On Weddings and Marriage

27 years ago today, Leo and Primie expressed their love in the presence of their God, their family and their friends in the sacrament of holy matrimony. A beautiful couple – in the midst of the people they love, sampaguitas and a crazy typhoon (which was apparently raging outside) – made a committment to each other to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish and everything else.

I used to watch their wedding video (betamax) over and over – my parents much younger, slimmer, more hair for dad, shorter hair for mom. I could easily identify my grandparents, the Tan aunts and uncles and the Obias titas and titos. I saw some of my cousins and other family friends…But for the life of me, I could not understand why I wasn’t in the video. I couldn’t understand why I was not invited to this special occasion. They had everything but me (okay, and my brothers too – but I didn’t really care about that now, did i?)… a cake, and that bell with doves, food, pretty dresses, barongs and other things that gave it a very 70s/early 80s feel.

I don’t know if it’s from watching that video too many times, or if it’s from the stories my parents love to tell (they looooooooooooove sharing their love story – from start to wedding and it can go on to the present day) – but in my head it was a perfect wedding (yes, the typhoon added to the perfectness to the wedding). Quite impressive for a couple that got together a year before, and organized it from the States.

The beauty of the wedding though went beyond that day and can be seen and felt in the marriage that they have. I can attest to that since I’ve been around throughout most of their married life. Obviously, it cannot be a perfect marriage – but it is a beautiful one in which I can truly see them continuously growing together, still learning about themselves, their children and the world.

I think one of the best things about their marriage (after their children) is the laughter that has come with it. They find each other funny and amusing. How many people do you know call their husband/wife Tongs (short for tongay [which is booger in Bicol] and tongee [engeng])?

Today, the parents are out of town. They celebrated their wedding anniversary in San Jose to attend the ordination of Manoy Jonel. According to Fr. Aba, he would like the folks to renew their vows there at the church. 🙂 Cute-on.

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Several days ago, Julian gives me a call “Pinky – I need Fr. Dacanay’s number!”… He sounded serious. I was not expecting that call, or the news that was to come with it. Julian proposed to Marion that night – major production number pa. He passed the phone to Marion who shares the details of the proposal, with me interupting by saying OHMYGOD every so often.

We were all classmates in Fr. Dacanay’s Theo 131 class. Nice. If I had my way, I’d like to marry a boy who took Fr. Dacanay’s class (and listened and understood that true love is a choice…that after the fireworks fade away, then true love begins and all of that).

After we talk, I send Julian the number and he replies:
Thanks, Pinx. Matindi to.

Matindi nga.

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I am so excited for Mar and Juls! 🙂 And in a funny way, I’m excited for my parents too!