From attending Matthew Manotoc and Jamie Herrell’s wedding of the year in Ilocos Norte to exploring enchanted Siquijor

By Janet Susan R. Nepales

We call it our Homecoming 2.0.

We were just in the Philippines last November, and then we went back again in January – immediately right after the Golden Globe Awards.

We didn’t waste time. We were off to the Philippines’ north again. This time, to attend the Ilocos Norte segment of the wedding of the year of Vice Governor Matthew Manotoc and our dear friend, Miss Earth 2014 Jamie Herrell. The wedding festivities began in Cebu, and now, the celebration continues in Matthew’s bailiwick.

Jamie is like our daughter. When she lived for a while in Los Angeles, we took her to screenings and other Hollywood events. We had lunches or dinners with her and her uncle, fashion designer Alan Del Rosario, whom she lovingly calls her “Papa.”

After only one night in Manila to rest our weary bodies after a long flight from the States, we proceeded to NAIA Terminal 3 for our Cebu Pacific flight to Laoag City. Thank God for the friendly service we always get when flying Cebu Pacific. We arrived at Laoag City feeling relaxed.

Despite his busy schedule, Matthew made it a point to be there to welcome us and other guests. He and his staff gave us leis. These little gestures of hospitality and warmth endear us more to Matthew.

When we first met him in Los Angeles during a brunch hosted by Alan for both Matthew and Jamie, we noticed how humble, down-to-earth, and generous Matthew was – even serving us drinks and constantly asking us if we needed anything.

Matthew and Jamie, who earlier got married in Cebu in Jamie’s hometown, are now hosting a three-day celebration in Ilocos Norte.

We stayed once again at Plaza del Norte, where we checked in last November.

The three-day celebration started with a welcome dinner held at the Malacañang of the North overlooking Paoay Lake. The handsome couple, dressed in native outfits – Matt in a barong from his local tailor, Meng Pineda, and Jamie in a lovely gown by an Ilocana designer named Amor Albano – welcomed their guests.

Jamie made sure to tell us to go upstairs, where there was an exhibit of their love story, and lo and behold, the love story that we wrote about them was part of the exhibit. Even her wedding gown, made by Alan del Rosario, was on display.

Alan described Jamie’s gown at the Cebu wedding:

“For Jamie, I wanted to create a wedding gown that reflects her easy yet complex personality. She wanted something grand yet laidback and practical – something traditionally Filipino yet modern and contemporary. I wanted Jamie to be able to move effortlessly in the dress without being restricted by the volume or the length of the train. It’s a two-in-one dress. For the church wedding, I created a drop waist ball gown in eggshell color. The material was made out of silk chiffon, duchess satin, and brocade-like embroidered fabric from Spain in a silk, cashmere, and cotton blend. It has an embossed rose and carnation mixed with some embroidered geometric pattern. An off-the-shoulder gown bodice was pleated irregularly with silk chiffon. To complete the look, a dusty lilac sash with an oversized bow at the back in silk and tulle was added.

“The church wedding look transforms into a mermaid dress for the reception. Off-the-shoulder neckline into a strapless bustier. The top layer of the three-tiered ballgown was removed to reveal a mermaid dress with rose and carnation pattern mix appliquéd strategically on the bodice. The ruffles and flounces were done irregularly, and fabric mixed with raw edges created the volume of the skirt. Underneath the petticoat, made out of this light but stiff acetate/acrylic fabric, was a copy of Matt’s love letter to Jamie sewn in to give it a special personal touch on how they started.”

For the Ilocos Norte wedding gown, Alan described what he made for Jamie:

“It was a modern, contemporary style of a Filipiniana dress. It has a similar silhouette and texture with elegant details that exude a different vibe. Piña fabric from a local weaver was crafted meticulously while ensuring the material’s organic features were retained. Strips of bias-cut piña were strategically arranged around the bodice. For the skirt part, exquisite flounces were arranged to give it a playful yet sophisticated look. An oversized flower was placed on the side front and center back to complete the design.”

