MANILA, Philippines - Quite a number of people cried at our wedding and during the reception, not for the usual sentimental reasons but because while we were celebrating the beginning of the rest of our lives, Noel’s mom, Mama Lulu Batac-Castro, was fighting for her life at the hospital.
Midway through our wedding planning, Mama Lulu was diagnosed with cancer. At that point, we considered postponing our wedding until hopefully, she got better. But she insisted that it was her dream to see us finally get married.
Mama Lulu did get to watch the wedding from her hospital room through the webcam we set up from a laptop we hooked up from the church and the reception.
It was an unforgettable ceremony at Santuario de San Antonio, where all my friends walked down the aisle wearing clothes designed by my best friend Cor Sunglao. Veluz Reyes did my wedding dress while Frederick Peralta did Noel’s suit — almost indulgent luxuries for me and Noel, given that he is the type to choose the cheapest supplier there is. But for this wedding, dream trumps cost.
Before the reception, Noel told everyone, “You all know what we’re going through right now. But Mama Lulu has only one order for the day: Have fun!”
There were sniffles, but everyone followed Mama Lulu’s order.
The Manila Pen’s Rigodon Ballroom was filled with such beautiful people — friends, colleagues, and family members who have been with us through these years. Many of them know our love story. Probably some of them are still surprised that Noel and I fell in love. Noel has always been the simple, responsible, quiet type. I’m the kikay, happy-go-lucky, let’s-talk-till-the-sun-rises type of person. But we just clicked. We met when I was still working with a catsup brand. I was in marketing, he was in sales. What started out as office meetings soon extended into movie dates and dinners, and soon, Sunday Masses with my family.
After four years of dating, he finally proposed. He went to my house, put a chocolate doughnut on a plate, placed the ring in the middle of the hole, and asked me to eat merienda. I was laughing because it was so Noel — yup, the ever kuripot guy who didn’t even think of buying Krispy Kreme but opted instead for Dunkin Donuts! At least it was chocolate, my favorite, plus the ring was really pretty. Come to think of it, I still would’ve said yes even if the doughnut itself served as the ring. Yes, even if it was just a Dunkin’ Donut because Noel is the man I’d like to spend the rest of my life with. He’s kind, caring, loving. And best of all, I know how much he loves his family. I’ve seen how he has put his family’s needs before his own, and how much he has sacrificed for the people he loves.
Mama Lulu would’ve loved to be at the wedding. She would’ve been proud to see how we were able to put it together so beautifully. We couldn’t have done it without Jojit Dy of the 3rd Party, our wedding planner who kept us perked up during the process and reminded us to enjoy the wedding despite the circumstances; the beautiful flower and table arrangements by Teddy Manuel who kept everything consistent with our New York theme; Gela Laurel for making sure we looked radiant; Dino Lara (photographer) and Mervin Go (videographer) who made sure we looked great in our photos and video; our sponsors who accepted the responsibility of being our guides in this new journey we’d be taking together; our family — Noel’s Nanay Ester, his brothers Paul and Allan; our extended family members and friends who made a conscious effort to keep the mood happy throughout the day and night; and my parents Papa Jun and Mama Nela who have always showered me with so much love and now have accepted a son to love as their own.
My wedding was filled with so many emotions. The amount of tears shed made it bittersweet, but the overflowing love we felt until the wee hours of the morning overpowered the bitter by leaps and bounds.
To this day, we still miss Mama Lulu. She passed away two days after our wedding. We know she is happy in heaven now. And happy that our dream wedding came true.