Titas de Bacolod

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion

 Love is not about time. It's not about how long you've known each other, or how many times you've been together. It's about those moments you spend together and how they make you feel. It's about giving everything, risking and loving. It's about throwing yourself out there and knowing the other person will catch you, no matter what.

This is how love goes for Allen Carl Sayson and Ana Barbara Macaldo. Abba, as she is called by people close to her, was in the process of moving on when she got back from Norway and Allen was in a relationship then.

They met in God's perfect time. They got themselves introduced in a training class in one of the call centers in Bacolod. When they met, they got along so well together as friends and became each other's confidante. They shared their deepest secrets and accepted each other's flaws, trusting that they won't hurt the other.

Soon, the friendship blossomed into love. They understood each other's situation and expected nothing from the relationship but to seize every moment they had together. Their relationship became quite controversial and was questioned by their families and close friends, yet, they weathered the storm and stood strong for their love.

At last, love won, and they finally decided to settle down and tie the knot in a civil wedding officiated by no less than the groom's uncle, Judge Eduardo Sayson of Branch 54. The celebration of the union was blessed by their parents, Allan and Ruby Sayson and Edwin and Cecilia Macaldo , witnessed by the couple's family and closest friends.

It was a gathering that proves that love may not start right, but because it does exist between two people, it eventually will make things right. Congratulations, and many happy returns to Allen and Abba.*

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion

John Paul “JP” Visitacion had always been very focused even when he was a young boy growing up in Bacolod City, where he was born. When his parents moved their family to Davao City, he secretly nurtured his dream to finish his college nursing course and to work abroad.

It was while he was studying at San Pedro College in Davao that he met a pretty and shy nursing student, Claudette Rose “Chloe” Lee, the only daughter of Davao businessman Michael and Dr. Rose Lee. Chloe and JP quickly became close friends as they shared many things so dear to them. The two soon shared their dream of building a life together abroad after they finished their nursing course.

After graduation and passing the Board, JP landed a job as a nurse in New Zealand while Chloe worked as a nurse in Davao. The two sweethearts kept their love alive with skypeing and emails regularly. It was very difficult being away from each other, but they knew they had to be strong and focused to achieve their dream.

Finally, after three long years, their dream came true with a beautiful and elegant wedding at Marco Polo Hotel Davao. Chloe's relatives arrived from the USA to join in the celebration, while JP's family came in full force from Bacolod. Close friends and relatives of both families were the principal sponsors, with special “ninongs (godfathers)” Paul and Greg Beacham, John Foster, and Peter Chase from Perth, Australia, who all came to attend the wedding.

It was a strictly formal affair, with the ladies dressed to the nines in long gowns complete with “blings”, and the gents, either in tuxedoes or formal black suits.

Pastor Arnel Tan officiated at the wedding ceremony. There was a hush when Chloe appeared, looking so ethereally lovely in her stunning wedding gown as she walked down the aisle.

The mood at the grand ballroom of Marco Polo Hotel for the reception was festive as the bride and groom arrived dancing to upbeat music. (OMG, was that really JP dancing!) The hotel left no stone unturned to give the couple a truly memorable reception. Despite the more than 200 guests, the wedding was beautifully intimate and meaningful. It was absolutely a wedding to remember.*

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion

 We watched the coverage of the “Fight of the Century” inside the posh and elegant grand ballroom of Marco Polo Hotel in Davao City Sunday. Our entire group was composed of the Visitacion family of Bacolod, who attended the wedding of a family member at the same venue the night before, and the four tall Australian ‘ninongs' (godfathers), who came from Perth, Australia, to be principal sponsors of John Paul and Chloe Visitacion's wedding Saturday.

Everyone was a bit woozy from staying up late the previous night, but early the next morning, we all were present at the hotel dining room to feast on the sumptuous breakfast buffet which was so delicious.

At eight o'clock, people began arriving at the venue to make sure they had the best seats. Soon, the entire ballroom was fully packed, wall to wall, with Davao's sports enthusiasts, eager to see their champion, Manny, clobber Floyd Mayweather Jr. The newlyweds received a lot of ribbing for joining us that early in the morning, but both said nothing could keep them from watching the fight.

After watching the undercards slug it out, we were eager and ready for the main event. Thunderous applause and ear-splitting cheers could be heard as soon as Manny made his entrance, and boos and hisses filled the hall when Mayweather appeared. The noise grew even louder as the fight began until you could see some people jump up and down whenever Manny landed a blow on his opponent while the crowd went wild.

It was a great fight no matter what some critics said. Manny fought valiantly and he gave it his all. Floyd was the “running and hugging man” all throughout. (Is this man a champion?). When the result was announced, the boos were so loud you could hear it outside the hotel. What a disappointing outcome. We really thought Manny had won.

That evening, the entire group went to Jack's Ridge for dinner under the stars. Our Aussie guest, Paul Beacham, said he was really disgusted with HBO host Max Kellerman, who was so biased and patronizing while interviewing Manny after the fight. Paul said this type of interview would never happen in Australia.

How proud we are of our hero, Manny Pacquiao. He is truly admired for being the champion and the gentleman that he is.*