Archive

Monthly Archives: February 2013

Eat, Pray, Love

26 February 2013
Personal, Travel
9 Comments

• Eat •

Miggy and I may have different personalities, but we have a lot of other things in common. One of which are going to places we haven’t been to together. The first time we scratched the places off our bucket list was in April 2011 when we went for a trip to Corregidor. A day after Miggy’s birthday last month, his aunt and uncle invited us to join them to a day tour at Villa Escudero in Quezon. The two had this on their itinerary since December, so there was no way of talking him out into cancelling the trip because of an impending bad weather.

We were supposed to rent a van ourselves, but Tito Ron’s old-time friend offered to take us there instead with their personal vehicle (plus driver, Kuya Bernie). They picked me up at my place around seven in the morning; however, we headed straight to The Palms Country Club for a breakfast meeting.

When we got to the function room, we were welcomed by Mrs. Nancy Catan, an American who married a Filipino and speaks fluent Tagalog. She was awesome! Anyway, we were greeted by a few people as we were ushered to our seats. This is some fancy breakfast, I thought to myself. So we were offered a very delightful Filipino breakfast such as tapsilog, bangsilog, and tocilog.

• Pray •

Towards the end of our meal, we were all requested to rise for some group prayer. That’s when I saw the banner of the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals in the far side of the room. We prayed in the form of a lively song, accompanied by three men whom each played a guitar. Honestly, Miggy and I began to feel a bit uncomfortable because we had the impression that they’re from a different religion. When one of them ended his prayer with a sign of the cross, we both felt relieved.

The BCBP holds breakfast meetings every now and then across the country for purposes of evangelism. As visitors, we were requested to introduce ourselves to an audience of 50 people. It was Mr. and Mrs. Gonzalo “Jun” Catan who invited us over at the breakfast meeting. Incidentally, the couple had been assigned to prepare a personal story for the group sharing. Tito Jun began his story by sharing how he started the business who brought legacy to him and his family. Apparently, Tito Jun was the owner and founder of MAPECON, the leading pest control company in the Philippines. 

Let me share with you a little trivia how Tito Jun came up with the name of his company. In 1984, Tito Jun dreamt of 1 Peter 2:9. Through this verse, the MAPECON people believe and claim God’s annointing, and that the Filipino people is chosen by God to be His:

But you are the chosen race, the King’s priests, the holy nation, God’s own people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God, who calle you out of darkness into his own marvelous light.

The word Pilipino  also contains the words: pili (chosen), lipi (race), pino (refined). Others may say it’s coincidence, but MAPECON believe it’s grace—God’s grace, thus MAPECON stands for My Almighty’s Plan to Exalt Christ Operates Now! Interesting, isn’t it?

Tita Nancy, on the other hand, shared how Tito Jun and she met in their early 20s. I was holding Miggy’s hand the entire time, and as their love story unfolds, I found myself squeezing it tighter. They both come from poor families, but nothing stopped them from marrying each other—something most people would think was impossible. Although Tita Nancy only shared an overview of their lives together as a young couple, I couldn’t help but think of the life ahead of us.

Through prayer and God’s grace, the impossible became possible. All there’s to do is believe and trust in the Lord. Something Miggy and I never fail to remember.

• Love •

Apart from love for one another, Miggy and I share the same love for nature. In fact, one of the things we look forward to a future life together is travelling. We would love to continue ticking off things from our bucket list while we’re young.

Our stay at Villa Escudero was a short one because we arrived there at noon. Upon getting our tickets, we took a Rural Village Tour, riding a colorful jeepney led by a carabao. Our first stop was the Waterfalls Restaurant where we had lunch. Miggy and I were wearing closed shoes unlike our company, so we opted to stay in the area where won’t have to remove our footwear. 

We were offered a buffet lunch. Boy, it was bountiful! When we’re done, we all went up the viewing deck for more photo ops. After lunch, guests have the opportunity to watch the Philippine Experience Show where the country’s rich culture comes to life, from its ethnic diversity to its colonial legacy. The dances were painstakingly recreated by the late National Artist for Dance Ramon Obusan of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Mr. Obusan’s insistence on authenticity sets this show, performed by resort employees and accompanied by the resort’s own musicians and rondalla ensemble, makes this show a far cry from the stylized performances one sees today.

