The Truth Behind Bridal Showers

Every woman's dream is to be the right man's blushing bride. This year, Rolyn Sac is about to turn her world upside down by confidently saying "I do" and settling down with her dream guy and close friend, Henri Fernandez.

But, before we let that happen, a bridal shower is, of course, a MUST!

If I haven't told you yet about how they met, let's just say it was a story of guts and glory for dear Henri dating back to our awkward high school days. He adamantly wooed her for seven years, and when it finally paid off, he never let her go. The proposal, as you know, was also something out of a fairy tale.

And now, this is what girlfriends ought to do at least two weeks prior to giving up their gal pal to marital rapture...

What: Rolyn Sac's Bridal Shower

When: October 25, 2008, 6:00 p.m.
Where: Astoria Plaza Hotel, J. Escriva Drive, Pasig City, Philippines

The day officially began at the local mall where we had to pick up some food.

Buddies since pre-adolescence (from left to right): Moi, the soon-to-be-bride, Rolyn, her maid of honor, Ayesha, Shiella & Isabelle

The party's just about to start

What's the first thing on our minds when we got there? CHOW!!!

Photo-op in one of the bedrooms

Playing 'Taboo'

It's time to 'Dress Up the Bride!'

The winner with the real bride to be

And the drinks poured in!

Ghie, Rolyn's sister, concocts her world-famous mix.

Rolyn in the 'Hot Seat'

We couldn't help but bombard her with questions about her and the future groom.

At last! The moment we've all been waiting for!

Here comes the males stripper -- the evening's grand finale.

The November bride with her longtime friends

From left to right: Ayesha, Sarah, Rolyn, Shiella, yours truly, Isabelle, & Henri's sister, Brenda

The night ended with a huge bunch of young women in high spirits, and along this all-female fete come several bits of poignant insight:

1.) Most often, only your real friends and family will show up at a gathering like this.
2.) Instead of drooling over the male stripper, you'd probably feel sorry for him (which some of us did) regardless of how sexy he is. Especially if he's the type who won't go all the way unless the lights are dim and no cameras are in sight.
3.) Enjoy the palette of dishes, but go easy on 'em. Celebrations like this are an avenue to weight gain. You don't want your wedding gown to shrink.

4.) This is indeed a good time to get inebriated.

Surprise, Surprise!

It's Dhabong who gets bowled over this time. :-)

Rolyn Sac, the beauteous lass in a white top and an old friend of mine, is finally tying the knot with Henri 'Dhabong' Fernandez (the smashing sole chap in the main photo) in November. Talk about a flabbergasting proposal -- She came home on an unassuming night and found red rose petals in her bed, followed the trail from her bedroom all the way to the terrace on the third floor, looked up to see the most quixotic fireworks in the velvet sky, then looked down and laid eyes on the words 'Will you marry me?' spelled out with white candles on the austere street. Indeed, a stupefying way to culminate a seven-year relationship.

A few weeks ago, Rolyn decided to give her honey a similar treat by throwing a surprise birthday bash for him at her crib. As usual, no partyphile went home somber.

The MOD Squad Reunites

A secret Pre-Christmas gathering at a bar somewhere in Ortigas...

We haven't had the chance to do this since we drifted apart in 2004.

MOD Magazine may be a lousy employer, salary-wise, but its employees will always be binded by a friendship that could rarely be found in a workplace fraught with weekly deadlines, swashbuckling office drama, poltergeist, and a stress-inducing line-up of company rules.