White House Boracay

Welcoming party

Holy Rosary Parish

Wedding Day

Wedding

The Lind Boracay

Reception

Boracay

Bon Voyage

Our Wedding

They found love in a hopeless place. In the corner of Ivar Ave and Hollywood Blvd where the city never sleeps and love is forgotten. The city of 'lost angels' is where they found each other. A friend introduced them in a crowded bar where it seemed impossible to hear each others conversations, but when the two met, it was like the whole room was quiet and they heard nothing else but the connection that was electrifying. How he proposed: It was my Papa's paradise anniversary that week. Annually, my family and I go to his grave and hang out; eat, pray and mostly love. That year it rained on that day so we postponed his celebrations the following weekend. Throughout that week, Jeff kept asking about when we were going to my Papa's. I didn't think much of it, because Jeff is so in tuned with my family gatherings and making sure I don't forget. Saturday came, my sister calls me and tells me that we will be taking some family photos on the grave and to wear a flannel so we all match. You might be asking, why pictures on a grave? Well, you surely don't know my family. Keep reading. I dress myself in my favorite beat up flannel. Jeff tries to convince me that I should dress up more for the pictures. I don't listen, because I never do. (come on you know me) We get to Papa's grave and I lay down a blanket to sit on. My family hasn't arrived yet. Jeff and I were sitting quietly on Papa's grave and just listening to music. I always play some Frank Sinatra for him, its Papa's favorite. :) A song came on that I don't usually hear. I looked at my phone and it was called "Get me to Church on Time" I looked at Jeff and said "Hey my Dad wants you to marry me already, hahaha" Jeff looks at me with a "yah right" look. I must say, he played that off really well. My family finally arrived and we were all in flannel. Like we were going to start a lumberjack crew. We prayed, we ate and love was in the air. It was picture taking time. First, my family and I took a photo without jeff. Then my sister said "ok you and jeff next" in which I replied "lets put the camera on timer so we're all in it." My sister quickly replied "ok, but you two first" and pushed me. So I posed next to Jeff. Then jeff says "Can I just say something?" He talked about how much he loves the way my mom gets everyone together for my dad on a sad day but has completely turned it around by celebrating his life. He said he would like to do the same ... All I was thinking was ok ok you told me this in private. No need to tell the whole world. I was wondering why he was being so sentimental. I assumed right away that he didn't eat breakfast and he's going to be a diva! (insert snickers commercial here) Then suddenly he said "I've been wanting to do this for a while now.... " Then my heart and mouth dropped to floor. For the first time, I was speechless and so much emotions running through me. My knees were shaking, my hands were shaking I was completely flabbergasted. No one, except my mom when she steals muffins from souplantation can ever do that to me. He went down on his knees, on my Papa's grave and ask for my hand in marriage!! So I said NO. JUST KIDDING! I did the obvious thing like all girls do when they get proposed to which is open my mouth really huge and cover it with my hands and said YES!!!! January 9th, 2016 I said yes to FOREVER.

How Charese + Jeff met

Our Story

Details

Ryan Perez

History:I've known her since 1982, but had my first memory of her in 1987. She is my 3rd sister. When first meeting her and the rest of my sisters, they gave me a life size My little Pony knock off. I completely ignored them but they insisted. The years passed and our sibling love began. We got  so close that she hog tied me in the garage for my mom to find. As you can see, this sibling love is unconditional. I always wanted someone to play with, and she always wanted someone to boss around. Weirdest trait about her: How do I pick just one? Or can I just pick a normal one? Because everything about her is weird. Ok, weird trait. When she watches boxing fights, she has to sit on the same seat throughout the whole fight and while she's watching she has her fists in front of her mouth and whispers boxing things. Yep I told you it was weird. My favorite thing about her: I love that she's my sister. She is one of the few people that can slap me back to reality. She has always watched after me and no matter what trouble I get in to she's there to get me or forgive me. She's my prayer warrior. And I love that she cries over anything and probably crying over this. I love that I can make her happy cry. Wishes:My wish for her is to find someone to share her happiness with. She doesn't need a man to make her happy because she's already happy. I just wish that the guy that she has been manifesting comes along and sweeps her off her feet. Because her drunken 2am calls are getting old. 