Waterfalls Restaurant, Villa Escudero
Tita Ruby and Michelle
Tito Ron
Miggy and Little Miss Carabao
Tito Ron, Tita Ruby, and Michelle
Waterfalls Restaurant, Villa Escudero
Carabao Ride, Villa Escudero

The tour was concluded by a visit at the museum. I’m glad this was the last in our itinerary because I joined this part the most. We were given the chance to see the family’s collection of religious images and artifacts. Among them was the original altar of The Minor Basilica of The Black Nazarene (also known as Saint John the Baptist Parish) which the family has acquired. Two things caught my attention in the museum: a large mosaic of Jesus Christ whose image was formed by minute words from the Bible. (We even had to use a magnifying lens to see for ourselves!); and the miraculous rose petals with the different images of Jesus imprinted on each one of them. Apart from these, the family has a vast collection of preserved animals—from butterflies to insects to birds and reptiles. Too bad taking photos inside the museum wasn’t allowed!

Before we head back to Manila, Tito Jun offered to take us to dinner at Rose and Grace, a restaurant well-known for their bulalo. On our way home, I realized how I saw and experienced love in different forms. There’s love for God, love for family, love for friends, and love for nature. In the end, I thought about my own version of Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love. Quite literally, though.

Related articles

Back-to-Back Birthday Weekend

24 February 2013
Food, Personal
Leave a Comment

No, friends, it’s not my birthday (yet). Well, I just had mine in November, so this post isn’t entirely about me. Unlike most kids our age, my brothers and I grew up not having annual birthday parties. To us, birthdays are celebrated with the family. Nothing fancy, really—hear Thanksgiving mass together then a lunch- or dinner-out at a decent restaurant.

Miggy and his siblings, on the other hand, are accustomed to celebrating their birthdays at home, prepared by his mother. Coincidentally, Miggy and his brother, Patrick, were both born in January. The girls, April and Stephanie, are April babies. Oh, and their father celebrates his birthday in April, too. What are the odds, right? It has been a family tradition to hold a double/triple party at their place to commemorate the occasion.

Like Christmas and New Year, Miggy’s birthday this year is different. He gets to celebrate it with his other members of his family and mine. Weeks before his birthday, I had already planned on taking a day off from work. I intentionally did not prepare any birthday surprise for him because I thought I’d save that for next year—when we’re married. Miggy and I heard Thanksgiving mass early in the morning, then headed back for breakfast at their place.

Incidentally, the first day of the bridal fair we were supposed to go to fell on his birthday. We left their house at ten o’clock, so we’d arrive at the venue earlier. The top three things we inquired about at the exhibit were suppliers for wedding rings, invitations, and wedding coordinators. We had no intentions of booking anyone on that day because we still have to deliberate on our options. When we’ve inquired from each and every prospective suppliers at the fair, we went back home to invite his family for a dinner celebration at Hap Chan Tea House.

Joco, Kim, Tito Bong, and Kuya Louie
Family Picture
Michelle and Jae

We could have had a group celebration with my family, but Dad and my youngest brother will be coming from work/school, so Miggy decided that we take them out on a different day. It was the last day of the 3-day bridal fair when we returned to finally book our wedding coordinators. After which, Miggy and I placed our reservation at Watami Japanese Restaurant in SM Mall of Asia for a lunch date with my family.

Source: http://www.thepickiesteater.net

Family at Watami Japanese Restaurant
Watami Japanese Restaurant
Watami Japanese Restaurant
Watami Japanese Restaurant
Watami Japanese Restaurant
The Birthday Boy
Watami Japanese Restaurant
Watami Japanese Restaurant
A Little Conspiracy
The Birthday Boy
The Birthday Boy
Watami Japanese Restaurant

I liked the overall interior design of the place. Gives you the impression of comfort and elegance. The food was great; however, since the restaurant is fairly new, the flow of orders needed improvement. Regardless, the staff members were genuinely nice. In fact, Dad had them prepare something for the birthday boys—a scoop of ice cream, each with a birthday candle. The staff members even sang them a birthday song in Japanese!

Miggy and my youngest brother’s birthdays are exactly a week apart. The following Saturday, Mom and Dad reserved us a spot at Sambo Kojin. My family loves food, and this Japanese-Korean collaboration just made us all giddy and excited! Since this buffet restaurant opened in SM Southmall, Kevin has been nudging us to try it out, so Mom and Dad thought it’s the perfect option for his birthday celebration.

