Happy Anniversary!

Me: Why don't we celebrate your 60th wedding anniversary?

Mama: Hindi na. (No, thank you.)

(After a few weeks)

Me: Why don't we ask a few of your friends for dinner at a local restaurant?

Mama: Sino? (Who?)

(After a few more weeks)

Me: I found this place that could accommodate 25 guests.

Mama: Eh paano kung mas marami? (What if I have more people in mind?)

Evidently, her mas marami meant 50 guests, which turned into 80, which meant inviting si ano...at si ano pa... which made us move from a small venue to a larger hall.  And to our dear relatives, the 60th wedding anniversary of Tito Amor and Tita Eve was reason enough to book a flight or take off from work because the celebration was truly the much-delayed family reunion on both sides.

The 21st of September is their 60th wedding anniversary, and the family will celebrate with good food (Peking duck, prepared three ways!) But all of us will remember the special gathering of the Estrellas and Sebastians, who knew how to sing, dance, and party--all during the middle of the day, and without any alcohol!

We have been fortunate in many ways, and celebrating was a great way to remember--the many relatives who have helped us this past year, the many friends who've accompanied our family these past decades, and the immeasurable, often unnoticed blessings our Lord has showered on us.  We are truly grateful.

Animnapu na!

A Sebastian accompanied Papa on his wedding day. Sixty years later, a Sebastian raises a toast to celebrate the effort and grace that goes into making marriages work.

An Estrella walked before Mama on her wedding day.  Sixty years later, we hear an Estrella recount behind-the-scenes stories of the love story that preceded this great adventure.

And because it's cute, we have the ring-bearer and flower girl pose with the couple after all these years!

Table Trivia Part 3

Table Trivia Part 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kuwentong AmorEve...o Table Trivia part 1

Dahil hindi kasama sa program ang iabot kay Mama ang microphone, isinulat na lang niya ang mga nais niya ikuwento sa inyo.  Maaaring alam na ninyo ito--ilang ulit na ba narinig ang mga trivia rito? O baka hindi n'yo pa rin alam, kahit taon-taon naman tayong nagkikita, lalo na nung bata pa tayo!  Kung sakaling hindi kayo nakapaglibot nung party, o hindi abala kayo sa masarap na pagkain, heto na, for your enjoyment.  This post will have the pre-wedding kuwento kaya Part I.

Almost Animnapu!

Almost animnapu, but the granddaughters are visiting so the grand celebration took place more than a month early, with both sides of the family in attendance. After all, too many reunions have been cancelled and postponed, and it's about time to catch up.

Plus 5

After celebrating 50 years of wedded ups-and-downs, it becomes more difficult for the family to find something surprising, or somewhat-new, to feature.  This blog would have been this static series of snapshots.  But the beauty of our digital world is in recording the simpler, more forgettable moments. And so, as anniversary greeting, and to mark five more years after the milestone, here's an update to the Singkwenta blog with images from their post Golden Wedding anniversary trip.

You know it's love when she had Elvis on her bucket list, and he takes her to Graceland.

They didn't have, as part of their to-do list, "eat crepes in the cold outdoors" but New York city makes one do things.  Besides, when Papa says, "Sige ba!" Mama say, "Okey!"

They've received our dress-up with Baby Jesus Christmas card every year.  They've upped the stakes and joined us, attired as Joseph and Mary with their angelic granddaughters.

First day showing?  Now that's a new experience.  They do have very persistent grandchildren.

Christmas Mass at night? Not-so-new experience.  But singing (and with matching Filipiniana attires!) granddaughters?  That's new, and made them proud.

Yes, Christmas away from (a warm) home was a first.  They prefer to have it as the only time away from home.  But the granddaughters...yes, I played that ace plenty of times!

55 was a good run.  Praying and hoping to give you more, with the next "plus 5" update.