Merry Klaudyn Cabigao Arrogante

Joseph Marcos

History:Best friend since 1997. We met in high school. One of the greatest love story (next to Jeff and I's) I moved to a new school in the middle of my freshman year. I met Drea in my Spanish class. Our love story started on the day we went to the library together. (crazy..I know,that I went to the library) We head straight to my favorite books which was the astrological / zodiac sign books. I asked her when her birthday was and she said 10/10 I said ME TOO!! (LOUDLY) and we immediately started laughing in disbelief. Until the librarian "sshhhh'd" us. It was love at first sight. She made me feel so welcome at a new school, at 14 years old that is GOLDEN. I thank the heavens for her unconditional friendship! We've been making memories ever since! Weirdest Trait:It takes her 2 hours to prep eating at a shabu shabu restaurant. A shabu shabu dinner with her is at least 4 hours long. My favorite thing about her: She's understands me so well. Without even telling her the details. We are strangely connected. When I'm in pain she feels it.  It's amazing. I have always wanted a twin sister and God gave me one! Wishes: My wish for her is to stay focused on the next chapter of her life. To not get overwhelmed for HER wedding planning. To always put God, herself and Jerry before others while planning.

Andrea Jennifer Alonzo 

Jan Cabreira

History:We met in high school. In a weight lifting class. My first "bro" We lifted heavier than the guys in that class. We made them cry. We laughed at them. We were unstoppable.  We instantly became best friends. She and I had similar training schedules. She was the best swimmer in school and I was the best tennis player ever lived. Jk (not really) Because of our similar training schedules, Sharon and I understood the meaning of train first, play later. I loved it when she  understood that I wasn't able to hang out at the mall or take sticker pictures  because I had a huge tournament coming up. She cheered me on instead of making me feel like I missed out. Fast forward to our adult years, we still have the same "athlete" mentality. We still make boys cry haha. We both are very active in keeping a healthy lifestyle. She is my yoga and paleo cavewoman sister.   I love that we both can relate in so many ways. Spiritually, emotionally and physically we are one. It is crazy to think that God allowed to let me meet someone so special. She is truly one of my favorite people on earth. Her big smile and bright hair always brings me joy! Weirdest Trait:She wakes up at 4am... for fun. I said we were alike in so many ways, but her wake up time is not close to mine. She wakes at 4am, I sleep at 4am. I guess that's the same.My favorite thing about her: No matter how much balance she has from yoga, she is the clumsiest person of all. If there isn't a drink that spilled or a plate that fell when she's around, that just means you are boring and she's not in her element. Wishes: My wish for her is to have continued success in her business and to keep traveling with Ernest even when they have 100 kids. Also, if you need some awesome eye care, Dr. Mallari-Bolado is the best optometrist in CERRITOS. (unshameful plug) I wish that she continues on this path and have an abundance of love and light! 

Sharon Mallari Bolado

Jon Rivera

HistoryI've known her since she was bald. (As a baby she looked like a boy) She is my cousin, my soul sister and my adventure partner. Growing up with a crazy family that is so in tuned with singing and dancing. Donna would sometimes choreograph a dance so we all danced in unity. And yes, this was perfectly normal at our family gatherings. Donna has the love of dance like no other. She loves teaching it, doing it and doing it ugly. Her and I have this dance off and its called "Ugly dance party" and yes, that's what it sounds like. No one else can keep up with me but her and I love that. She can easily out dance you on the floor, sober. (sometimes) When we dance, the next day we are tattooed by our bruised legs. We are that awesome. If you see her in the wedding and make her laugh, you will see that her and I are so alike. She also snorts when she laughs. You have been warned!  Weirdest Trait:She loves SALT. She puts it on everything! I told her a joke long ago about salt. It's cheesy so beware. "Hey Donna, don't eat SALT, because its A-SIN" (asin in tagalog means salt) Sorry world, but still one of my favorite pinoy jokes. My favorite thing about her: She is one strong female. She is one that you tell your kids to be like. She is path driven and won't stop at anything (but salt) to get her there. I love that she chases her passion and helps others to get there with her. She will not push you down, but will lift you up. She has an abundant persona that you will gobble up. And she's single. HOLLA! Wishes: My wish for her is to continue in writing her path to success and to meet her match. The one that will care for her in all aspects and the one that can run as fast as her dreams can. I wish that she knows there is no regrets in life but only life lessons we learn from. Overcoming fear, conquering forgiveness and uplifting the higher energy and she will be unstoppable. 

