Monday, September 16, 2002
My Cousin's Quick and Simple Wedding
I'm not that close to this cousin of mine, and on his Invitation I was listed as the Groomsman which I knew has got to be wrong. The best man?! I barely know this guy. I was supposed to be one of the abay's. Then my Aunt comes and my mom asks her "George is asking how did he become the Groomsman?" and then my Aunt responds "Because you said so and that he'd fit the role very well.".
My mom was probably puzzled. My mom never mentioned a request for anything about what my position was in this Wedding Ceremony. For all my mom cared, it was up to the Bride and Groom who would help make their wedding magical. My Aunt goes on thinking that my mom requested that I be the Best Man. It's absolutely not true.
I knew it was wrong and it was wrong later on.
Saturday morning. I wake up with a drift running in my head after being picked up from the Dorms late Friday night after I had returned from my Recollection in Batangas. Any kind of reminder of missing the mandatory "VPAPU" Birthday Bash made me feel bad. But I knew if I went from my Recollection straight to this heavy party by a swimming pool- then I would be unconscious for the wedding the following morning.
Not going was a good idea. It saved me the remaining energy I had left for this wedding.
I took a shower and suited up. My baggy dark blue-black formal pants and the Modif "Sky Blue" as my short-sleeved Camisachino. I wore the white Barong and felt like I was wearing a plastic bag. I hadn't worn any true barong's in ages and it felt weird at the same time traditional. "Hey, look at me, I'm All-Filipino over here!" was how I felt as we drove to my younger cousin's house in Tejero, Cavite.
He's 3rd Year HS and his dad, my Uncle, is part of the "Big 5 Alliance" as I like to tag in my mom's family. This "Big 5 Alliance" are the five who go out there and get a job and make themselves something unlike the other 6 brothers and sisters. Of the 10 other brothers and sisters my mom has, it's these other four that work. My Uncle, who went and lived in Madrid, spain. My other Uncle, who is now the eldest in the Family as of last November and lives in Naic, Cavite and advises my mom on issues lately. The younger Uncle, who is a Merchant Marine, and has two sons- one of which we were picking up for the Wedding because he's one of the Abay's. And a wise older Uncle who recently moved to San Diego, California and starting a "new life" there.
My cousin's name is Robin, and both of us were in the proper Modif. Inside our open-aired Owner, we drove across the fields and plantations of Tanza and Naic and finally arrived at the church.
Wait. I thought it was a big church or at least a church. But it wasn't. It was this hidden little Chapel no larger then my house in Tanza. We parked and next to this small little chapel was a large Construction project trying to erect some building. So the sounds of hammering and cement trucks was apparant.
I hopped off with Robin and soon the "Axis Powers" arrived via a jeepnee. Out came my other cousins... those I used to be close to before but with all the bullshit lately it has been scrambled and our relationships erased. We headed off into the small little chapel and waited for the ceremony to begin. About 30 or 40 people. This whole wedding, sorry to say, was totally "on-the-spot". Yes they had the decorations, but the flow of it was rough.
I knew I wasn't the Groomsman and when this fat lady called for "who's the abay for cutting the ribbon?!" I gladly got in line first with this very very young girl. She was probably Grade VI or First Year HS I don't know. I felt a bit insulted and knew I should be partnered up with at least someone who looks older, but then a part of me said: "Who cares! What's important is that your cousin Kuya Marlon gets married and he is happy.".
That thought expressed my way of thinking till the wedding was over.
The Best Man was someone more of age with my older cousin. My mom, still thinking I was the Groomsman, lodged a complaint while the Best Man was called to get in line. I signalled my mom to surrender and that it was alright. I don't deserve to be the best man and it's my Aunt's problem for mis-communication or mis-planning. Not ours.
So yes I went to cut the ribbon with this young girl, and just smiled and sat down to wherever location it was. Believe it or not, that same fat lady directed the whole thing as it went. It was like running a rehearsal but it was the real thing. At the same time, the church people or whoever screwed up the Procession or opening march by playing the wrong music. They were playing the "Ending" music of a Wedding after the couple got married. Poor cousin of mine.
