One Wedding and a Family

Surprisingly, I only attended one wedding in 2007 and it was a very important one because it was my sister’s. The wedding was beautiful: the mass held in Chapel on the Hill, Tagaytay officiated by Fr Ben Nebres SJ, with the full accompaniment of the Ateneo Chamber Singers. The reception was at the Filipino-Spanish style bed and breakfast at Balai Indang, Cavite. The wedding itself was wonderful enough, full of touches thought of by the couple themselves, and you could see many heartfelt contributions of their friends. But what struck me the most was seeing how much family was a part of it.

And it isn’t even family in the strictest sense. Our family is unusual, all women, not many close relatives but several close friends who are considered to be family. This wedding showed how this family is bonded: from my grandmother who is bedridden and can hardly see or hear but wished so much that she could go…to my aunt who has nothing to give but knitted a set of glass holders for the newlyweds home…to the ninang who had trouble walking but journeyed all the way to Tagaytay in extreme traffic…to the other ninang from overseas who brought a piece of English luck and her full support…to an uncle who lent his car for the wedding even if his father died the day before…to my mom who was giving it her all each and every minute. Finally of course, the groom and the newest member of the family who was totally dedicated to the ceremony and of course, hi new life together with my sister.

Weddings are really much more than just the frills. I’m glad to have been a first hand witness to a wonderful one in all ways.

You can check out some of the official photos here (they are fabulous!), and details of the wedding preps here.