Weddings are special MOMents
When our children walk down the aisle to meet their beloved, we are truly giving away a part of ourselves—whether our child is the bride or the groom, or whether we are the father or the mother of either. I speak from experience, as almost a year ago to the day, my only child walked down the aisle to pledge his troth to a woman he truly cherished. It was a bittersweet MOMent for me. A “MOM” moment.
Thus, weddings, I daresay—nay, I insist!—are truly special MOMents. Moments for MOM. She, who sustained a life for nine months and risked her own by giving birth to the throbbing being that was once a part of her body, soul, and silhouette.
Thus, when entrepreneur and graduate student Vernon Huibonhoa, son of Gambia Consul Agnes Huibonhoa, wed the stunning licensed psychologist Christina Cruz, daughter of Manuel and Mailyn Cruz, my heart truly went out to both their mothers. This is not to say the father of the bride didn’t have his poignant moments, too, with his unica hija.
A wedding is Mother’s Day. In a sense, a mother is giving birth to a new life as her umbilical cord is cut anew from her offspring—there will be a change in legal status, name, probably in address. And even according to the scriptures, the newlyweds must now put each other first in their lives, even before one’s parents. Mothers are a child’s first love.
It is also Mother’s Day because the happiness the newlyweds radiate during their wedding are rays of joy that reflect on their mothers. Many mothers also bloom on their children’s wedding day.
Consul Agnes was the picture of calm radiance in her lime green Michael Leyva gown, both at the San Agustin Church where the Catholic wedding was officiated by Papal Nuncio Archbishop Charles John Brown III, and at the National Museum of Natural History, where the magical reception was held.
In her speech at the dinner held at a tent near the Museum, where cocktails were first served, Agnes said the day was first and foremost “a celebration.”
“Today is a celebration of Christina and Vernon—of the love you share and the life you are building together,” said the mother of the groom, who also manages franchises of Jollibee and Chowking.
She welcomed the bride with open arms, saying, “While we officially welcome you today, you have truly been part of our family for a long time. Your warmth and the joy you bring to Vernon mean so much to all of us.”
Agnes thanked the bride’s parents Mailyn and Manny “for raising such a wonderful daughter. We are very happy to have our families joined.”
“On that special day, I was filled with profound joy and gratitude as I witnessed my son, Vernon, begin a beautiful new chapter in his life. Deeply moved, I reflected on the memories of once cradling him as a child, now standing proudly before me ready to build a family of his own,” Agnes shared.
“As the celebration came to a close, I felt a strong sense of peace and tranquility because I knew Christina was the right one for Vernon and for our family, making the occasion even more meaningful and unforgettable,” Agnes recalled to me after the reception.
Vernon’s “second mom” Heloise Huibonhoa Romualdez, Agnes’ sister, quipped she was both a “tennis mom” and a “tiger mom” to Vernon and her own son Jerome Romualdez. She was the wind beneath his tennis racquet. Vernon played varsity tennis for both Xavier School and the Ateneo de Manila University, where he and Christina were schoolmates.
“For Vernon, his love for the game or maybe his fear of his ‘tiger mom’ made him go through the sacrifices to get up each day to practice — even in the evening after classes and weekends, balancing his studies and life. Unlike today, coaching was not allowed (then). With the strict rule of no coaching during our time, I believe that it helped build Vernon’s character to deal with pressures, to make tough decisions and persevere no matter what,” Heloise said. She said proudly Vernon played at the Palarong Pambansa and received a medal there. “It was quite an honor.”
Addressing the newlyweds, whose love story began in Bali, Indonesia, Heloise said, “So, to Vernon and Christina, in life, like tennis, you must remember there are ups and downs and that’s okay. But you have to put in the work, not all hard work as there are the fun ones, too.
And through it all, you must persevere and make wonderful memories of your lives together.”
Mother of the bride
The mother of the bride’s speech so resonated with me, and most mothers in the room.
Mailyn Cruz, resplendent in emerald green, said, “Motherhood is a complex role. You raise your children the best way you can, you transform yourself for them, and then, eventually, you learn the art of surrendering. Surrendering is often the hardest part. I surrendered Tina to her teachers, then to her friends, then to society—and now, I surrender her to you, Vern.”
“Vern, as I surrender Tina to you today, I want to thank you. From Day 1, you proved to us that your love knows no boundaries. You fought for this relationship, and you loved our family as your own because you knew how much Tina loved us. I fervently pray that your triumphs will always far outweigh your failures. Please, never let a day go by without telling her she is loved. Remind her of her worth, and let her know she is always more than enough. Be her protector and her ‘happy pill’.”
Turning to her only daughter, Mailyn said, “Anak, remind yourself every day that you chose Vern to love and cherish. Be his proudest and loudest cheerleader. Challenge him to be his best self, and never let a day pass where he doesn’t feel your support.
“Lastly, keep choosing each other every day, especially when it’s hard. Be each other’s home.”
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Belated Happy Mother’s Day to mothers, second mothers and all those who mother us with their love and devotion.
I hope you all had your MOMents!
