my parents' 50th

There was no big church wedding, no weekend getaway....in fact, we didn't have to travel far  for my parents' big day. Thankfully, living near the UP Diliman Campus truly has its perks as the kiosk or gazebo inside  Church of the Risen Lord was the venue for the golden wedding anniversary. 

 Old photos, wonderful memories, a   fellowship of family and friends, warm prayers and  lots of laughter filled the air that hot March afternoon. 

 There was no big budget but we paid attention to the small details and asked friends and family to participate in setting up the whole event.  Old photos came out of the various storage places and were hung on a string or place in  frames  accumulated through the years, golden balloons were glued to the ceiling, a tarp announced the precious event and  mementos the couple had picked up through the years and various travels were scattered all over -- a testament to the love that has lasted through the years.

Ultimately though, what made the afternoon was not in the details but  the happiness and the wide smiles of the celebrants. Here's to 50 more years, Pepz and Bethzie!

 Photos courtesy of Mark Cortez, Paul Fabregas, Ned Canlas.

gate-crashing a wedding in Cebu

the gate-crashers watching the reception from above

On holiday in Cebu, we were on our way to dinner when we stopped by historic Fort San Pedro to get a sense of our past. 

We got more than that.

Aside from absorbing the beauty of the stone bastion and it's many stories, we also got to witness a couple celebrate their love. 

The guard let us into the fort and we proceeded up to the tower to look at the scenery -- beautiful Cebu and  the equally enthralling reception unfolding below us.

chowking wedding (finding romance in the most unexpected places)

I clearly remember this day. It was mid-morning and we were driving around the metro when hunger pangs hit us. we went into the 2nd floor of  Chow King in Evangelista, Makati and were amazed when a couple walked in in their wedding finery.  to redefine the title,   it wasn't actually a wedding. more like a reception. but what a pleasant surprise it was.

the bride was young, the groom was happy and proud and their reception food was siopao and drinks. we weren't invited but we couldn't resist sneaking a peek every now and then at the lovebirds and their guests.

after their "reception", the couple and their witnesses sped off in  a taxi and a jeepney.

so who says you have to have a grand reception to have a wonderful wedding? not this beautiful bride and her Mr. Clean groom.

isn't love, cute?