Silver Wedding Anniversary

I will never forget the last time Pope John Paul II came to the Philippines in 1995. That was the year we celebrated our Silver Wedding Anniversary. It was in many ways very memorable. We planned it two years ahead. A very simple celebration with only the whole family in an overnight recollection with a Don Bosco priest at Batulao, Nasugbu, Batangas. The idea was suggested to us by a friend who experienced it during their 25th wedding anniversary.

But God had His own plan. Through His mysterious ways He guided us from beginning to end.

When we went to Don Bosco Retreat House we were rejected because no priest would be available as everybody was attending the Pope who was in the country for the 10th World Youth Day celebration.

We were referred to the Pink Sisters in Tagaytay but were also rejected for the same reason. We then went to the Holy Spirit Service Mission Center nearby who accomodated us even without available priest.

My wife and I agreed that since we were originally married in Dasmariñas, Cavite and since our Ninang, Mrs. Lucila Mangubat was from Dasmariñas, we went to find if a priest would be available so we could hold the renewal of our marriage vow there before going to the retreat house.

Luckily the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Salazar was available on that day, January 13, 1995. (Viernes trece), so we were scheduled. We even hired a photographer to record the event for prosperity.

Everything was rushed. The dresses, the 'barongs', etc. The "bride" was greatly excited because she had been anticipating this formal wedding since the original was instant as we only eloped then.

The ceremony proper was silvery and glittery though there wasn't a single guest. The aisle was carpeted. The alter was decorated with fresh flowers by Vann"s. There was organ music and a good male singer whom we failed to thank after the wedding.

Peter-Jonathan was the ring bearer, Madora-Joliveth, the coin. The two also acted as the candle sponsors. Brinna-Zita carried the veil while Paul-David carried the cord. The duo sponsored for both. Belina-Judith was the Maid of Honor who carried a bouquet while the blushing bride carried a Bible. Our Ninang was radiant in her barong as well as her son, Boy, who proxied for his sick father. The renewal of the vow was complete with kiss-the-bride and the signing of the contract.

After the ceremony our Ninang invited us to her house which was only a block away from the Church of the Immaculate Conception. She ofered us a ten-course dinner consisting of soup, fried chicken, steamed shrimps, ham, vegetables, Lumpiang Shanghai, pancit Malabon, minudo, fruit salad and fresh watermelon.

At 7:00 p.m. we arrived at the Holy Spirit Service Mission Center where a second dinner was awaiting us. This time soup, fried chicken, vegetables and fresh bananas.

All the time we thought we would be given lectures, would be meditating, doing group dynamics and led in prayers. We expected all that ordinarily happens during a retreat. We only realized the following day that we were on our own, free to do what we wanted to do.

We stayed at the Shalom House. It was a three-bedroom bungalow away from the main building. No T.V., no radio and far from the noise of the external world. That alone was paradise. It was a gret experience for bonding of the whole family. The children all enjoyed too.

Saturday, the following day, Paul left after breakfast to join other youths attending the 10th World Youth Activities at Luneta. So at lunch we invited another retreat guest, Mrs. Olive Reyes to join our table. Her presence made our discussion livelier since then. We considered her as our only special guest on our Silver Wedding Anniversary Celebration.

The culmination of blessedness was felt Sunday morning when we went to the Pink Sisters' Chapel to hear mass. A young nun in blue habit requested us to offer the Chalice and the Ciborium. It was God's way of letting us know that He was bestowing us His blessings. Who can ask for more? Perhaps our guests were the angels who joyfully watched the whole affair.