×

Aside from being Back-to-School season, the month of June is also a popular time for weddings. This popularity can be traced back to the ancient times when Romans celebrated a festival in honor of Juno, the wife of Jupiter and the Goddess of marriage and childbirth on the first of June. Even the term “honeymoon” is associated with this month, referring to the first moon after the Summer Solstice. During those times, couples believed that a marriage in June was blessed by the gods.

Planning for a wedding requires a lot of preparation. As a June bride, here are some tips to ensure that you’ll walk down the aisle as your most beautiful, glowing version:

Photo credit: Jay Calvin Larrosa
Photo credit: Jay Calvin Larrosa

Look Wow in Your Wedding Gown
Choose a silhouette that highlights your assets and conceals your less-favorable traits. Check out the recommended style for your body type.

Petite
Petite brides should avoid highlighting their small frame. Choose airy sheaths and structured trumpet-style dresses instead of the big, frothy ball gowns that can dwarf you.

Plus-Size
Silver embroidery can add infinite allure but not a bit of bulk to a simple silhouette. A lace illusion neckline will also create a slimming look when paired with a cummerbund-style waistline.

Busty
You have two choices: reveal or conceal. Either way, finding the right gown starts with pinpointing the perfect neckline. Try a dress with straps and a full skirt to balance your busty frame.

Lean-and-Straight
You actually have lots of options to choose from. A wedding dress with a slit works great in showing off your legs. You may also choose a voluminous peplum skirt that acts as a stand in for curvy hips.

Hourglass Body Types
Work your feminine curves in a bodycon bridal gown or hide your hips in a big ball gown. Either way, the dress should show off your trim mid section.

Make Up Magic
A make up trial is recommended to achieve the perfect bridal look. After a makeup trial, take a photo of yourself (preferably without flash) to see how it looks on you.

Emphasize your eyes but make sure to brighten up dark spots using a corrector or concealer. Focus on the most important elements of your look – natural glowing skin, groomed brows and feathery lashes.

There are lots of wedding make up sites that you can surf for application methods, as well as the best products that provide long and superior wear while maintaining skin health.

Hair Flair
Consider the shape of your face in choosing the best hairstyle. It’s all about symmetry, proportion and balance.

Round face
Avoid short curly styles and cuts ending between ear and chin length, for these will make your face look wider. A fringe with soft layers and a long bob may minimize the fullness of your face and help elongate your face.

Square face
Textures like curls or a cut with choppy ends will soften your strong face. Long hairstyles will also slim and elongate your face. Curls, waves, wispy layers or an asymmetric fringe can also soften your features.

Triangle or heart shaped face
Avoid short styles, strong angles and style that have too much height at the crown. You can try a longer length, with fullness and texture to balance out your face.

Oblong face
You have to add width, not height. If you opt for a long style, try curls or layers that hit the jawline to give width around the cheeks and detract from the long shape of your face. Shorter styles may also work to add fullness at the cheeks.

Skinspiration
Pre-wedding skincare is also important to achieve glowing skin. Use antioxidants, vitamins, moisturizer and cleanser to give you clean and clear skin. Exfoliation can also help to remove dead and dull skin. There are various products and services to boost your beautiful skin, but it’s always best to consult a dermatologist before doing any regimen.

Fit for a Bride
To maintain your wedding figure, map out a fitness or diet plan. Avoid sugar, fatty or processed food. Eat healthy by focusing on fruits and vegetables.

A good workout will firm your body muscles and boost your energy, preparing you to be “on the go” for your wedding.

Another must for a bride-to-be is quality sleep. You would not want wrinkles, dark circles or puffiness to gatecrash your event, right? So have enough sleep as much as possible.

Consider the weather!
According to PAGASA, the onset of rainy season usually falls in the middle part of June. If you have booked your special day this month, expect a higher chance of rain. To have a worry-free wedding, prepare enough umbrellas and assure that these are on standby during the event.

