Fil-Am US Marine takes a wife

CEBU, Philippines - It was a punishing 28 hour-drive from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Jacksonville, North Carolina. The Pineda entourage came in two vehicles: a van that contained the luggage and the food good for seven people to last for three days and Daphne's Ford Focus, chosen for its economic gas consumption at 35 mpg.

The convoy left at 8:15 pm, 10th of November with dad, Mike Pineda on the wheels of the van, Jackie dela Cruz and myself as passengers. In the other car were Daphne, Carl, Beau and Maria dela Cruz. By the time we reached Wisconsin, driving became tedious due to the heavy rains that made visibility a major obstacle. It was the maneuvering expertise of Mike, who works as bus driver of Minnesota Metro Transit and Carl, Daphne's BF that made our travel safe despite the blinding rain.

After Wisconsin, we passed through Chicago, Illinois, then onward to Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia and Virginia. By the time we read the sign North Carolina, it was 2pm. And we were ecstatic because we thought we were close to Duane's place, Duane is Mike's son who was getting married. Beau, the eldest cautioned us not to be overexcited because Jacksonville was still over 10 hours away!

After 28 hours, we were finally at Duane's place. Duane was constantly monitoring our trip and Brook, his fiancé, lovingly complained that he was more excited about our arrival than his wedding.

The reunion was raucous but delightful. Watching from a distance, I could see the bond the siblings have. It was also obvious that Duane and Brooke were pleased by Papa Mike's presence.

Duane is the second child of Lilibeth Cormanes, whose family originated from Ronda, Cebu and Mike Pineda, who came from a large brood of a fishing magnate in Kananga, Leyte, Victorio and Lucia Pineda.

Duane was raised largely in Manila with brothers Beau and Jezriel and sisters Daphne and Soleil by Mom Lilibeth. Father Mike was mostly in the States preparing the way to petition his family.

He then joined the elite US Marines fresh from high school and has had three deployments to Iraq. He holds the rank of Staff Sergeant. His bride is Brooke Snell, is a Sergeant of the US Marines Corps stationed in Okinawa, Japan.

Saturday, November 13, was the big day. The wedding was held on a beach. Duane looked dashing in his all-white outfit complemented by the bride's trousseau. Brooke was the elegant bride. She looked like an image lifted from Vogue magazine. The way Duane looked at his bride was an articulation of his deep love for her and the way Brooke smiled at her groom was an illustration of how two people in love could lock themselves only in the present, past and future notwithstanding.

When Brooke expressed her gratitude to the Pineda family for their presence, she also extolled the memory of Duane's mother, Lilibeth. It drew tears from those present for indeed she was a lovely person who was sorely missed during that special occasion.

The reception was fabulous and was made even more magnificent by the presence of Brooke's family, who came from Florida and Pennsylvania. Brooke's best friend came from New York, too.

Though she was sorely missed during the wedding, the groom's mom Lilibeth must have been smiling in heaven because her son, the brave young Duane, is a proof that she raised her children well. (FREEMAN)