[Gary Ramos, messenger/liaison assistant of our extended Law Office finally exchanged marital vows with his live-in partner, Rose Ann Cahigas, in Roman Catholic rites at the San Felipe Neri Church in Mandaluyong City, Metro-Manila. It was my first time to enter the San Felipe Neri Church which I learned was built by the Spaniards in 1863. I also learned that Mandaluyong City which is now dubbed as the TIGER CITY of the Philippines was formerly known as SAN FELIPE NERI. After I googled the INTERNET, I learned too that San Felipe Neri known in ITALY as FILIPPO ROMOLO NERI was also known as the APOSTLE OF ROME. Originally from Florence, when FILIPPO relocated to Rome, he began his ministy by laboring amongst the sick and poor which, in later life, gained him the aforesaid title of “Apostle of Rome”. He also ministered to the prostitutes of the city. In 1538 he entered into the home mission work for which he became famous; traveling throughout the city, seeking opportunities of entering into conversation with people, and of leading them to consider the topics he set before them. For seventeen years Filippo lived as a layman in Rome. Eventually, he was beatified on May 11, 1615 by Pope Paul V and later, canonized as as saint on March 12, 1622 by Pope Gregory VX. The cool December breeze made the surroundings inside the San Felipe Neri Church comfortably cool and the vocal renditions of songs sung by the baritone-voiced male Church singer made the atmosphere melodiously romantic. Gary’s wedding was actually a SURPRISE, as I was notified that I would be one of the TWENTY (20) PRINCIPAL SPONSORS; I think… just a couple of days before the date— and the invitation (in embossed lettering and golden trinkets) which showed me listed as one of the aforesaid SPONSORS was handed to me when I got invited to be NINONG. Ganyan si Gary…MATINIK at MADUNONG….he,he,he… CONGRATULATIONS GARY & ROSE ANN!!!]
Ang KASALANG aking dinaluhan,
Malamyos at maginaw ang kapaligiran;
Idinaos sa simbahan ng SAN FELIPE NERI,
Pagiisang-dibdib ni ROSE ANN at ni GARY.
Matapos ng isang-taong nilang pag-“live-in”,
Nagpakasal na rin, animo’y mga bituin;
Kumalembang ng husto mga antigong kampana,
Si GARY nama’y ala artistang naka-AMERKANA!
Uy! MINT GREEN pa mandin ang kurbata ni Gary,
Naku, baka sa KARBURO ay mapatabi;
At biglang MANILAW ang NEON-type na BOWTIE,
Mahinog, pumintog at maging BUTTERFLY!
Si ROSE ANN—ang belong puti’y napakahaba…
Halos si GARY ay di magkandaugaga;
Palagi nalang nyang binibilot ang belo,
Baka matapakan at may madulas — NAKU ISKANDALO!
Ang galing naman nung paring nagkasal,
PADRE RAMON MERINO ang kanyang pangalan;
Sa kanyang homilya at taimtim na pagdarasal,
Marami kaming bagong bagay na natutunan.
Isang bagay ang kanyang lubos na ipinagbando,
Ang DIYOS ang sentro ng lahat sa mundo;
Kaya ang mga mag-aasawa’y dapat idiin…
Pagmamahala’y palagiang damdamin!
Sa luma ngunit marangyang simbahang nung 1863 naitayo,
SAN FELIPE NERI ang unang ipinangalan sa bayan… yan ang payo;
Mapupulang “poinsettia” kinulapol sa altar,
Lalong kuminang sa mga matatangkad na Christmas trees, ang mga STAR!
Tinawag at itinanghal na APOSTOL NG ROMA,
Si SAN FELIPE’y naging patron noon ng mga may-sakit, mga dukha pati mga puta;
Karaniwang pulutong ng mga salat sa lipunan,
Kawangki ng hilatsa ng lipunan sa ating mahal na bayan!
Noong matapos na ang pagpapayo ni PADRE MERINO,
Matapos na sila’y parehong nag- “I DO”;
Aba laking gulat; biglang hinablot ang sarili nyang belo,
Nitong si ROSE ANN, animo’y nagmamadaling mag-KISSING kun todo!
O! ako naman ay naipareha sa seksing
KONSEHALA,
CHECHE ang ngalan…siya’y NINANG
ng dalawa;
NINONG din ako, KUMPADRE ang tawag ni CHECHE sa akin aniya,
Pero matapos ang KODAKAN sumibat na agad siya…
Baka kako may SESYON siyang dadaluhan,
Kaya’t nagmamadali matapos mag-paalam;
Sesyon sa munisipyo o baka kaya’y sesyon ng madyongan,
Sori KUMADRE!– Yan kasi ang usong sesyon sa bahay ng tatay kong “RETIRED ARMY MAN”!!!