If you’re planning to hold your reception outdoors, have tents prepared. Tents must be big enough to cover the entire area including the guests’ tables, food, stage and dance floor.

You can also take this opportunity to make the most of the rainy weather to add romantic flavor in your wedding photos. Ask suggestions from your photographers on how to make your day memorable even under the rain.

Before saying the magic words to the man of your life, consider these tips to make your wedding day extra special. Congratulations and best wishes, June brides!

Sources:
www.bride.com
www.modernwedding.com.au
www.juverest.com

Home


www.theknot.com

Thunderstorm activities are frequent, even during good weather conditions. And since the Ridge of High Pressure Area remains as the dominant weather system today, this will trigger thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening.

The whole country will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers.

Residents in Metro Manila are still advised to avoid direct sunlight; temperatures will range from 25 to 35 degree Celsius.

Road Re-blocking and Repair this Weekend

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority advises motorists to take alternate routes due to the scheduled road repair by the Department of Public Works and Highways.

road reblocking latest

Earthquake Survival quite literally begins in your own home. To ensure safety against tremors, it’s important to assess your living space to know what types of repair and reinforcement it needs to be quake-resilient.

You can begin your home inspection by examining two major factors: its content and structure.

Securing House Contents

It is important to identify the items that can possibly move, break or fall when a quake jolts your house.

unnamed-1-620x620

Things to remember:

1. Secure hanging fixtures on the wall and ceiling.
2. Strap down hazardous electrical components.
3. To prevent tipping, heavy and tall objects such as appliances and cabinets must be anchored or braced using a flexible fastener like a nylon strap and a hook.
4. Place the fragile, large and weighty objects on the lower shelves of cabinets.
5. Lock the cabinets if possible.
6. Rearrange large things including framed pictures and mirrors away from seats and beds to prevent injury to occupants when ground shaking occurs.
7. Ensure elastic connector on gas stoves or appliances.
8. Check the accessibility of fire exits.
9. Know when and how to shut off utility lines.

Checking Home Integrity

According to the Metro Manila Earthquake Reduction Study (MMEIRS), 38.3% of residential buildings in Mega Manila might be damaged when the Valley Fault System moves. 339,800 of them will be partly disrupted while 168,300 will be heavily dented. Unlike other hazards, quakes can transpire anytime without warning, bringing secondary dangers such as fire, liquefaction and ground rupture among others.

This study led PHIVOLCS in coming up with a checklist that homeowners can use in assessing how their Concrete Hollow Block (CHB) house will fare in the event of a strong quake. This checklist is applicable to 1- and 2-storey houses, and a must for houses built before 1992 when the earthquake resistance standards were introduced to the Building Code.

house check phivolcs

Evaluation will be based from the tally of scores from the 12-point checklist:
0 – 7: Assessment is disturbing and needs consultation with experts as soon as possible.
8 – 10: House requires strengthening and expert consultation.
11 – 12: Seems safe but needs confirmation from experts.

PHIVOLCS recommends consulting with a licensed architect or civil engineer and a licensed contractor for official assessments. Aside from further renovation, checking your foundation for cracks must be done whenever there are interferences— natural or manmade— that happened in your area.

Building a Quake Resilient House

1. Have a licensed civil engineer or architect supervise the building of your house to ensure compliance to Building and Structural Codes.
2. Construct a regular-shaped house on a rock or stiff soil. Avoid building structures on muddy and reclaimed lands.
3. Use 6-inch thick concrete hollow blocks.
4. Vertical bars should be 100 mms. in diameter and must only have a 40-cm gap in between.
5. Horizontal bars must be 10 mms. thick and spaced between 3 layers of CHB.
6. Walls more than 3 meters wide have to be reinforced.
7. May need to add more foundation.
8. Use light materials on gable walls. Gable wall is the triangular area that connects the roof and the wall. Or better yet, build a flat roof house.