Sambo Kojin at SM Southmall

Sambo Kojin at SM Southmall

Kevin and Jan
Desserts at Sambo Kojin
The Soon-to-Weds
Family at Sambo Kojin
The Soon-to-Weds
Family at Sambo Kojin
Kevin and Jan
Complimentary Birthday Cake
Dad and Mom
Family at Sambo Kojin
The Birthday Boy
More Sashimi at Sambo Kojin
Mom and Roi
Sushi and Sashimi at Sambo Kojin

Kevin and his girlfriend, Jan, were an hour or so late because they came all the way from school. While they get their food, Dad talked to our assigned server to ask whether they’re giving a complimentary cake or ice cream for birthday celebrants. As soon as Kevin and Jan settled in their seats, the restaurant staff gave him a complimentary cake, gathered around and sang him a happy birthday.

To give you an indication of how much we enjoyed our buffet dinner, Miggy left the restaurant with two of his shirt buttons popping out! Hahaha! It was definitely a fun-filled back-to-back birthday weekend with my family!

Related articles

It’s a Family Affair

21 February 2013
Personal
2 Comments

Miggy and His Family
(20–24 December 2013)

This is a gallery of some photos Miggy and I had with his family and friends at their house.

High School Friends
Chanel sneezed, thus this shot. This is my favorite shot of Miggy and Chanel!
Christmas Eve 2012
Tita Cobe’s Birthday Celebration (20 December 2013)

Tagaytay Trip with My Family
(26 December 2013)

A day after Christmas, my family and I decided to drive to Tagaytay with our usual itinerary to Pink Sisters’ Convent and lunch at Josephine’s Restaurant.

Pink Sisters’ Convent, Tagaytay City
My Family at Josephine’s Restaurant Viewing Deck
Dad and Mom at Pink Sisters’ Convent, Tagaytay City
Roi, Jae, and Miggy at Josephine’s Restaurant
Dad and Mom
Mom with Kids at Pink Sisters’ Convent, Tagaytay City
Pink Sisters’ Convent, Tagaytay City
Kevin, Dad, and Mom
Pink Sisters’ Convent, Tagaytay City
Miggy, Roi, Jae, and Kevin at Josephine’s Restaurant Viewing Deck
The Boys at Pink Sisters’ Convent, Tagaytay City

 

I Believe in Marriage

19 February 2013
Personal
2 Comments

Their love story began in 1983 at the University of Santo Tomas, in the school they attended. Both were graduating students when they met; he was from the Faculty of Engineering, and she was taking up Secondary Education, Major in English, in the next building. They were both active in school organizations; they got to know more about each other in one of them—Pax Romana. Sooner or later, they started going out as a couple.

After college, he worked for a manufacturing company as a technical engineer. She was, on the other hand, absorbed by the university as an English professor in the College of Nursing. Eventually, in July 1985, they decided to get married. Their wedding was all set to January the following year, but one incident put their faith to the test.

In November 1985, his mother endured a stroke. She was hospitalized for weeks until the family decided to bring her home. She was in a coma, and remained like this through Christmas and New Year. Until two days before the wedding, she passed away. The bride was willing to give up the wedding ceremony the last minute to allow the family to mourn over their loss, but there were mixed reactions from the elders. Some gave them their blessings for them to proceed with the wedding regardless of the situation, while others opposed to the idea. In the end, the wedding still pushed through.

Their wedding day was a combination of well-wishes and sympathies from their friends and loved ones. The father, who remained by his deceased wife, missed his son’s wedding altogether. The groom understood, and did not bear grudges. Perhaps statistics would tell that the position they were in was one-in-a-million. Some perceived the situation as bad luck, but to some, it was still a blessing.

***

If their marriage was dictated by fortune, then they would not have celebrated their 27th wedding anniversary this year. Two years ago, on 11 January 2011, my parents celebrated their silver wedding anniversary. They had no intentions of having a grand commemoration of the occasion, but Fr. Gerry, a family priest friend, insisted that they—at least—make it special. Much to his persuasion, the two were convinced that they have a renewal of vows. My dear readers, if you may recall, this was the time when we were faced with an adversity. My parents had little to spare to grace the occasion, but with the mercy of God and help from some friends, they were able to invite a few people to serve as witnesses to their reunification.