I cut the ribbon and opened the ceremony. Son of the Alliance Robin took charge of lighting up the Candles. Axis R-- and M-- took over the Veil and Chain or whatever.
Afterwards a series of picture taking took place. This took quite a while. Once I was finished I went on the outside facing the Construction Project "next door" and Robin joined me. We had some catching up to do. He goes to St. Agustin Private School in Tanza. The premiere Private School of my hometown, and the one I would have gone to if it wearn't for Atheneum in Noveleta, Cavite back in my High School years.
A caravan was afterwards and across more plantations and sunny weather we arrived almost 30 minutes later someplace else in Naic. Some kind of "settlement" in the middle of a plantation. We parked and Robin and I, still in our formal suits... walked together down some eskinita (small road) to where a large firework explosion was heard. It rocked people back and I couldn't care less.
The traditional Wedding Reception setup. Semi "Street Children" everywhere looking at the delicious food available on several platters inside the Bride and Groom's "U-Table" or Tent. This tent was lined up with branches of Palm which formed the walls. The roofing was only a tent piece, which at one part flew open sending dirty rain water down over two or three Ninang's across from us. I looked at Robin and thanked God at the same time it didn't happen to us.
Wearing the Barong and being a part of this wedding was worth it as we had the chance to eat first, get the better served food, etc. However, it was steaming underneath the Barong I was wearing and the weather was getting even warmer. While I was eating, some guy passed by and handed me a plastic of three pictures. I was surprised and didn't expect some pictures this guy took from the Wedding earlier would have been developed already.
The first thing that came to mind was this blog. "Perfect. No need to develop and wait. I've got a picture to scan and place in my blog!".
My mom bought the three pictures and I was content. I got pictures taken of me in a Barong and at a Wedding. I ate a good meal, and my cousin and his newly made wife were happy. What could be better?
We left moments after we ate and reversed what we did earlier by dropping cousin Robin and my Uncle in Tejero. I asked to stop by McDo Tanza and on using the drive-thru to order a nice Sundae McDip Chocolate and a refreshing Lg. Orange Juice.
"Congratulations Kuya Marlon and your wife Ate Sally! As for me, I'll resume my llife now."
I'm not that close to this cousin of mine, and on his Invitation I was listed as the Groomsman which I knew has got to be wrong. The best man?! I barely know this guy. I was supposed to be one of the abay's. Then my Aunt comes and my mom asks her "George is asking how did he become the Groomsman?" and then my Aunt responds "Because you said so and that he'd fit the role very well.".
My mom was probably puzzled. My mom never mentioned a request for anything about what my position was in this Wedding Ceremony. For all my mom cared, it was up to the Bride and Groom who would help make their wedding magical. My Aunt goes on thinking that my mom requested that I be the Best Man. It's absolutely not true.
I knew it was wrong and it was wrong later on.
Saturday morning. I wake up with a drift running in my head after being picked up from the Dorms late Friday night after I had returned from my Recollection in Batangas. Any kind of reminder of missing the mandatory "VPAPU" Birthday Bash made me feel bad. But I knew if I went from my Recollection straight to this heavy party by a swimming pool- then I would be unconscious for the wedding the following morning.
Not going was a good idea. It saved me the remaining energy I had left for this wedding.
I took a shower and suited up. My baggy dark blue-black formal pants and the Modif "Sky Blue" as my short-sleeved Camisachino. I wore the white Barong and felt like I was wearing a plastic bag. I hadn't worn any true barong's in ages and it felt weird at the same time traditional. "Hey, look at me, I'm All-Filipino over here!" was how I felt as we drove to my younger cousin's house in Tejero, Cavite.
He's 3rd Year HS and his dad, my Uncle, is part of the "Big 5 Alliance" as I like to tag in my mom's family. This "Big 5 Alliance" are the five who go out there and get a job and make themselves something unlike the other 6 brothers and sisters. Of the 10 other brothers and sisters my mom has, it's these other four that work. My Uncle, who went and lived in Madrid, spain. My other Uncle, who is now the eldest in the Family as of last November and lives in Naic, Cavite and advises my mom on issues lately. The younger Uncle, who is a Merchant Marine, and has two sons- one of which we were picking up for the Wedding because he's one of the Abay's. And a wise older Uncle who recently moved to San Diego, California and starting a "new life" there.