11354919_969011413120869_1651820853_n

The Philippines will experience warm and humid weather yet again as the Ridge of High Pressure Area remains to be the dominant weather system affecting Luzon.

Expect partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening.

According to PAGASA, this weather condition will continue tomorrow and on Sunday. For those venturing out this weekend, better pack your fans to stave off hot weather, and umbrellas just in case it rains in your area.

Meanwhile, if yesterday was Hug-Your-Cat Day, today is World Environment Day!

unnamed

Because we live in an archipelago often frequented by cyclones and quakes, preparedness should be part of our lifestyle. That’s why it’s wise to devote a few hours of assembling Bug Out Bags with the family on a laidback weekend.

A Bug Out Bag (BOB) is a handy survival kit that contains our necessities in times of emergency. It is also called Go Bag, Grab Bag or Bailout Bag. This usually consists of supplies that will help you survive the first three days when trapped in a building or moved to an evacuation site, especially when problems occur during rescue and relief operations.

unnamed-4
Water and Food Supply

Our body and vital organs need hydration to transport nutrients and eliminate waste. Over 72 hours with no water intake may lead to death. Each member of the family should have at least 3 liters of water in their BOB.

When choosing BOB food, go for the non-perishable, lightweight, less salty and ready-to-eat food items. Having a detailed supply list, including their expiration dates, will be helpful as you quarterly check the contents of your BOB.

Important items also include a can opener, Swiss knife, tumbler, plastic container and enough number of sporks.

First Aid and Hygiene

A First Aid Kit is helpful in dealing with minor injuries and illnesses. This should have the following:

It’s best to create a list indicating the product’s use, expiry date, and other necessary instructions. Practicing how to use the bandages and other medical tools is also advisable.

Wet wipes, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, toothpaste and toothbrush, hypoallergenic soap, towels and other bathing needs should be put in a separate pouch.

Clothing

The choice of clothing should be based on the current season.

The basic set of clothing includes long sleeves, pants, shorts, socks, underwear, shirts, handkerchiefs and raincoats. Remember to pack clothes that will suffice for 3 days. Remember to put the clothes in a plastic bag first before packing it in your BOBs.

Other Contents

Other important things to put inside your BOB are flashlights with extra batteries, power bank, whistle, sleeping bag, rope, plastic bags and extra money.

After preparing your BOB, place it in an accessible, cool and dry place at home. You may also put one in the trunk of the car, in your office or school. Reiterate to the entire family that BOBs should only be used during emergency.

BUG OUT BAG Checklist
BUG OUT BAG Checklist

HYCAT

It’s Hug-Your-Cat Day today!

Cat owners are encouraged to give an extra dose of affection for their feline friends by giving them nice, big hugs this day. Despite being celebrated for years, the origin of this day remains to be a mystery. It is mostly observed in the United States of America but in other places, it is celebrated during May. However, since June is “Adopt a Cat” month, it seems more logical for the majority to observe this day on the same month.

Delving a bit into history, cats were considered sacred in Ancient Egypt. Their skill in keeping crops and fields rat-free, as well as their ability to kill poisonous snakes were held in high esteem by Egyptians. A symbol of grace and poise, cats were mainly praised in Lower Egypt, where the Cat God Bastet was worshiped.

28848_4007211781254_879786443_n

Today, we give honor to the cat’s prestigious history by putting this animal back on the pedestal. Make your kitty feel special with a meal of tuna or maybe even a bit of catnip, a plant of the mint family. Neurologically, it is said that catnip brings out the feline’s “happy” pheromones. When eaten, your cat may become very mellow. Not all cats react to catnip though, apparently it’s an inherited sensitivity and only 70% of the cats react to the said treat. Catnip high lasts between 10 minutes to an hour wherein they roll, flip, rub or zone out.

If catnip is not available, just pet your cat, rub its belly and indulge in some skin-to-fur cuddling because showing them affection can also be healthy for you!