Donna Arrogante

Angelo Romero

HistoryShe's going to hate me for this. Here it goes. We call her Gen-Gen. She's my cousin. She visited the states with her family when she was about 6 years old. One of my favorite memories of her was when she was crying about bubbles. For some odd reason, I had a bucket of bubbles. The kind you blow and makes any child happy. She said she wanted them ALL. I said that she can have half. ( I was also a child and didn't want all my bubbles gone) She cried and cried and wanted it all. She cried so much that her snot started to fall and she soon started to make her own bubbles with her nose. I cracked up and she got more mad. Her ruthless older brother made fun of her and she cried even more, and she made MORE bubbles. It was the greatest thing ever. I ended up giving her all my bubbles. It was the right thing to do. After all she did give me a private bubble show. Every now and then I call her bubbles.  Weirdest Trait:She is the girliest girl you can imagine. She loves pink, dresses and all that glam. But you would have never guessed that she knows a thing or two about LUMBER. She speaks hardware talk and can probably tell you how to build your house and what to use. Never underestimate the girl in the pink dress. My favorite thing about her: She has the heart of Mother Teresa and the appetite of a sumo wrestler. She's my eating partner and she can keep up. And that's hard to say. Her heart is so open and loving. We grew up in different countries but every time I visit the motherland she never judged my western ways. She has never judged that I had one too many or needed the Boracay police to take us home because I was too drunk to walk. The best memories! Wishes: My wish for her to have more babies!! I wish that her and her husband Kris continues the path with God and shares their blessings with everyone. Wishing her and her family all the love and good health. 

Georgina Cabigao Loo

HistoryIt was 1997. Lorinda moved to another school while I was settling in a new high school. Apparently,  I befriended her friend Drea and she felt like I replaced her. She always claimed that I replaced her but we all know the group started when I got there. HAHA JK I think its her small woman syndrome. She is my favorite little fireball. She's small but definitely brutal. One of my favorite memories with her was one summer during high school and it was hot as hell. She was at my house and we were melting. So we did the most logical thing to do, which was take a shower outside my moms house. Like shampoo and all. And we were splashing each other with the hose and running around like teenagers. As I am typing this now, it sounds straight out of a movie. But I am not kidding. We look back at this and we still are very proud of that moment. We beat the heat and had fun. I'm just glad smartphones weren't around then. I can't imagine what footage my neighbors could of had. One of my other favorite memories with her along with the CALS (Charese, Andrea, Lorinda and Sharon) was Glow in the dark underwear. We would turn off the lights during our sleepovers and be in our underwear to see the glow. Yup, again. As I am typing this.. now it sounds like a porn. (sorry mom) But it was all innocent. We adored things that glowed in the dark. Especially Lorinda!  Weirdest Trait:She bought her car about 2 years ago now. She still doesn't know how to use all the everyday features. Like what all the buttons do. She gets to point A to B, so that's great. Ask her how to connect her phone via Bluetooth and play some jamz. She will probably give you the finger.  My favorite thing about her: Her carefree attitude. I love that she will say yes to just about anything that sounds fun. Nothing will bring her down, she always has a smile on her face. A lot of people has told me that her and I look alike or she can pass as my sister. I love that. My best friend and sister all in one! Wishes: My wish for her and James (her hubby) is to have more babies!! I wish they make more little ones so I can sniff kiss them all. I wish that they can build a happy home for each other where James cooks and Lorinda sits pretty and makes cocktails. I wish that they have more PHO nights at their house so they can invite me. 