My cousin's name is Robin, and both of us were in the proper Modif. Inside our open-aired Owner, we drove across the fields and plantations of Tanza and Naic and finally arrived at the church.
Wait. I thought it was a big church or at least a church. But it wasn't. It was this hidden little Chapel no larger then my house in Tanza. We parked and next to this small little chapel was a large Construction project trying to erect some building. So the sounds of hammering and cement trucks was apparant.
I hopped off with Robin and soon the "Axis Powers" arrived via a jeepnee. Out came my other cousins... those I used to be close to before but with all the bullshit lately it has been scrambled and our relationships erased. We headed off into the small little chapel and waited for the ceremony to begin. About 30 or 40 people. This whole wedding, sorry to say, was totally "on-the-spot". Yes they had the decorations, but the flow of it was rough.
I knew I wasn't the Groomsman and when this fat lady called for "who's the abay for cutting the ribbon?!" I gladly got in line first with this very very young girl. She was probably Grade VI or First Year HS I don't know. I felt a bit insulted and knew I should be partnered up with at least someone who looks older, but then a part of me said: "Who cares! What's important is that your cousin Kuya Marlon gets married and he is happy.".
That thought expressed my way of thinking till the wedding was over.
The Best Man was someone more of age with my older cousin. My mom, still thinking I was the Groomsman, lodged a complaint while the Best Man was called to get in line. I signalled my mom to surrender and that it was alright. I don't deserve to be the best man and it's my Aunt's problem for mis-communication or mis-planning. Not ours.
So yes I went to cut the ribbon with this young girl, and just smiled and sat down to wherever location it was. Believe it or not, that same fat lady directed the whole thing as it went. It was like running a rehearsal but it was the real thing. At the same time, the church people or whoever screwed up the Procession or opening march by playing the wrong music. They were playing the "Ending" music of a Wedding after the couple got married. Poor cousin of mine.
I cut the ribbon and opened the ceremony. Son of the Alliance Robin took charge of lighting up the Candles. Axis R-- and M-- took over the Veil and Chain or whatever.
Afterwards a series of picture taking took place. This took quite a while. Once I was finished I went on the outside facing the Construction Project "next door" and Robin joined me. We had some catching up to do. He goes to St. Agustin Private School in Tanza. The premiere Private School of my hometown, and the one I would have gone to if it wearn't for Atheneum in Noveleta, Cavite back in my High School years.
A caravan was afterwards and across more plantations and sunny weather we arrived almost 30 minutes later someplace else in Naic. Some kind of "settlement" in the middle of a plantation. We parked and Robin and I, still in our formal suits... walked together down some eskinita (small road) to where a large firework explosion was heard. It rocked people back and I couldn't care less.
The traditional Wedding Reception setup. Semi "Street Children" everywhere looking at the delicious food available on several platters inside the Bride and Groom's "U-Table" or Tent. This tent was lined up with branches of Palm which formed the walls. The roofing was only a tent piece, which at one part flew open sending dirty rain water down over two or three Ninang's across from us. I looked at Robin and thanked God at the same time it didn't happen to us.
Wearing the Barong and being a part of this wedding was worth it as we had the chance to eat first, get the better served food, etc. However, it was steaming underneath the Barong I was wearing and the weather was getting even warmer. While I was eating, some guy passed by and handed me a plastic of three pictures. I was surprised and didn't expect some pictures this guy took from the Wedding earlier would have been developed already.
The first thing that came to mind was this blog. "Perfect. No need to develop and wait. I've got a picture to scan and place in my blog!".
My mom bought the three pictures and I was content. I got pictures taken of me in a Barong and at a Wedding. I ate a good meal, and my cousin and his newly made wife were happy. What could be better?
We left moments after we ate and reversed what we did earlier by dropping cousin Robin and my Uncle in Tejero. I asked to stop by McDo Tanza and on using the drive-thru to order a nice Sundae McDip Chocolate and a refreshing Lg. Orange Juice.
"Congratulations Kuya Marlon and your wife Ate Sally! As for me, I'll resume my llife now."
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