There is not enough words to express how much I admire the relationship of my parents. Through the years, they have remained the best of friends and exercised teamwork, not only in their marriage, but in building a family. They are not perfect, but many (including my friends) saw them as ideal couple. Mom and Dad have occasional bickering, but they know how to deal with their problems on their own without neither of us, children, getting involved (unless we are the subject of their concern). In the 27 years of their marriage, not once did I see my father lift a finger at my mother nor did he raise his voice to prove a point. When the going gets tough, they communicate.

What I admire most about Mom and Dad is the fact that they live a prayerful life. It is not just about going to church every Sunday to receive the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. It is putting God in the center of their lives, above all things. If I may share, my mother had been praying for her future husband since she was in high school. She asked God that she be given a man she deserves to be her lifetime partner. Dad was an answered prayer. In abundance of supplications, they offer thanksgiving and praise. In times of trouble and uncertainty, they seek comfort in God’s compassion. They pray together.

With everything that our family had been through, we remain grateful. Thankful for the gift of life, and appreciative of whatever we have or we don’t have. Through the years, we have learned the best lessons life has to offer. When we fall, we get back up. When you’re up there, however, you don’t forget where you came from. Mom and Dad has found a medium to share God’s blessings. This may not be in the form of wealth, but this is considered more valuable to most people. Through the Family Life Ministry in our parish, they are able to serve God by giving other soon-to-wed couples like Miggy and I an overview of what marriage is like. By sharing their first-hand experiences, they are able to influence future husbands and wives to nourish and sustain their married life together. They give back through evangelism.

***

You know, sometimes, coming from a family with a healthy relationship and disposition in life can be a disadvantage, too. You tend not to understand other people when their situation is so much different from yours. You don’t get why there are broken families when every thing can be dealt with sans the damage. How can one say you’re only being idealistic when what you have in front of you is reality?

I write this in honor of my parents. I need not wait for another 25 years to recognize them as wonderful persons, together and individually. They deserve all the praises as a married couple, as parents, and as other people’s friends. Eventually, my brothers and I are going to settle down, and start our own family. I am heading towards that direction in a few months, and being the eldest child, I am not worried about my parents. I am certain that even when they’re old and gray, they will remain the same loving couple as they were the first time they laid their eyes on each other.

If these aren’t enough reasons to believe in marriage, I don’t know what is.

P. S. Below are photos from their 27th wedding anniversary celebration at TAO YUAN Restaurant in Resorts World Manila.

Mom and Dad
Cantonese-style Fresh Sunken Shrimp at TAO YUAN Restaurant
Wedding Anniversary Cake from Red Ribbon
Happy 27th Wedding Anniversary, Mom and Dad!
Yang Chow Fried Rice at TAO YUAN Restaurant
Mom and Dad
Szechuan-style Spicy Beef at TAO YUAN Restaurant
Sichuan Hot and Sour Soup at TAO YUAN Restaurant
Roi, Jae, and Miggy

Can’t Hardly Wait!

18 February 2013
Personal
7 Comments

In my recent post on Sonny and Kach’s wedding, I mentioned that among us close girl friends, only Rivka and Laviel were missing-in-action. Rivka badly wants to come home on their wedding day, but she got caught up with her work schedule, thus her absence during the wedding. Laviel, however, was already in town, but he was too shy to go by himself since Rivka couldn’t make it. Although we understand the circumstances they were in at the time, we thought that it would have been more fun if they were around.

Rivka has really planned on coming home to pick Laviel up since the newlyweds are finally settling down in Doha, Qatar. It had been a difficult deliberation for the two because both are gainfully employed in their respective careers, but Laviel gave way, and gave up his job in Singapore to be with his wife. I may not know the exact details of their decision, but I really admired Laviel for this bold move. He must really love his wife, doesn’t he?

Anyway, a week later, Rivka came home. She was supposed to spend her entire two-week vacation leave in Manila, but thought she would just split it in half—a week here and another week when they return to Qatar. She wanted to dedicate the rest of her break to her husband. It was actually the first time that we were complete her in the Philippines, thus we tried our best to meet up despite the time constraint for Rivka and Laviel. Due to last-minute arrangements and prior commitments, Anj, Mafi/Onat, Sweet/Edong were not able to confirm their attendance.

