Wedding Bells Are Ringing for Rica and Glenn

Last December 30, late in the afternoon, I witnessed the wedding ceremony of my granddaughter, Ricalyn Camporazo, the only daughter of my nephew, Ricardo Camporazo.

Ricalyn exchanged "I do" with Glenn Salas in a simple nuptial rites at the Community Church of La Carlota City, Negros Occidental.

Marriage is a social custom in which a man and a woman bind themselves in a legal commitments or in a religious ceremonies to live as husband and wife.

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Biblically, it is God who ordained marriage.

"Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.." (Matthew 19:6)

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"Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife" (1 Corinthians 7:3-4)

"And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery." (Mark 10:12)

"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them." (Colossians 3:18-19)

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May the Lord bless them of His goodness that they may live a happy and contented married life.

Family Day at Las Olas 2012

Five of my six children (my eldest son is in Mindanao), 4 grandchildren, one nephew and one son-in-law joined with us in our one-day family outing today at Las Olas beach resort, San Enrique, Negros Occidental.

This is our usual family day activity during New Year's day. Since this year's new year falls on Sunday and we have to go to Church and attend our Sunday services on that day, so we spent it the following day, Monday. It's good that there's no classes on this day.

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Las Olas beach resort is situated in a more or less 2-hectare of land along the seashore. The Swiss national, Frederick Harkness owns the Las Olas. Cottages, Nipa huts, conference hall, big canteen are avaiable for the excursionists, transient visitors for a day or two outings to free themselves of the boredom of their day-to-day jobs.

The rentals are ranging from Php600 per cottage, Php800 per nipa hut, and Php 1,500 for conference/function hall. Entrance fee: adult, Php10 and child, Php7.

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We brought along our foods for our lunch and snacks. Almon, my son-in-law grilled the "gusao", a kind of a fish, which he bought from the fresh catch of the fishermen who just fished them along the seashore. It's so satisfying to eat them directly cooked from the grill, while it's still hot!

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Las Olas beach resort is one of the good beaches here in Negros Occidental. It could be one of your good options to find one to have a relaxation with your family, outing with some friends, and a conference venue for your business partners and associates. Eighty to ninety persons could be accommodated in their function/conference native hall. Rooms for 3 to 4 persons are also available for transients to occupy for overnight. Water and light facilities are available. For entertainment, videoke bar is also available. There's also a canteen for short-order foods.

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We've a great fun and a happy, enjoyable family reunion. We went home past five in the afternoon. All of our grandchildren were exhausted, fatigue for a whole day playing at the seashore. All their faces turned red. We've some fun at the beach once in every year as a family by tradition. And it's also our grand family reunion.

We do believe that "families could be together forever."

Watch Out for a Big Bang!

 Though it is too risky, selling of firecrackers is one of the lucrative small business to venture with, according to one of the vendors I happened to talk two days before New Year's revelry.

As a tradition, Filipinos used to have a "big bang" to "drive away evil spirits" and happily welcome the following year with enthusiasm and excitement as a properous and a happy one.

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When I was a kid, what I knew that "firing" a reventador (a tiny firecracker) is just for fun. The more "paputok" (several sets of fireworks) you "burned", the more you're idolized by others as a "sikat" (celebrity).

I got a traumatic experience when I was eight years old then. I noticed some of my friends dared to hold a piece of tiny firecracker with their two fingers and let it fire without hurting or damaging their fingers. I was curious and did it secretly for myself. "Bang!" the "explosive" burst on my finger before I knew it. My fingers hurt, but luckily they're not cut off! That's the first and the last firecracker I ever dared to hold!

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This new year I spent it watching our neighbors enjoying their fireworks and eating our midnight snacks with my children, grandchildren, and with my beloved wife, who is the best chef cook of all time. We pray together and implore our Divine Providence to grant us more blessings and happiness as we faithfully follow His commandments and help our brothers and sisters who have less in life.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!