an opus for a friend

A friend, or friends for they are a husband and wife, asked me to write a narrative about her recent marriage, which i had the privilege to attend - actually the newly tied husband made the request first!
It was held in Bacolod City in March. I was not simply a spectator, i was part of the entourage as host for the reception held in L'Fisher Hotel. Guess what, i haven't done any of that in the past, but I guess I have to give it a try. After all, it's a request from a friend.

What do you say when you're invited to a wedding? In a faraway location, that is Bacolod City yet? Why, you say yes right away!
I've been to Bacolod, the city of smiles, only once and that was like eons ago. In that fleeting visit, for it was just a two-hour ferry stopover from Cagayan de Oro en route to Manila, the place impressed me so much that I told myself I should be back for a longer stay.
Now has come the opportunity. Honey and Waldee are two special people I hold in my heart. For some reasons, I was drawn to Honey, only to find out that we're connected by a common friend, which we didn't know until that moment of asking.
Waldee is one fellow that strikes me as a sincere person. He knows his way with his keyboard - I had the feeling if he didn't hook up with Honey, he would be married with this instrument.
That talent has been put to good, and still is, in our charismatic community.
Escaping work on a Friday, I hopped on the plane with three other companions and flew to Bacolod. The 5 a.m. flight gave us much time to lounge around before Saturday, the wedding day.
In just an hour, we were there at the city airport. Miles, our host, came and fetched us and off we went to painting the city red.
Bacolod is a fine city with wide roads and big hotels. We stayed though with Miles' place somewhere in the outskirts of the city proper.
Late Friday until early Saturday, more of us came, members of the community that is. It was a lot fun, there we were, away from stressing Manila. The weekend promised to give us thrills.
The wedding was held in a white-painted church, whose ambience strikes me as resembling Mary the Queen Parish near Xavier School in Greenhills.
It could be because nearby was a school whose clientele are like those at Xavier.
It is a beautiful church that is inside flooded by lights coming from the high and wide windows that have triangular designs.
The entourage came, the procession was towed in order and in no time at all, the bride was marching her way to the altar. At the altar, the groom was in cloud nine waiting for his lady.
I was at the loft with the choir members and from where we stood, the sight below was the loveliest one could see in a Saturday noon.
As the rituals unfolded, the choir let out its melodious voice of liturgical songs interspersed with songs of endearment and affectation.
It was hard to believe it was the same group that sings for our weekly prayer meetings!
Downstairs, Honey and Waldee were professing their eternal vows to each other. It was a sight you want to hold forever!
Before the rites were over, the presiding priest - why, he was Honey's college classmate! - handed the couple a specially crafted gift which I found out later were the framed letters that he asked the couple to write each other before the wedding.
Naturally, every one looked marvelous with their best Sunday dress. I myself was wearing a rented barong, which fitted me to a T, though the heat made the wear uncomfortable.
After the photo opportunities, it was at last time to go to reception - the grand L'Fisher Hotel on the city's main avenue, Lacson St. Memen and I skipped the photo session because we had to 'acclimatize' with the convention hall where the program for the reception will be held.
Tell you what, I was nursing a sore throat that day and choking in cough so I was a bit nervous.
From the outside, the hotel doesn't strike you as one perfect for a wedding reception. But go inside and see what it offers - it's a grand ballroom not unlike the ones you see in Metro Manila.
I knew right then the Department of Tourism has a reason for classifying the hotel as five-star.
The hall was awash with the colors of golden wood. At the main stage, well, the design was just as exquisite with Honey and Waldee's name emblazoned in the backdrop.
Memen and I settled at the right base of the stage and in no time the guests filed in - they had to come first, the couple and their entourage would make a cinematic entrance later.
Soon, the entourage came in and Honey and Waldee were now making the dramatic entrance - to the tune of "Moon River."
Near the left side of the stage was another stage, which served as the podium for singers and musicians playing for the couple that dreamy afternoon.
It was time for everyone to take a seat. I emboldened myself and came out with a rather deep baritone voice, which later thinned out to its natural pitch as my nervousness faded, to start the program along with Memen.
When in Rome do what the Romans do. So Memen and I, with obvious effort, blurted out to the audience "maayo nga gab-i" and some other obscure Hiligaynon words we memorized earlier.
The audience could only laugh.
The reception was all new. Honey and Waldee so designed it that it won't be like the ones we saw before. The program was different. Before each introduction was made, a guest would render a song. Madel, also from our community, was the main performer, along with Jet who front acts for Waldee's band Luna. JJ, a youngster neighbor of Waldee, played the violin.
Because of the long list of songs, I had the feeling we were attending a concert that was incidentally the venue for a wedding reception and not the other way around.
But it was worth it, hearing Madel belt out, no not liturgical songs, but novelty songs like Alicia Keys' "If I Ain't Got You" with clarity and skill.
Kingsley, Honey's college friend, was the other major performer in the hall. Call it coincidence but his plane was flying in to Manila on Honey's wedding day (he works as flight attendant) so he should be there at the ceremonies.
The centerpiece of the musical drama was Waldee getting up the 'concert' podium to render a song for his love. It was supposed to be a surprise number for her, but we were more surprised to see that it didn't surprise her at all!
Waldee did "A Song for You" originally performed by the great Ray Charles. Of course, Waldee was a no Ray Charles but he was doing the keyboard as he was singing. Move over, Don Moen!
Soon, there was an audio-video presentation, an opus that the couple themselves painstakingly put together, chronicling their early days as a couple in love.
The pictures said it all - two people full of happiness and contentment as they are embraced in each other's love.
I'll let you in on a little secret - we did some pictorials for this presentation, in the green and refreshing gardens of UP Diliman.
Honey and Waldee looked as fresh as the dew, despite having to make model-mannerisms to make it look like the photos were done by a pro.
And the music, or the scoring, if i get it right. Waldee knew how to select the right songs. They were breezy, preppy, soulful or wistful, depending on the mood of the subjects in the photos.
What I like in weddings is that family and friends get to have a chance to greet the newlyweds and throw in some precious advice. Friends and classmates were given their time, Waldee's mom had her moment as well.
We caught Honey's dad shedding a tear, or was he only misty eyed?, as he felt Honey's embrace in their moment together.
Honey's dad had a stroke a few months back but he's still able - perhaps he'd never thought he'd see her sweet Honey on her wedding day.
What daddy would never desire that?
After the songs and the ceremonies, everyone was treated to a sumptuous early dinner. It was free for all at the buffet table as everyone took their fill.
As customary in weddings, there will be the bouquet throwing and the garter wearing - the works looked forward to by the single and uncommitted attendees.
Honey had a better idea. Why not invite instead the couples in the crowd to work their way on the dancefloor and make a swing or two?
Not a bad idea, if you've seen how was it has been among us singles in the community.
We actually dread those rituals like they were a plague. They don't excite us anymore. Maybe because especially for the single girls, they've cupped quite a number of bouquets already but still their grooms remain elusive.
So there were Honey and Waldee with the couples, inclduding Lito and Grace, and Allan and Memen from the community, dancing to some new wave stuff.
They could have danced all night if there were no other things to do. We could have joined them and called the dancefloor our own as well if we didn't have a night to celebrate this beautiful affair.
We were all in the mood, we shared the couple's feeling of bliss. It was a ceremony we didn't want to end. It has to end, the newlyweds will have a wonderful new life together as husband and wife.
The dancings closed the ceremonies. For us visitors though, the party was just beginning but that's another story.