Miggy and I were in Tagaytay with my family that Saturday. Initially, we wanted to meet there, but since we’re incomplete, we decided to get together somewhere else. In one of our random mall dates, Miggy and I tried this new Japanese restaurant called Kenji Tei Ramen House in Alabang Town Center.

Source: http://www.facebook.com/kenjitei

Since we had settled in meeting in the Alabang area, Miggy and I recommended that we have dinner there to which my friends agreed with. The first ones to arrive were the newlyweds, Sonny and Kach. I must say the two looked radiant and fresh though they haven’t left for their honeymoon. Rivka and Laviel arrived soon after our orders arrived. We missed each other so much that we failed to take pictures at the restaurant!

After dinner, we then moved to The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf for desserts and some hot drinks. My newlywed friends relived and shared the memories from their respective wedding days. They gave us tips on wedding preparations that they thought would be helpful since Miggy and I are pretty much hands on in planning our wedding.

Source: http://www.adventuresofmoonchild.com

Laviel and Rivka
Kach and Sonny
Sonny/Kach, Laviel/Rivka, Miggy/Jae
Miggy/Jae, Sonny/Kach, Laviel/Rivka

There was a time when we, ladies, separated from the men to discuss about ”girl stuff”. Funny, the men actually talked about wedding preparations. Laviel and Sonny, being once in the situation Miggy’s currently in, gave the latter advice in dealing with wedding-related stress. According to them, more often than not, it is the bride who makes the final decision on anything related to the wedding. This, perhaps, was the three men’s common denominator, thus they got along pretty well that night—not to mention it was the first time Miggy and Laviel had met.

Despite the time constraint, we enjoyed our mini-reunion. It sure would have been more memorable if the other girls (and their significant others) made it.  We’re happy for Laviel and Rivka who are finally moving in together as husband and wife in Qatar. Finally, their long distance relationship has come to an end. They are, on the other hand, very much looking forward to our wedding this year! Soon, we’ll all be hanging out as married couples, and we can’t hardly wait!

Related articles

The More The Merrier

17 February 2013
Personal
3 Comments

If you thought I was done posting about last year’s holidays, you’re wrong. Though I’ve cited this earlier, last Christmas has got to be my most memorable one so far. If you remember my post on Dad’s high school friends in October, I mentioned that they were planning on having another Christmas party in our house. It was a tradition for so many years, but had to skip in 2010 because of the situation our family were in at the time.

We started doing this with only the immediate members of the family. Every year, a different family will host the party. Every one would contribute by bringing in food and drinks for everyone to share. Eventually, the idea of creating a program with parlor games was added to the occasion. As in the food and drinks, each family are expected to prepare games for other families to participate at. More often than not, these games become the main event during the party.

You know your family is growing when every year, the elder children bring their respective partners to the party. This was never an issue; in fact, we welcome them as new members of the family. Last year was my first time to bring a significant other to the occasion, and so did my youngest brother. Miggy and Jan were introduced to everyone as my fiancé and Kevin’s girlfriend, respectively. Yes, it was also the first time that we announced about our engagement and upcoming wedding.

This year, my Dad and his friends assigned color dress codes for each family. The Mances arrived in purple, while the Buenaventuras wore their favorite color, red. Being solid Thomasians, our family decided that we wear yellow. The Tallaras, the biggest family in the group, came in two different colors; the women were in pink, while the men wore blue. It seemed to me that we all attended a Family Day affair with all the color-coded shirts, but I won’t deny the fact that this made an impact especially during the main event: The Games. Why not let the pictures below speak for themselves?

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Last Christmas was epic. It was evident that Miggy and Jan enjoyed taking part in the games, and just be like kids at heart. I appreciate that Miggy was warmly welcomed into the family though we haven’t gotten married yet. Also, I have always perceived him to be the serious type, so seeing him having fun with the rest of us makes the occasion even more special. Well, at least for me.

Related articles

A Blue-tiful Wedding

15 February 2013
Personal
6 Comments

Two of my college best friends got married last year. The first of which was in September where I took part as member their entourage. Kach and Sonny got married three days after Christmas. Although I was not part of Kach’s bridal party, I was even more excited to attend their wedding because I have Miggy as my date. It was a blessing in disguise that Miggy arrived two weeks prior to their wedding, so I didn’t have to sulk all night just because I had no escort.

