The D Spot

Written on 6 April 2003 when Angelo and Caren got married. Here’s sharing with you the feelings, the emotions, the jitters, and the joy of the first wedding in the family.

A new daughter—I cried (she called me “Mommy”)

Today, we start life with an additional member to the family, plus one more coming up. While walking down the aisle to escort Angelo (my eldest son), and while the rites were going on, I was just calm, savoring the solemnity, while Monica (my eldest daughter) was making gestures that it was time for me to shed tears (theatrical, I thought). Earlier my kids were asking me if I would cry, I said perhaps only because I would be overwhelmed. I was overwhelmed, though, with mixed feelings. I did not cry when it was time to cry.

I cried when the wedding rites were over, and only when it was my and my husband’s turn to have a photo with Angelo and Caren (the bride—my son’s girlfriend for 8 years). Caren called me “mommy”, then only did i realize that she has indeed become a full fledged family member! And tears simply started flowing. I realized then that there was another “Monica” or “Angela” or “Pauline” (my 3 girls) to call me mom, mama, mommy, ma, or whatever. After 8 years, it was no longer “your mom” or “Tita” Dine (meaning aunt).

As a mother—I beamed with pride

That was the mother in me talking. How proud i was for Angelo—I could sense that Caren’s family no doubt welcomed him to theirs, too, and that they were very proud of him. How all my other children seriously did their duties—Monica and her boyfriend as candle sponsors, BA and Vincent (my 2 other sons) as ushers, Angela as bridesmaid, Pauline as junior bridesmaid, and my 6-year old baby, Alan Jr. as ring bearer. Amazing—my 6 other kids could fill up half a wedding entourage!

Earlier, they were each given their assignments of leading guests to their assigned tables, making sure there were no overcrowding in tables in case unexpected guests joined, passing the guest book, the framed picture in which guests write their wishes, the gifts, distributing souvenirs, running errands for the couple, entertaining guests, and many other nitty gritty. Most often these duties were carried out by either a wedding coordinator, a best friend or an elder family member, but in our case, there was no need for one. Even 6-year old Alan Jr was proudly moving around, entertaining guests, and running errands that his elder siblings asked him to do. The guests were impressed with how my kids seemed to show good breeding, a happy family, and responsible children. My husband should have been proud of them—I saw see him smiling in approval of how his children behaved, and proudly telling the guests that they were his children when asked.

One of the guests, a Korean officemate said his impression of me changed at that moment. In the one year we have worked together, he thought that i was a strict mom, because at work I was a perfectionist and a serious one. He saw how sweet I was with the kids, and what a cool mom I was. He said I was lucky to have this kind of family. A lot of the guests said my kids would pass as movie stars or stage actors, but of course, they were—Monica had a TV stint at “Ang TV”, while the rest were into theater.

Hitches—I was nervous

Well, of course, there were hitches in between, like illness, relatives coming up with emergencies, etc. but we survived them all. and my reservation was to the capacity. Most of the important relatives and friends came.

We were already running late when we fetched Angelo at the Westin Philippine Plaza Hotel where I booked Angelo for 2 nights (the kids suggested that we also book at the hotel, but it would be very complicated for me, as it would be easier to operate final arrangements from home). We were supposed to be in church at 3 pm, but we were there at 3:35 pm. Monica and her boyfriend were lost as they were not familiar with the place. They had with them the rings, coins, and all the other things needed in the church, so i was a bit nervous. They came at 3:50 pm, and the 10 minutes remaining were used for pinning the corsages, the buttonaires, and then the lining up of the entourage, with chaos in between. How could it was possible to have them all done in 10 minutes was a miracle.

The wedding rites—I was touched

The church coordinator were very efficient—by 4 pm, everything was in order, we were marching down the aisle, the best man first, then myself and my husband escorting Angelo, the the bible bearer, coin bearer, then Alan Jr with the rings, Vincent and BA, as ushers, after the flower girls, Angela and Pauline as junior bridesmaids, bridesmaid, then Monica and her partner, the rest of the secondary sponsors, the principal sponsors, then Caren and her parents. The rites were very solemn, the church—San Sebastian Church, in its splendor just lighted just enough, its age speaking for itself as witness to many happy events. I was so touched, and only too thankful to the good Lord, for having made all this possible.

The reception—I was happy

We all went to the reception, at Patio Victoria in Intramuros for an Italian buffet dinner. Food and drinks were great, and people were comfortably settled. A quintet with 3 vocalists provided fine music—sentimental, jazz, romantic, and all the songs one would love to hear in a wedding. They made an impact on the reception and the short program and dance. No one was in a hurry to return home, the party was over by 9 pm.

I gave a very good rating for Angelo and Caren for organizing all these in so short a time, and to my other kids as well. They saw to it that the guests went home happy with their personalized souvenirs, mini chimes for everyone, and bigger ones plus elegant mini carrot cakes for the principal sponsors, and coffee cups for the male secondary sponsors and stuffed toys for the ladies.

We all went home happy.

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