there since college. But since they cannot entertain our wedding dates (Sept 8 due to Mama Mary’s Bday, Dec 8 due to Immaculate Conception and Dec 6, due to Marian Procession: Only the 8:30am slot was available), we started to look for another church. But it’s not that easy because the churches that I hand-picked were outside Manila (Pasig, QC) and my wife wants to get married in Metro Manila ONLY. And since it’s impractical for us (especially to my wife) to spend more than 20K for the church, we looked for alternatives within Metro Manila. At first we were pencil-booked at Paco Park Church for its privacy but we backed out at the last minute.

After some consideration, we decided to book UST. They said that we should book them at least 9 months before our wedding but we got them 10 months before. We booked them because of two criteria. First, the church was air conditioned (a plus for us since we don’t want our guests to sweat inside). And second, it’s relatively cheap compared with other churches in Metro Manila.

By Ariel Javelosa

By Joey Boquiren

The church has several restrictions that should be strictly followed. One was no lyrics for the bridal march. And our coordinator (Weddings are Blessings) gave us a heads up that they are not kind when dealing with civilly married couples during their pre-wedding dialogue.

My wife didn’t have much problems dealing with them especially if we have concerns. However we encountered some issues regarding my cenomar. Mine says it’s for general purposes while hers said it’s for marriage purposes and they said they don’t accept cenomars for general purposes. We protested because we believed that cenomars are usually used by soon-to-wed couples proving that they were not married yet. Even NSO wondered why our church was so strict when in face cenomars are mostly used by couples. Good thing they accepted our reasoning.

We attended their pre-wedding dialogue last July 19. Their topics were lively except for 2 topics which we find them a bit boring (it could be their resource speakers that made it boring). Also, the speakers were nice to all of us contrary to what Jo-Anne told us before that they usually humiliate civilly married couples during their pre-cana. We also met our church coordinator Ms Maricar and discussed to us the do’s and don’ts on weddings and even the penalties for being late.

We submitted our missalete to them ahead of schedule to make sure that if there would be any revisions, we could do them right away. But we got our draft after several follow-ups I think 2 to 3 weeks before our wedding.

During our canonical interview, we didn’t both expect that it will take more than 1 hour instead of at least 30-45 mins. My wife was interviewed for at least an hour and she told me that our wedding officiator, Father Franklin Beltran was not satisfied with her answers. She told me she felt a bit intimidated instead of being enlightened but probably her answer was not what Father Beltran would hope for. He interviewed me within 30 minutes and he was quite satisfied with my explanation. But what makes me wonder is that during canonical interview, both of us would be interviewed separately before being interviewed together.

Two days before our wedding, we visited our church to do confession there. We were kinda surprised that it was decorated with lanterns that beat the purpose of having a simple wedding. We even asked Ms Melba if they can remove it on Sunday and she said they will since there was an event that time.

From Joey Boquiren

During the day itself, There was an on-going entrance exam that's why we got stuck in a little traffic inside UST but its not a big deal for me. I was literally disappointed because they didn’t remove the decorations as they promised. Then we had a different wedding priest instead of Father Beltran (we forgot to get his name) and for some reason, we started late by 10 minutes not because my bride came late but they have to make final minute arrangements. Also, Ms Maricar (our church coordinator) told us that our priest should be in Calaruega by 4pm so that means he would probably make the ceremony short. The mass was OK. The entire entourage was able to walk down the aisle without any problems. The entire church was so cool that guests used their hankies to wipe their tears of instead of wiping their sweat. However, we were not able to say our personal vows which we really took time and effort to memorize. And the priest kinda missed some parts of the misalette which only the two of us (me and my wife) noticed. What made me rave a little is that our pictorial in from of the altar was complete plus more. After the ceremony, my wife told me that the priest who officiated the mass was the one who spoke with us after our canonical interview if we have any concerns.

By Joey Boquiren

Realization: On a personal level, I should have pursued the Manila Cathedral and changed our wedding date aside from checking its history and physical appearance, but I realized this quote: “Kahit saang simbahan basta sya lang ang mapapangasawa ko” we simply go with our plan. When we looked for other churches, we should have visited there and walked in-out of the church to feel if it would give us the sign.

Also when looking for a church, you should also prepare questions regarding restrictions and limitations (for photographers and videographers and having your singer unable to sing during your bridal march).

Recommended for: Couples who are on a budget but wanted an air-conditioned church.Couples who live in Metro Manila preferably within Sampaloc.

Other Suppliers Considered (Given the same amount of time for preparations): Manila Cathedral (I have been dreaming of getting married at this church since I was in college), San Sebastian Church, Shrine of Jesus, Malate Church

If we started our preparations last Dec 2007, we could have gotten: Manila Cathedral or San Agustin Church (will do since it’s near Manila Cathedral).