Ilocos Norte’s famous Vigan empanadas were served to the guests as part of the dinner.

Then we proceeded to Paoay Sand Dunes for a mini-version of the “Himala sa Buhangin! Arts and Music Festival,” where fire-eating dancers, folk dancers, and singers entertained the crowd and VIP guests.

Nora Aunor’s iconic kneeling statue, where the Ishmael Bernal film “Himala” was filmed at Paoay Sand Dunes, remains there.

For the church celebration, which was held at the lovely open-air La Virgen Milagrosa Chapel that looked like an upturned boat, the whole chapel was decked in white flowers.

What made the celebration very dramatic was the grand arrival of the bride, Jamie, all dressed in Alan del Rosario’s beautiful couture gown, while she was holding a Sto. Niño statue, on a raft.

Even Matthew, who was waiting on the shore for his bride, was obviously worried about his love.

But everything went well, and Jamie, like a true beauty queen, gracefully stepped off the raft while Matthew immediately welcomed and assisted her.

Indigenous traditional dances were also performed during the mass celebration.

From the church wedding, we proceeded to the Sitio Remedios Heritage Village Resort. A farewell dinner was held the following night.

At the Laoag International Airport, where we were going to catch our Cebu Pacific flight to Manila, we met again Jamie’s mom, Snowie Herrell, and other relatives and guests from the wedding. Everybody was carrying their pillow or plate souvenirs from the grand wedding.

From Manila, we caught another Cebu Pacific flight, this time to Dumaguete on our way to Siquijor, the enchanted and mystical island of the Philippines.

A guide from Infinity Sands Resort welcomed us at the airport, and we were whisked to our lodging on the beach for a week in paradise.

Our very knowledgeable and humorous guide, Sidney Matutis Andos, who also operates Siquijor Suroy-suroy Adventure, brought us everywhere in Siquijor that was breathtaking – from Cambugahay Falls where you can ride on a raft through the waterfalls or do the popular Fairy Walk, to the Lugnason Falls, which is so relaxing and picturesque, to the Pitogo Cliff and Salagdoong Beach where natives and foreigners enjoy the sun and sand, and the Paliton Beach where one can just laze around and enjoy nature.

We are grateful to our friends Jojo and Gladys Uy and Bryan Aljas of F&V Tourist Transport for getting Sidney as our official Siquijor tour guide and driver, Tito Ogdo.

What was also impressive about Siquijor were its scenic and amazing cafes and restaurants that not only provided some of the best dishes in the area but also picturesque views that you simply don’t find anywhere else.

For example, there is the beautiful, breathtaking BuCafe (Bu is for Bukid, which means field or farm), which warns its guests, “If you’re wearing expensive slippers, kindly carry them with you inside! (Just put under the table).” Good thing we were just wearing our regular “tsinelas” or slippers and not Hermes.

At the La Canopee Bar & Restaurant atop Lambojon Terraces, you can get a refreshing drink at the bar, grab a delicious meal in one of the lounges, or take a relaxing dip in their pool while surrounded by shady trees and amid a panoramic view of the mountains. We wished we could stay there forever.

At the View Tower on Mt. Bandilaan National Park, you will really feel on top of the world while enjoying the 360-degree view of the island.

From there, we proceeded to the Butterfly Sanctuary, where we saw all the colorful tropical butterflies and even caterpillars and dragonflies.

At the Old Enchanted Balete Tree, where a lot of tourists stop, local vendors were selling “healing oils and potions.” If you want to be “tickled” by the fish, you can soak your feet in the lagoon by the tree.

Of course, going to Siquijor is not complete without spending some time ogling at or buying voodoo dolls. The island is popularly known as enchanted, with a mysterious and mystic appeal. They say that Siquijor is known “to be the center of witchcraft, magic, and folk healing.”

Sidney, in fact, joked that no cops are driving or walking around in Siquijor because, he teased, “the robbers are all flying above the roofs.”