Studies suggest that cats’ purrs assist with healing. With frequencies between 25 to 150 Hertz, their low rumble promotes healing by lowering blood pressure and decreasing stress levels.

meow

If you don’t have a cat, why not hug someone else’s cat? But do remember to find a willing cat– otherwise, the agitated feline might scratch or bite. Meow!

june4

Expect the same weather condition yesterday as the Ridge of High Pressure Area continues to prevail over Luzon.

The whole archipelago will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening. Bringing an umbrella is advisable to avoid any weather-related hassles this Thursday.

Sea travel can be enjoyed with light to moderate winds and slight to moderate waves in the following hours.

To look back on the month that was, here are the highest temperatures recorded in the Philippines, including Metro Manila, during the month of May 2015:

may2015 temps

According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Buddy Javier, we no longer expect to hit such temperatures this month as thunderstorms will be more frequent in the following days.

Despite this, we will continue to experience hot and humid weather conditions due to the prevailing El Niño phenomenon, which will also affect the amount of rainfall.

unnamed

The month of June signals the start, not only of classes, but also of the rainy season.

According to PAGASA, the onset of the rainy season will most likely commence in the second week of June. For it to be officially declared by the weather bureau, these three things need to happen:

1. A five-day period within April, May, June or July with a total rainfall amount of 25 millimeters or more with three consecutive days having at least 1 millimeter of rainfall per day. Said rainfall must be recorded at no less than five of these stations: Laoag, Vigan, Dagupan, Iba, Mindoro Occidental, Ambulong, Iloilo, and Metro Manila.

2. At least two out of three stations in Metro Manila must have satisfied the first criterion simultaneously.

3. Prevailing winds over the Western Philippines should have westerly to southwesterly components. The southwest monsoon commonly known as hanging habagat should also be the dominant wind system.

Meanwhile, most parts of the country will experience near normal rainfall. However, PAGASA Weather Forecaster Jun Galang said areas under code Yellow will have below normal or less rainfall this month. This includes Palawan, parts of Cordillera, National Capital Region (NCR), Dagupan, Zambales, Subic, Pangasinan, Tarlac and Pampanga.

unnamed-1

Other weather systems such as Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) will be prevalent this month. This will bring light to moderate rain showers over a large part of Mindanao. This could also affect Visayas and Southern Luzon as it changes its axis.

Vacation’s not over yet! Since the Hot and Dry season will continue until the second week of June, you can still scratch those itchy feet and see the country’s hottest spots.

Using the hashtag #PanahonTViSeePinas, Panahon TV viewers sent photos of their memorable local adventures. Feast your eyes on the beautiful places that we are proud to call our own.

#12: Anna Jean Fernandez | KAPURPURAWAN ROCK FORMATION, ILOCOS NORTE

iseepinas live 7 edited

#11: Greisha Padilla | MT. DARAITAN, RIZAL-QUEZON

iseepinas live 10 edit

#10: Amor Larrosa | MARINDUQUE

iseepinas live 5

#09: Danah Reyes | CAGBALETE ISLAND, MAUBAN QUEZON

iseepinas live 11

#08: Victor Juan | CALAGUAS ISLAND, CAMARINES NORTE

iseepinas live 6

#07: George Gamayo | MT. PICO DE LORO, TERNATE CAVITE

iseepinas live 9

#06: Patrick Aurelio | BORACAY ISLAND, AKLAN

iseepinas live 2

#05: Rachel Santos | OSLOB, CEBU

iseepinas live 8

#04: Gillian Gacuma | PATAPAT VIADUCT, ILOCOS NORTE

iseepinas live 3

#03: Agatha Ruadap | TARAK RIDGE, MARIVELES BATAAN

iseepinas live 4

#02: Crolskie Umali | IVANA PORT, BATANES

iseepinas live 12

#01: Uba Aver | PANAS FALLS, NEW CORELLA, DAVAO DEL NORTE

iseepinas live 1