Wedding Album

Edmund said we should no longer count the number of years we’ve been married because people would know how old we are. Happy anniversary na lang, wala ng 20th… or something. Unless we tell them we got married at the age of 5. Alangan naman Oyen was born before we got married or kunwari she was born before we were born which couldn’t be.

Para akong high.
Rene Samson did my hair and make-up. He was a popular make-up artist of the artistas 3 decades ago.
Para pala akong sasayaw ng hula sa bulaklak sa ulo ko.

Our house’s number pala was 143, I love you.

Some of our guests thought my papa owned this white Mercedez Benz. No, Edmund rented this from a rental company in Malate. I think P700 na super mahal na noong araw.

Bambi Kabigting is our best man. He’s Edmund’s closest friend and basketball team mate in Crispa. He is now happily married to Lotis Key.

Edmund and his mom

Our wedding entourage

Kuya Lito and my closest friend in college,  Nelia Sy,  now married to Lito Dy.   Every time we had tests in accounting,  Nelia would get 100%.  Ako 99% lang kasi hindi ko nakopya isang numero.

Ann with son Butchok (now married), my mom’s maid Ima, Behind her was Bibok (Edmund’s younger brother), my nephew Owel, behind him was my nephew Memeng, flower girl is Cheryl, the only daughter of Justice Kuya Benjing and ate Salud Capili.

Tito Varela and Edmund became good friends when they lived in the same building in Ermita, where some of the Crispa Redmanizer players lived.  Tito played for the PBA and Edmund played for the Crispa Micaa team.
Edmund is the ninong of Tito’s son.

Brother of Bambi Kabigting and one of our Ninangs, Dra. Josefina “Nita” Ynarez- Pedraza

My mom, Ka Felicing, and Edmund’s eldest brother Edgar. Their father passed away from stroke a few years before we got married.

Tingnan mo nung araw, magkalayong maglakad ang mga sponsors, ngayon, strangers are forced to be instantly intimate by the event organizers, kailangan magka abresyete, para silang mag-aasawa, mga naka ukyabit sa isa’t isa.

Sobra kaming malnourish-looking, kulang na kulang sa pasta and tinola.

I actually I just wanted “live-in” ayaw ni Edmund. Siguro mas conservative sya.
(you sure we want to do this? Wala na itong urungan!)

The photographer was so proud of this picture, kala nya artistic.
(far left) Dr. Ramon Carpio (UST doctor and professor at the College of Medicine,

Dra. Nita Ynarez-Pedraza, Mrs. Tinsay, Mrs. Letty Timbol
Dr. Carpio, Mr._____, Blinks Kabigting, proxy for his dad

Edmund’s mom Soling, my mom Felicing, my father Ka Cardo, and Ega, representing his deceased father Willy.

The secondary sponsors, Evelyn,  Nelia, Nenet
Tito Varela, Kuya Lito and Edwin

Aileen, flower girl Cheryl, Little Owel and Memeng. I was so disappointed because Owel dropped the golden coins, eh bawal daw yun because that represents wealth. Nagkalansag-lansag yung coins. Hala ka Owel baka kaya hindi pa ako tumatama sa Lotto at jueteng.

Getting off in front of the Hyatt Hotel along Roxas Blvd.

I don’t actually get what this cake eating contest is for. Palakihan daw ng subo or something. I now find this ritual just so corny. Can someone pls educate me on the relevance of this cake thingy.

Eugene Villaluz sang at the church, Pol Enriquez entertained us during the reception. After the guests have left, Edmund and I were so shocked when the waiter presented us with an additional bill for the drinks consumed by the companions of Pol Enriquez. Edmund and I didn’t have any money. Kuya Lito shouldered most of our wedding expenses.

Eves, Mahtet, Aileen, Leah Balignasay caught the bouquet, the late Ellen Avendan (she and Edwin weren’t married yet this time, they got married the following May), and Edna.

Ceremonial opening of gifts. Some of the gifts we got were arinola and kulambo.

Our photographer was Benjie’s. This particular portrait was chosen and included in a coffee table book, I think I was given a copy of the book but unfortunately I have lost that book.

We’ve reached this far, 6 1/2 years na mag-boyfriend plus 20+++ years officially married if there’s such a thing.

Our married life is definitely not a walk in the park. It’s like a golf course, merong eagle, birdie, par 5, merong hole in one., meron din jabung. It’s not all about love and kilig. The marriage package comes with a kaleidoscope of emotions, challenges, successes and failures, tears, sorrow, excitements, surprises, pains and uncertainties at kung anu-ano pa.

But I think Edmund and I did start on the right track. We walked down the aisle for the right reason. We were in love.

Before, kisssss! kisssss!

29 years later, today
“Sweetheart mag-kiss tayo”
“Saka na, after the holidays”.

to be continued..