Before Miggy left the US, I told him to bring formal clothes (i.e., dress shirt, trousers, dress shoes) in anticipation for the wedding. I, on the other hand, was torn between wearing a nice cocktail dress or a jumpsuit. A day after Christmas, Miggy and I went to the mall to unwind. I had no intention of buying a new dress since I seldom wear such, but Miggy coerced me into buying one since it’s a formal occasion. I tried quite a number of dresses from Forever21, but that quarter-sleeved indigo lace dress from Dorothy Perkins caught Miggy’s attention. It was an afternoon wedding, so we began to get ready after lunch. I have never seen Miggy in a semi-formal ensemble other than his army combat uniforms (ACUs). He does own class As (worn on special events), but it’s different when men are dressed for the occasion.

The wedding ceremony was held at St. Andrew The Apostle Parish in Makati City. Miggy and I were lucky to arrive at the church just in the nick of time. We were already pulling up the parking lot when we saw members of the entourage lined up at the church’s entrance for the procession. A few minutes later two of my friends who were part of the entourage arrived and left us with their things to look after to. Among us group of friends, only Rivka missed Kach and Sonny’s wedding because of work. We were, however, updating her via BBM, making her feel as if she’s actually there. St. Andrew The Apostle Parish looks a lot like the Good Shepherd Parish near Miggy’s house. Unlike most churches, it was built in a circular form. It didn’t have a long aisle like that in cathedrals, but there was enough room for guests, not to mention that it was air-conditioned.

Source: hahalat.wordpress.com

Source: http://www.buditandpepe.com

Kach and Sonny’s wedding theme was Winter Wonderland with blue, white, and silver as their color palette. Kach was stunning in her wedding gown with embellishments in her upper bodice. The female members of the entourage wore blue long dresses with wide silver ribbon band as accent. Sonny donned a suit and tie ensemble while other men were in their Barong Tagalog. Kach and Sonny had quite a number of members of the bridal party because they both come from big families.

The Newlyweds with The Entourage
The Soon-to-Weds
With Anj, Mafi, and Onat

The reception immediately followed at Wack Wack Golf & Country Club. Miggy and I did not have any trouble going to the church because the directions from Google Maps was pretty accurate. Their reception venue, however, was beyond my familiarity of the city, so I asked a friend to assist us on getting there after the ceremony. To cut the long story short, we arrived at the reception venue an hour later because we were following someone else’s lead. He took the longer route when we could have gotten in half the time it took us to get there.

Miggy and I were impressed with their reception venue setup. The blue and white mood lights brought life into their Winter Wonderland theme. Who says you can’t have a white Christmas in the Philippines? Our favorite element in the reception was the message tree made of twigs. It wasn’t flashy, but it caught our attention. Perhaps its simplicity made it stand out from the crowd. According to Kach, the trees were their do-it-yourself project.

Reception Styling at Wack Wack Golf & Country Club
The Newlyweds
The Newlyweds
The Newlyweds
The Newlyweds
Reception Styling at Wack Wack Gold & Country Club

One of the highlights during the reception was when Kach burst into tears during their father-daughter dance. Though expected, I hardly see Kach this way because she’s always been bubbly since I met her. Kach was the first to marry in their family; perhaps the reason for the sudden rush of emotions. While waiting for us to be called in for the photo op with the newlyweds, we decided to make use of their photo booth. Their photo booth, Wacky Strike, is owned by Kach’s sister, Bel. They are fairly new in the business, and since Miggy and I were impressed with their service during our friends’ wedding, we decided to get them for our wedding, too!

Source: http://www.facebook.com/WackyStrike

Source: http://www.facebook.com/WackyStrike

Kach is the eldest in our group, but we must admit that we didn’t really see her as the marrying type during our college days. In fact, all of us teased Kach—Who would have thought?—when she finally got married. She has matured enough through the years, perhaps honed by life’s experience. From the time I met Sonny, I knew she’s in good hands. I’m very happy for my friends, and wish them both an even happier married and family life.

The Newlyweds Showing Off Their Wedding Bands
The Newlyweds
The Bride with College Friends
With Maria, Sweet, Emma, and Eunice
The Bride with Her Girl Friends
The Newlyweds with Their Girl Friends

Got Time?

