musings&mem'ries

Wednesday, 18 June 2014

The first wedding in the family

The generation of my children and their first degree cousins (my sister’s kids) recently had the first marriage – my sis’ eldest daughter, Aya. It was the event that brought my family across the Pacific Ocean and in effect reunited two families that have been separated for quite a while.

I was not the official photographer for this occasion, neither was my son – JP from whose camera most of the photos here were taken, but since the official album is not yet out, I might as well publish some shots to remind us of the fun that this wedding turned out to be.

the venue was at Park Place Special Events, a beautiful spot nestled in the almond and pistachio fields at Shafter City north of Bakersfield.

a satellite shot shows the venue and the neat rows of

pistachio trees surrounding it

a garden of eden ambiance

the father of the bride. he seemed so relaxed and confident even if he was just at the threshold of giving away a precious daughter. honestly i would be the exact opposite if i were in his shoes.

the gorgeous representatives of Queen Sirikit

is this some kind of pre-nuptial ritual or are they
setting up a scene?

practicing?

i can't get over these beautiful ladies

the thailand delegation in full force

the bride's mom so composed and beautiful

her son in a display of elegance and machismo

hahaha... that's the bride's uncle soaking in
the sun like a withering solar panel

the groom nervously contemplating his situation.
it's now or never!

the supporting cast outfitted by the friar tux shop
at coffee road

yeah... that's her again - the bride's mom with a smile
that should be the groom's cue that all is well

grandpa's lil' tyke making sure the bride's path
is smelling and looking good with fresh petals

here comes the bride and her dad. a sight that
invoked nostalgia and endearment

"careful there pop, you might trip on your swollen bunions"

"we are here today to witness the union..."

"this is it kuya benny, ate aya aint no bibay no more"

no one can get near the couple at this point. this
wall of well-scrubbed sunburned backs ensures that

"c'mon bryan, say it... say it!!"

the veil

the cord sponsors with the cut piece of cord that
was mended in the nick of time.

the minister giving his blessing

i loved this part. it was actually the first time

i witnessed this handsome guy sing his heart out.

yeah... it's finally us - mr and mrs macam

the principal suspects... er, i mean - sponsors.

formal...

...wacky, and...

most wacky!

guests from texas, oklahoma and thailand

"you're finally mine... all mine"

"Jesus... this is for you!"

let's celebrate!

the bride's mom about to do a vegetarian dance.

aunt celie and her elbow macaroni... i mean - macarena and
ariel with his interpretation of the dance - pandanggo walang ilaw.

the last time i saw this mischievous smile was when
this guy was courting my sis

these ladies did what their bodies allowed them... a few
steps and some swaying - no jumping.

the younger generation had it all... yeeaahh!

"oh no, i think i just tore my pants!"

siblings doing their thing

benny and jongbama really know their moves

with Aya's wedding done, who will be the next?

p.s. this is a photo of the official photographer. hey girl, what's taking your album so long?

someone should invent a camera that doesn't flatten the nose.

Tuesday, 17 June 2014

A Comfort Zone

My family and I just got back from the best vacation in many years. This trip brought together two families of a brother and a sister.

The odds to beat before the reunion could be achieved were great and almost insurmountable and the realization that indeed we got the reunion done renders the word “awesome” an understatement.

Our parents Eleazar and Priscilla couldn't have been more proud of this accomplishment if only they were alive.

I have been searching for the best explanation as to why this reunion felt so smug and comfy and it finally dawned on me that the best ingredient in the success of this event is best described by the phrase “unconditional love.”

The past decade saw me and my family tested in the turbulent seas of abandonment, rejection, treason, distrust, insult, loss of employment and uncertainty of work tenure that created within us a sense of wariness and suspicion. Anyone knows that it is virtually difficult to thrive in such an atmosphere, and persistence in this environment saps out little by little the joy of life from within unless one is firmly anchored in God.

This vacation actually transported my family outside this hostile environment into the home of my sister - like being teleported outside a time-warp. A eutopia - so to speak. It was a place where I could go about my activities without the fear of ridicule, rejection or censure. A place where I knew I would be accepted and loved without condition and where everything I did would be accepted and appreciated.

But like the song says – “nothing good’s gonna last forever,” we had to end this 3-week vacation and pack our things for home. Even if it meant going back to a zone of harsh reality, we knew we had a full-tank of renewed energy and zest and the thought that a family across the ocean was watching out for us and offering daily prayers in our behalf is more than enough to keep us going for years to come.

Thank you Jesus for shining your unconditional love through my sister and her family.

Sunday, 15 June 2014

Enlightenment

I just got back from a trip of a lifetime to my sister’s part of the world.

It has been 11 years since she migrated with her family to a more developed country and the move was done when the kids were still in the grades and I was in the midst of a controversy that shook the foundations of our family.

We’ve been posting news to each other every now and then about our families, keeping each other updated with the kids’ growth and achievements, but we obviously left out the details about the issues that hinged on the controversy that I was embroiled in. Every now and then my sis would remind me not to be too vocal about it and not to tie her up to the issue in public. This of course was a nagging pain in my heart that I knew might be remedied by a trip to her turf.

Three weeks in her house and around her family has completely healed this pain. I had the first-hand chance to see how her kids have grown to love Jesus with all their hearts. Their enthusiasm in leading praise and worship has moved me to tears more than once.

I have also witnessed that my sis and her husband are very active in small group bible studies and participation in the church choir. I also joined them for Sunday church service at their church – the Valley Baptist Church at Bakersfield.

I thank God for shining his light of truth into the hearts of each member of my family and for giving enlightenment to our searching souls. Jesus – you will always be the center of our lives.

this was taken after the church service

Still growing at 58

At this brittle age my dad stopped growing… I mean - he literally stopped breathing. The credit for this heart-stopping event goes to the Aedes Aegypti mosquito – the vector of Dengue Hemorrhagic fever. For me now to be at this defining point in my dad’s life - and death, is quite awe-inspiring.

“Growing” in the truest sense of the word includes growing old, growing wiser and growing balder as everyone can clearly see.

The year that ushered the 58^th milestone in my life was full of fun and blessings. My previous blog entries duly recorded each reunion, each dive and each family event that helped shape what that year was like. This piece will just summarize how God graciously led me through another year in my life.

i team up with God's most awesome bible smuggler and some

German friends for a medical mission into Burma

and we get the rare chance of seeing to the needs of

some school children under the watchful eyes of the military

malapascua islands and the thresher sharks give me the

chance of a lifetime

reunion with high school best friends in Coron Palawan

the best dive expedition among the world war II ship

wrecks in Coron Palawan

i get to help organize the first-ever class reunion

from medical school in 31 years.

my frat meets up for dinner and we have fun reminiscing

and planning.

i get the chance to visit my aging aunts from both maternal and paternal sides of the family

my son and his fiance finally join me in running

my daughter and her band do a concert at the sundowners bar to raise funds for the typhoon victims in Leyte

Kailee - my granddaughter, moves up to the second

grade with the highest honors while her grandmom refuses

to grow old.

a three-week vacation to the US west coast...

...and a reunion with my sis' family caps the
year that brought me 58 years nearer to seeing my
Lord and Savior - Jesus. to him i give all the
honor, glory and praise.

Grandpa's lil' girl goes to America

At 7 years old this little kiddo is so blessed to have the opportunity to travel places. She has been to several Southeast Asian countries and cities already, but a trip to the “land of the free and the home of the brave” is the best that can happen to her at this young age.

Here are some photos that will show the fun that was hers and the places that she visited on the 3-week trip along Uncle Sam’s west coast.