Lorinda Lozano Thinh

HistoryMet this unicorn in high school as well. In our group you had 2 athletes, 1 band geek, 1 geek and we had a cheerleader. Like captain of the cheer squad and she dated the quarter back. How cliché, right? As basic as she sounds, she is the most colorful human being ever. The opposite of basic. Her and I grew close while dealing with life struggles. She was always there for me and vice versa. She has the biggest heart and if you can catch her she will love you so much it hurts. She is also one of the busiest person I know. You can catch her either at a wedding or a Khmer meeting. Even with her busy schedule, she always finds the time for her family and love ones. I truly admire her way of balancing time and just staying together when time gets tough. She is one of the strongest woman I know and she will do all this with a smile on her face. She is superwoman. One of my favorite memories with her is when I took my mom's car out for a joy ride (sorry again mom!) in high school. And I packed that car up! A 2 door Honda civic with 5 girls in it. I had to get gas and so we drove to the local gas station. I just started driving so, I had no idea what I was doing. I was backing up to get closer to the tank and I hit a pole. I tried getting out but I backed in too close and couldn't get out. All I can hear is Diana laughing so hard. I couldn't even hear myself drive. (if that makes sense) Her laugh is a magnetic force field of happiness. I couldn't help but laugh at this terrible thing I did. That moment is when I understood the quote "Laughter is the best medicine". It is one of our favorite things to do 'til this day. The many obstacles we have faced together, laughter is truly the only thing that gets us through the hard times. Weirdest Trait:She can sleep at a bar sitting up while we braid her hair. No joke. This has happened on multiple occasions. My favorite thing about her: She's crafty like me! We can craft the ish out of Martha Stewart. I love that we can share crafty ideas. I also love her love for teaching, even though sometimes she wants to strangle some of her students. I know she's a great teacher and puts a lot of effort in teaching today's future leaders. Wshes: My wish for her is to find her special unicorn. I know he is out there listening to old school hip hop waiting for you to C-Walk in his life. I wish that she finds the time to sit and relax for a day and not to worry about tomorrow. I wish that her mom gains strength and recovers to slap Diana on the head for not calling that nurse her mom tried to hook her up with. 

Diana Chea

HistoryWe met through our significant others. Her husband and my soon to be husband were college mates. When I first met Marissa, she had a warm welcoming energy about her. The friendship didn't feel forced just because our significant others were BFF's. She welcomed me in to this close knit circle and I saw our friendship grew. She was one of the first friends I made from Jeff's circle. She made me feel so welcome and I admire that about her. A new girl comes along and she opened her arms wide for me. It didn't take long for us to see that we had so much in common. We love a good excuse for some Jameson, our love for music festivals, dancing like no one is watching, riding bikes on the beach, buying 1000 ponchos and many more! Finding a great friend in your adult years and connecting at the same level as your high school BFF's is hard to find. I cherish our friendship and the many more years to come! One of my favorite memories with her is bike riding with her kids and hubby. Actually, every time we go for a bike ride. She has 3 kids with her hubby Ryan and seeing them as a family, really opened up my eyes in having a family of my own. I saw that having a family isn't always shouting and making them do things they didn't like. They do it so flawlessly and I'm sure it took a while to get there but I know that it can be done and that makes me happy. I look up to the way they are as a family and hope Jeff and I can be like that one day.  Weirdest Trait:She's really good at peer pressuring. She will make you take a shot when you have said no 100 times. She has persistence. My favorite thing about her: I love that she has an open heart and ear about everything. She is a great listener. She is family orientated. Has an adventurous soul and dancing feet! I love that she loves greenery like me. She is down for a Jameson shot at 8am or 8pm. Aaannndd that we share the same nickname but spelled differently. Ris and Rese! Wishes: My wish for her is to brush up on her Tagalog as she will be using it in the Philippines. I wish that her family continues to love one another. I wish that we find more ponchos. I wish her and her family good health more adventures. 

Marissa Perez

Wedding Party

Photos

Registry

Q + A

Amanda Tirol and her team are like the AVENGERS team in wedding planning. They have helped me with all our weird requests and MORE! To book your DOMESTIC flight from Manila to Caticlan or Kalibo you will need to contact her team. Mention that you are part of the "Cabreira Wedding" and they will give you the 5 star treatment! They respond promptly via email. 2 ways to get to Boracay: Long way, cheaper on flight and bigger plane.1. Manila to Kalibo. Then a 2 hour shuttle/ van ride to Caticlan Jetty Port. 20 minute boat ride to Boracay island. Short way, a little more on flight and smaller plane. 2. Manila to Katiclan. 20 minute boat ride to Boracay island. (JEFF and I will be taking this way)

Amanda Tirol 

Jake (not from Sate Farm, haha) is great!! He is our appointed travel agent. He can help you with your international flight accommodations and I can assure you it is the best price. When booking with him mention "Cabreira Wedding" and he will give our group a good rate. No matter what day, what airline.. he got this.

Charese & Jeff

Charese & Jeff

Photos