1 February 2013
Books
1 Comment

It’s the first of February, and just like in January, I don’t know how to feel about welcoming the second month of the year. Miggy is going back to the US in ten days, and I’m feeling this weird mix of emotions as the days go by. It kind of feel depressing that his two-month vacation is almost over, but at the same time, it means that we’re two months closer to our wedding day. Miggy has noticed that I’ve been restless and temperamental lately, and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out why. On one occasion, he suddenly uttered:

You know, I’m going to miss you more this time because I’ve gotten used to being with you every single day, but at least I’m going to marry you in T minus ten months! Isn’t that enough reason to look forward to the next time we see each other?

You see, Miggy isn’t the type who would say random things as such, but I did feel better afterwards. All of a sudden, he’s sensitive to my feelings, and it’s overwhelming. Perhaps it’s one thing he’s learned through time, especially now that we’re planning our own wedding.

We’ve accomplished so much during his vacation leave, and it’s something we’re both really proud of. After all, it’s Miggy’s main agenda to extend whatever help he may offer that is wedding-related. My mother would always remind us to savor the moment, something she believes we’ll miss when the actual wedding is over. I must say that we both enjoyed planning together in the process.

Other than worrying about Miggy leaving, I’m concerned about going through all other wedding-related stuff by myself. I can’t help but consult my timeline every now and then to check if we’re right on track. Every day has become a so much to do, so little time affair until I read The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom.

The Time Keeper
by Mitch Albom
Ratings: ★★★★★

This is a fictional account of an elderly bearded man, dressed in a robe, and carries an hourglass—what we know now as Father Time. Over a million years ago, man knows nothing about day and night, phases of the moon, seconds, minutes, and hours. They lived by without having to worry about time, until Dor became obsessed with numbers.

Dor married his childhood friend, Ali, and had their own family. Both of them did not come from a well-off family, and back in the day, the family only lives separately from their in-laws if they have enough wealth to do so. In Dor’s case, they had no choice but to live with his parents. When Dor’s obsession with measuring time—he’s invented the sundial, means to determine the moon phases, ability to tell day from night—became worse, it came to a point that they (Dor and Ali) were banished from their homeland. With that, they had to leave their children to Dor’s parents’ custody.

“Soon man will count all his days, and then smaller segments of the day, and then smaller still—until the counting consumes him, and the wonder of the world he has been given is lost.”
― Mitch Albom, The Time Keeper

Dor and Ali lived miles away from where their family did, and their lives have been miserable since. One day, Ali caught an illness, and Dor failed to save her. Dor’s obsession with numbers cost the life of his wife, and he regretted that all his life.

Never had the need for sleep nor did he age through the years, Dor was banished to a cave by God for centuries. He was compelled to the voices of all who come after him, seeking for more time. One day, he’s succumbed to illustrating symbols and shapes in the walls of the cave, something to remind him of the things and people he’d lost. God eventually granted him his freedom, provided he must complete a mission: he must teach two earthly people the essence of God’s greatest gift.

From the pool of pleading voices he hears endlessly, he picked out two distinct ones to be his mission, Sarah and Victor. Sarah wanted kill herself from being brokenhearted, while Victor desired to fast it forward to his dying day in order to prove that man can defy old age and death. Two people. Different stories. One lesson to learn.

“There is a reason God limits man’s days.”
― Mitch Albom, The Time Keeper

I did have realizations myself as I went through the pages of this book. As I’ve mentioned earlier, since the 365-day countdown to our wedding began, every day has been a so much to do, so little time affair. I tend to worry so much about the stuff that I failed to do even when I’ve already reminded myself of them beforehand, as well as those that are yet to happen. I have focused so much on the things I have no control of that I fall short in taking in the good that’s been happening around me.

“We all yearn for what we have lost. But sometimes, we forget what we have.”
― Mitch Albom, The Time Keeper

I don’t intend to kill myself nor do I wish to preserve my body in order to live years beyond my normal existence, but I sometimes tend to think 24 hours a day are not enough. One can actually do so much in a day, and it’s rewarding to realize that you’ve made the most out of what you’ve given. It is a shame to have been ungrateful of God’s greatest gift, and I think it’s just about time to learn to live in the moment.

“There was always a quest for more minutes, more hours, faster progress to accomplish more in each day. The simple joy of living between summers was gone.”
― Mitch Albom, The Time Keeper

I highly recommend this book to people who tends to be like me in some ways. When you’re done reading, ask yourself this: Would you still wish for more time?

Related articles
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 458 other followers