When God Answered Both Their Prayers: Daryl and Brenda

CEBU, Philippines - When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.

This famous line in Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan’s tandem movie – When Harry Met Sally – has probably struck a lot of the movie viewers of all ages, hoping and wishing that someday they would be able to start “spending the rest of their life” with that somebody. But for Daryl and Brenda, the famous date 11.11.11 became their chosen moment.

On a Friday afternoon, Daryl and Brenda walked down the aisle along with the entire entourage of family and friends on the boardwalk of Sabin Resort Hotel in Ormoc City. With the sun about to set in hues of red and orange and rain clouds also wanted to have a share of the skies, the ceremony officiated by Rev. Gulliver A. Babor, was momentarily stopped by rain showers. The ceremony was happily continued in the Rose Ballroom of the resort-hotel.

Nevertheless, this did not mar the beauty and solemnity of the ceremony as the two exchanged vows before God and the 160 guests who came from different parts of the country – Cagayan de Oro, Palawan and Manila, to name a few. Daryl, in his dashing suit, couldn’t contain his heart’s joy as tears streaked down his cheek when he said, “My dear mahal… I choose you to be my wife… you have filled my world with meaning… you are my heart and I cannot live without my heart… when God made you He was thinking of me.” And while gazing into each other’s eyes, Brenda, clad in a Ricci Lizaso creation, promised, “I will be there not only to help you, I will be your best friend and your steadfast lover. I will give you the highest respect and honor that you deserve.” 

After the ceremony, the couple and the guests enjoyed a sumptuous dinner and a wonderful reception program with friends and family members. There were lots of well wishes, beautiful and memorable songs, and everyone enjoyed the Gimik Tap Dance where the majority was dragged in circles around the ballroom while swaying to the tune of Awitin Mo at Isasayaw Ko led by the bride’s friends and the couple themselves.

Indeed, it was a night of happiness and love exuding not only from the Daryl and Brenda but among family and friends who celebrated with them on the night, when God truly answered their prayers. (Contributed by Marie Montecillo, www. bridesbestfriend.ph)

 (FREEMAN)