Diamonds are forever

Like a diamond, their love for each other is solid. The more time they spend with each other, the more they fall in love. The passing of time just makes clear that a love to keep is what they have. And because of it, they are kept vibrant and loving.

Love, indeed, was in the air when Filomeno “Feling” Montejo and Emilia “Emy” Go-Montejo celebrated their Diamond wedding anniversary recently in Quezon City with heartfelt gratitude to the Lord Almighty for 60 wonderful years of wedded bliss that started in Tacloban, Leyte.

The Montejo children, Marilyn and Fedore Yap, Mario and Maritz, Virgilio and Bubut, Marilou Supit, 15 grandchildren and two great grandchildren considered this marriage twice blessed for the rare feat of surpassing the Golden anniversary.

The tribute to Feling and Emy by family and friends, who all came in ’40s to ’50s attire, started with a thanksgiving Mass officiated by Msgr. Manny Sarez of Sta. Maria de la Strada Parish, who reminded everyone “that we are here to return to love, the source of all life, a time to reaffirm our covenant with God and each other.”

The “curacha,” a Waray wedding dance by the Montejo clan, served as the opening number of the program, symbolic of the family roots and to set the tone of the anniversary and introduce the whole Montejo family.

A glimpse of the couple’s life was presented “kada dekada” representing the significant milestone. In between the decades’ highlights was dancing, gamely participated by the guests, to music of the respective era, masterfully played by Nonoy Lopez and his band.

Knowing that nothing can make the couple happier, the Montejo family pooled together all their talents to create a spectacle of a show. The program was hosted by the quick-witted apo, Kookie, and a close family friend. Every decade was sprinkled with performances such as a hilarious and touching poem by daughter-in-law Maritz, a song by architect son-in-law Fedore and favorite songs by the Yap apos, Maris, Maite and Mariel. Even the little ones — Eli, Genny, Bettina and Carmela — pitched in to dance adorably for their lolo and lola. The rest busily scuttled about to make the show as smooth as possible.

The affair was truly a manifestation of love with Filomeno declaring that if he had to live his life all over again, the first thing that he would do is ask the matchmaker friend, Ms. Edita Mate Cosio, to arrange the same meeting, as what happened 62 years ago, with Emilia longingly approving.

The secret of their 60 years together, said Filomeno, is “love, or more accurately, sacrifice, for the woman you love.” They are thankful that the rewards have been worth the sacrifices. The first time Filomeno saw Emilia, he said, “That’s the girl I will marry.” Their 60 years together is insurmountable proof that he was right.

While the guests were dancing the night away and offering more cheers to the diamond celebrants, the hearts of the Montejo siblings were bursting with pride and much gratitude for the sacrifices that their parents have freely given them.

Silently they prayed that they be allowed to share and serve them the same unconditional love. On that note, the celebration ended happily.

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