A wedding/reunion of Ateneans

Fr. Tito Caluag SJ, in his homily said, “I am a bit disoriented because this wedding is somewhat a reunion of Ateneans as Dino and Criselle come from families of Ateneans and both of them graduated from Ateneo. Moreover, most of the priests who are concelebrating are Jesuits. So, how come the carpet in church is green?”

This of course was just to provide comic relief to the present because the past few days were unnerving for the Panlilio and Alejandro families with the countdown to the wedding day on. Then finally the time had arrived for Criselle’s Dad to give her away in marriage to Dino Alejandro. Daddy Tito was full of mixed emotions, happy and sad, exuberant and melancholic in letting her go.

He remembers, “I brought her every morning to her first nursery school in Salcedo Village. Criselle would cry every time I left her with her teacher, so I would have to stay a little longer to watch her till she was immersed in her toys in school.”

That helpless-looking daughter in nursery grew up to be tall and beautiful, the kind and considerate Mang short for Manang, as fondly called by her younger siblings. Sabrina and Tito, Criselle’s parents always felt assured that their six other children would survive under Criselle’s diligent care.

We all laughed when Tito said in his speech before 850 guests, “Dino, this is the daughter that Mommy Sabrina and I give you in marriage. As Tito Charlie Rufino said when he saw two of his sons marry in the last few months, ‘Our sons are guaranteed ‘well-bred’, but that insurance ends today on their wedding day.’ In the same way, we guarantee Criselle is well-bred. We guarantee that only up to, today. Starting tomorrow, both of you are the only ones who can guarantee to each other that you’re both well bred and make your destinies and your marriage a well-done one, meaning a well lived dream!”

Speaking of dreams, Dad Cito Alejandro one day, seeing the younger Criselle, beautiful and attentive to participants at an Antioch meet she organized for our church, said to his son, Dino, “That’s the girl I want you to marry.” And so it came to be. Three years laetr, during an Alejandro Christmas reunion Dino attended, and what a surprise, he had with him Criselle. As it’s said when you aim your sights and your energies into a projected goal you can succeed! Dad Cito and son Dino’s wishes came true.

When it was Daddy Cito Alejandro’s turn to toast the newly married couple, he advised the groom and bride, “Number one: Marriage is all about memories, loving memories of family and love for one another. Number two: Marriage is about endurance, being physically, mentally and emotionally prepared. The race is not to be swift but to those who keep running in the race to make good. Number three: Marriage is about the power of God, who will always find ways and means to keep you together and loving each other, while hatred, greed and pride can tear you apart as a couple.”

For their part, Criselle and Dino wanted to do something different and decided to host their own wedding. Now this is unique. They even decided to do a dance number so their Ninang Belen Castro provided them with a dance instructor. Dino and Criselle spent days learning and practicing their dance steps.

Criselle wanted the foyer of the Rizal Ballroom in Shangri-La Makati to look like a garden so her Mamita, grandmother Menchu Ordoveza Bautista, surprised her. Notwithstanding the traffic, she spent one Saturday in Los Baños buying bougainvilleas, brought the flowers to Manila with Sabrina in three trucks and decorated the Shangri-La foyer with the flowers to make Criselle’s wish come true. I saw a garden, which everyone loved with spring and summer time flowers.

Even Rajo Laurel called his motif “Spring Awakening” and his chosen colors were sage green, periwinkle blue, lilac and yellow the colors of springtime. Because Criselle worked for Rajo for three years, Rajo said, “I treated this wedding like it was my own sister’s wedding. I put so much love into creating the gown of Criselle and the whole entourage.” Rajo used flowers, pleats, lace, tulle on all his gowns. I asked my little granddaughter Martina Bautista if I could borrow her fairy and angel like gown and make it into a skirt.

But the two most important women stole the reception’s glow from the centerpieces of beautiful huge assorted flowers, sparkling wine and champagne. Sabrina by just standing beside Tito, beautiful in her yellow gown by Rajo and Cynthia who bravely accepted the microphone with a tinge of a tear said, “Now I will not be alone in the house with my fish, dog and cat. I will have Criselle.” That sent everyone laughing. “Now,” Cynthia said, “Cito can take his time traveling (he has to being with Del Monte) and make believe he’s an OFW.”

Well said.