Day to celebrate

Once a year, there’s a special day when I thank the Lord for His blessing of making me the happiest man on earth. That day is today because it’s when my wife Menchu was born.

Meeting the right person to spend your life with is destiny. It’s something you don’t plan on doing. It just happens and when it does, you’ll feel it in your bones. Somehow, you’ll know when the right one comes along.

I met Menchu when we were both college students, back in 1972. I hung around with her first cousin, Louie–former Olympic basketball player Tony Genato’s oldest son–in our college barkada and it was inevitable that our paths would cross.

I had just arrived from my first trip to the US as a US Department of State grantee to visit educational institutions in a three-month student leader exposure program called the Experiment in International Living.

I was introduced to Menchu at the parking lot of Club Filipino in San Juan. We hit it off from the start. As chairman of the Club Filipino Youth Committee, she was busy preparing for a big summer party and I offered to help out. On the night of the party, I brought out plates, cleaned up tables, whatever it took to impress her. It must have worked.

About six months later, on Christmas Day, I put my college ring in a stocking which was mixed with a bunch of presents. We’ve been a pair since that memorable day.

I finished my five-year college course in 1973 and Menchu, one of the country’s most outstanding coeds, graduated the next year at Maryknoll. She began working for San Miguel Corp. immediately after graduation. She had apprenticed at San Miguel when she was still in school and impressed her superiors who offered her a job as soon as she finished her studies.

I went to graduate school in 1973 and after I earned my degree two years later, I worked for an investment bank. Menchu and I were married in 1977.

We pooled our savings together to buy a property the year before we were married. Then we had a house built. I took out a loan from the SSS and our parents helped us out to build a modest home. While the house was being built, one of Menchu’s aunts allowed us to stay in her unoccupied apartment on Roxas Boulevard.

In 1983, our only child Cristina was born and our family was complete.

Menchu and I have now been married 28 years. Dating back to when we were introduced, we’ve now known each other for 33 years. That’s a lifetime for some people. For us, it’s like we met each other just the other day.

As in any family, we’ve had our share of ups and downs. Through it all, we’ve always been there for each other, trusting in God to show us the way. Our faith is the backbone of our strong relationship and we thank the Lord for His guidance.

Every day, when I come home from work, I look forward to seeing Menchu, talking to her, sharing the day’s highlights, cracking the latest jokes, and just being together. Our daughter Cristina, who’s graduating this year, is an integral part of our close relationship.

Menchu retired from San Miguel at the end of 1995 and is now involved in social work.

Throughout her professional career, Menchu gained a reputation as a conscientious, intelligent hard worker with a big heart. She rose from the ranks to become a vice president at Monterey, her last posting in the San Miguel group. She was responsible for organizing Monterey’s successful meat shop network and franchising operations.

Menchu was also known as Tita Maggi for over 20 years, promoting the popular noodles all over the country as a celebrity endorser. Fans also remember her for her role as Bebs in the hit TV comedy series "Baltic and Company."

Menchu shares my passion for sports. She just won the squash ladies championship at the Palms Country Club in Alabang. She keeps physically fit, playing badminton with her sister Vicky and friends, walking around our village and swimming. She follows developments in basketball, boxing and sports in general and we often discuss what the country needs to do to progress in sports. She enjoys talking sports with people–whether or not they’re involved in sports–like I do.

She’s now the president of the Zonta Club in Muntinlupa, working long hours to make a difference in society, particularly in reaching out to abused spouses and children. I admire her for her commitment. It’s what makes Menchu what she is.

Menchu is more than a wife to me. She’s my soulmate, my best friend, my traveling companion, my sports partner, my grocery buddy, my listening post, my dream girl, Cristina’s mother and the light of my life.When I wake up each morning and I see Menchu beside me in bed, I never fail to say a prayer of thanks to the Lord for bringing her into my life. More than the gift of life itself, it is Menchu whom I am eternally thankful to God for. She is my greatest blessing.

Today, as Menchu celebrates her birthday, Cristina and I wish her all the happiness in the world. She deserves no less.