While both Trinka’s and Florian’s families are celebrating their nth marriage, my family has just had its first. And it was the first time that I finally finally got it, being able to witness firsthand a harried couple preparing for their big day.
So I think I should do this even if no one has asked me to do this. It’s not as if I havent been asked to do something already. I already read the responsorial psalm. I already helped with the creation of flaglets and ribbons for photos. tama na, give chance to others naman.
(haha)
Let’s see. Trinka and I have been friends since high school. Two new students in the sometimes unforgiving girl world of Miriam High School. But we found each other, two (too) loud Englishera’s who really just wanted to belong. And we found other friends. We even ended up playing football together. After college, Trinka would ask me to start reading her films, to help her out with her scripts.
We talked about how difficult it was to be an adult, to work, to assert ourselves without being villified. We laughed loudly.
There aren’t any embarrassing stories that will be shared because any story where she sounds silly, am the sillier one beside her. let me say though that there is real value in keeping friends from high school even if you’ve changed, even if you’ve lost things, people, selves, even if you can’t remember parts of the past decade, even if , even if.
Because they carry parts of you that you might have forgotten about. As you carry theirs too. Dreams that seem miniscule in the face of so much adulthood, or a story that you weren’t ready to share. Your lives are intertwined.
So there was no question that I would be here for the wedding. (That there was a chance to be at the beach and pretend that i had no responsibilities was a definite plus.)
At the ceremony, Trinka when you and Flo committed yourself to each other, when you said you are mine, and i am yours. You are saying to someone that you will never be alone, you will always belong to someone.
Marriages are such declarations of hope for me. After losing my mom, it’s always felt like I didn’t belong to anyone anyemore. So to do this, to decide to say I do, it’s so hopeful, even if even if.
But at the ceremony earlier, the community of the faithful (even if God has other names, other faces) who stood with you there were committing to you,too.
You belong to us, Trinka and Flo. Not that you both are beholden to us in any way. But that you both will never be alone, you both will always belong to someone, to many someones. Your happiness is ours too, and you will always have a part of your love with each of us. A story, a feeling, a song.
I love you both. Congratulations!
Mabuhay ang bagong kasal!