Months have passed by since Joshua, former
boyfriend and now husband of our daughter Nadinne came to our house in
Tagbilaran City, Bohol to ask for our permission to their wedding which they
have set on December 14, 2014. The reason for their decision to wed soon is to
facilitate the petitioning of Joshua to go to Australia. They have tried the
Fiance Visa but they were discouraged by the numerous requirements. Nadinne is
the second to the eldest and is a nurse working in Australia. The event is
special since it is the first wedding in our family. My daughter decided to wed
in Manila so we have to fly from Tagbilaran City one month before the wedding
and I have to do my dialysis at Capitol Dialysis Center in Quezon City. Luckily
I got a schedule even if there were many transient dialysis patients like me. A
day after my first dialysis in Quezon City, me and my wife Belen was invited by
Nadinne to shop in Trinoma. It was a bit hard for me to go around inside the
mall due to my low hemoglobin which is 8.7 at that time. I was prone to muscle
fatigue due to the lack of oxygen in my body brought about by anemia but I
still decided to go with them. I was delighted when my daughter bought me an
original Levis denim pants and a Nike Air shoes. There are a lot more walking
and stopping to buy things and I forgot my facemask in our house so I have to
brave breathing mall air which I know is full of viruses. It was already
evening when our companions were finished shopping and they decided to watch a
movie. More virus exposure. We went to the grocery after the movie to buy
fruits and ingredients for their food menu.
The day of the wedding came and early in
the morning we donned our formal clothings, me in a dark suit, the groomsmen in
gray vests, the bridesmaids as well as with my wife wore long gowns in
different colors that the motiff which is torqouise. We stayed
at the University Hotel in UP Diliman and the rooms are busy with camera men
and make up artists walking around. The wedding will start at 1:30 p.m. sharp
and after some finishing touches and picture taking, at last we were all ready
to go to church. My daughter was very !ovely in her wedding dress and it was
not long enough and she was about to board the bridal car with us parents.
Inside the car, the driver had set the air-conditioning to high cool and it was
comfortable for us. We reached the
I felt very
tired after that shopping session, my leg muscles were aching and I thought it
will be gone after a day has passed but it did not. Again we were invited this
time to Joshua's house to meet his parents and also watch the Pacquiao Algerri
boxing fight. We ate a sumptuous lunch and drank beer while watching TV and
later on sang videoke songs. After we got home in Project 6, Quezon City, I
felt more tired and now feverish. I will have my dialysis in the morning.
During my dialysis I had a low fever and felt chills even with three blankets
covering my body. I had low fever for three days. When I went back for dialysis,
I was told by the doctor that I will be transfused with one bag of blood to
elevate the level of my hemoglobin to at least 9.0. During my dialysis and
blood transfusion, I got feverish again with the usual chills. My body reacted
to the foreign blood running in my veins and this went on for a week. I was
afraid I will not be in top condition during the wedding but thanks to God I
felt better the following week.
church and the bride remained in the car
until the wedding was about to start. The wedding entourage started walking
towards the altar and me and my wife were the second to the last to walk and
stop at the middle of the aisle of the
church and the bride remained in the car
until the wedding was about to start. The wedding entourage started walking
towards the altar and me and my wife were the second to the last to walk and
stop at the middle of the aisle to
wait for the bride. The center door of the
church opened and the bride started to enter and she was lovelier than ever
with the UP Chorale at the background in the church balcony. We started walking
towards the altar where the crying groom is waiting. My daughter kissed us
before the groom took the bride to the altar. The wedding rites were solemn and
the weather is just right (not too hot and not too cold). After the wedding
rites, the usual picture taking took place. There were more photo opportunities
outside the church before we finally went to the venue of the wedding reception
at Blue Garden.
The reception started
with the bride and groom coming down from the winding stairs of the garden with
a beautiful fountain. When the newlywed were already seated at the center of
the reception area, the emcee called on the relatives of the bride and groom
for picture taking then their friends and officemates followed. As a surprise
number the bride and groom together with the groom's nieces danced to the tune
of 'Bang Bang'. Then came the part where the newlywed addressed the audience.
The groom was the first but he was at a loss of words for about 3 to 5 minutes
due to overwhelming emotions. At last the teary eyed groom was able to utter
some words. The bride then gave her message of thankfulness. The putting of the
garter on the leg of the bride came next with a different twist. The groom
should enter the reception area with a sexy dance to the tune of a sexy music.
The guests bursted into laughter when the groom walked towards the bride like a
macho dancer and slowly taking off his suit and waving it up along the way.
There was a men's beer drinking contest where the winner, after imitating the
groom on how to approach the bride, will have the chance to put on the leg
garter to the woman who will win the contest (in lieu of the tossing of the
bride's bouquet) where lady contestants were blindfolded and instructed to try
looking for the safety pin in the body of the man who won the beer drinking
contest. The lucky winning couple then imitate what the bride and groom is
doing. If the groom kisses the bride then the couple should abide.
Then came the traditional bride
and groom prosperity dance where anyone can pin money even checks on the
bride/groom's clothing. The traditional
cutting of the cake and toast were next. Then the message of the principal
sponsors and parents followed. I had the chance to present our surprise gift to
the newlywed. I emphasized to the guests that even if our gift is of less
material value, the true value and essence of our message which comes from our
heart is for us priceless. Our gift is a collation of their pictures with a
touching message at the back of the frame which read something like this:
"Congratulations and best wishes to Nadz and Josh. Always put God in the
center of your relationship so that you will be strong during your trials and
will always keep the warmth of your love burning like you are feeling today when
you are joined in matrimony." After the reception, more picture taking in
the garden took place. The guests bade their farewell and received their
wedding giveaways. We went back to the hotel where the newlywed's families and
relatives gathered for an evening snack. Early in the morning, we went back to
our respective homes. We felt tired but happy and fulfilled that the wedding
was a successful one.