There is even an opportunity for you to ride a broomstick (and get photographed) like the typical broomstick that witches ride on during Halloween.

Sidney also offered us if we wanted to experience a “bolo-bolo” or a session with a “mananambal” or a healer for healing or getting rid of evil spirits who are supposedly following you. It is a unique practice believed to be endemic in Siquijor.

By using a rare stone immersed in a bottle of water, the healer uses a bamboo straw and blows it around the sick person to gather all the bad vibes, evil spells that make the person weak or disturbed. The stone is supposed to gather all the bad vibes into the water, and then the “dirty water” will be removed and replaced by clean water.

We also visited the Lazi Church, which was built with sea stones and wood in 1884 by Filipino artisans. We lit some candles and said some prayers before we proceeded to our next destination. It was interesting to note that there was an “honesty policy” when buying your candles to be lit, as no vendor was watching. You just leave the money in a box when you buy your candles to be lit.

While at Lazi, we dropped by Twenty4 Restaurant, which is run by Chef Simon and Cheryl Duenas Sperling. We had a sumptuous lunch especially prepared for us by Chef Simon, who revealed that they also operate the Twenty4 Café and Burger Bar downstairs at their ancestral home.

From Siquijor, we returned to Manila, where we stayed again at Somerset Millennium in Makati, our new home away from home because of the friendly staff and the great location.

While in Manila, we learned how to use Grab, the Uber and Lyft counterpart in the Philippines. Trying to be on time for Francis Libiran’s launch of his Home Collection at SM Megamall, we were, however, unable to arrive on time due to, surprise, Manila’s notorious traffic.

We missed the male and female models romping and trying the beds in Francis’ Home collection display, but we were able to catch up with them posing with the award-winning designer and his manager, Arsi Baltazar.

Aside from designing clothes and wedding dresses, Francis has now expanded his line to furniture design, home accessories, and bedding, among other home essentials. The star-studded event was attended by some of the who’s who in Manila. One of the guests was Kulas, aka Kyle Jennerman, the Canadian vlogger behind “Becoming Filipino” and his Cavitena wife, Therine.

In Makati, our dear friend Roberto Dumaual surprised us during our Chinese lunch by inviting the current UST Rector, Father Richard Ang, the first Rector of Chinese descent in the 400-plus history of our alma mater, the University of Santo Tomas. We found Fr. Ang very down-to-earth.

Another surprise was having comedienne and good friend Fe delos Reyes arrive and join us as well. So, you can just imagine how we spent the whole lunch hour laughing as we exchanged anecdotes one after the other.

Another catch-up dinner we had in a Thai restaurant was with Mildred Deang and Norberto “Jojo” Reyes, and former travel and tourism attaché in Los Angeles, Richmond Jimenez. We couldn’t believe how time flies and how long we haven’t seen the couple and Richard.

At the Manila Peninsula, New York-based Justin Girard, founder of SOHO International Film Festival, who was also in town, hosted a dinner with us with our New Yorker friends who happen to be in Manila as well – Dr. Alice Almendral and Dennis Baltazar – and beauty pageant impresario Arnold Vegafria. It is always so nice to visit the Pen lobby, which is iconic.

It was also fun to attend the Creative Industry Mixer, organized by Lyle del Mundo, Gushcloud Philippines, and +6THR3E, at a new soundstage in San Lorenzo, Makati, where we met again Elgin Victoria Santos, who is now the U.S. Coordinator for Sen. Risa Hontiveros.

To cap our trip to Manila, we went to Timezone Glorietta 4, a karaoke bar, hosted by director Senedy Que with Girlie Rodis, Rene Durian, Narciso Chan, Rudy Tee, and Mario Amaya, who didn’t mind entertaining all of us with his rock songs.

The following day, we were back at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, going back to Los Angeles. The Homecoming 2.0 was not bad at all. Here’s looking forward to Homecoming 3.0.