The day after
Happy, happy day yesterday! Am so glad that we were able to give Ka Bel and Ka Osang that one beautiful, happy day at least. They deserved it after all they’ve gone through in 50 years.
It was a real wedding, complete with squalling babies, toddlers running around, gossiping relatives, a teary-eyed bride, and the rings almost getting lost.
It was also a not-your-usual-ceremony also because, well, there was a platoon of police with long firearms; guests had to have their bags and gifts checked before they could enter the building; and taking pictures and videos were not allowed (As you can surmise, that particularly stupid rule was violated — Dr. Ganni Tapang was a savior and used his hi-tech phone to document the hour-long mass; while around 10 others (relatives, staff, friends) succeeded to smuggle in their small digicams.
I myself just lied that I had a camera when they asked me if I had one in my very heavy backpack. I said all I had was a laptop (’And could you please not poke around too much the bag because the laptop might break?" They backed off).
Anyways, it didn’t rain, around 150 people were able to stand witness during the renewal of vows (half of whom stood outside the chapel which was small), the reception was a huge success (gad I regret not having eaten because the food looked really, really good and all conversation stopped dead when the eating began in earnest; but I was too tired to eat. The superstaff led by Tin-Tin, Lyn, Lorna etc were also exhausted, and I doubt Tin was able to eat more than a moutful).
Ka Bel, I think, was the saddest that day, though. He had to stay behind at the hospital when we all left for the reception. ^&%$#@%* Makati Regional Trial Court 150 didn’t allow him to leave the hospital even for a few hours. Gad - they allow Estrada to go out and visit his mom, play mahjong with friend, etc, why didn’t they let Ka Bel attend his ONCE IN A LIFETIME 50th anniversary wedding reception?!!!
Anyways.
Am very grateful to Senate Pres. Manny Villar, Sen.Joker Arroyo, Mayor Binay, Mayor Belmonte and former vice-president Teofisto Guingona for attending and standing as major sponsors. It made my day seeing Sen. Arroyo walk up the corridor with confidence and head directly to Ka Bel and shake his hand.
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Ka Bel’s children and grandchildren are so talented! They danced, recited poetry, emceed the program. They’re practically a showbiz clan, the Beltrans. There was a ballet number that was so beautiful.
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Thank you thank you thank you to Tambisan sa Sining, Pisara (Walkie sang ‘Moon River’ and she wounded wonderful, as always) People’s Chorale, KMU and its federations and allied labor institutions. Thank you to Ka Mon Ramirez and Dr. Gani and Lisa for taking pictures.
And thank you so much to Ka Bel and Ka Osang for being such inspirations to us.
