I’m so happy for Graciano Jose & Kristel Ann who tied the knot on Aug. 10 after more than six years of being a couple. Both middle children, GJ is the only son of Alex and Irma Faith Pal; Kristel is the only daughter of Engr. Noel and Dr. Suzanne Advincula-Punu from Davao.
I am equally happy for Claude Henri & Dorothy Jane who finally said their I Do on Aug. 17, after working out an LDR for more than six years, shuttling between New York and Dumaguete. Cloy is the second child of Joel and Jennifer Villanueva-Pal. DJ is the youngest of Rev. Ruben and Ellen Cediño.
I can actually sing with much meaning in my heart:
Is this the little girl I carried?
Is this the little boy at play?
I don’t remember growing older,
When did they?
I remember carrying Kristel Punu on my lap when she was a toddler, while her Mom Suzanne was busy judging a field demo contest during one Foundation Day at their school, Davao Central College (formerly DCC-Salustiano Advincula Memorial) in Toril.
Then…grown up as a master’s student at Silliman, Kristel became one of my voice actors in an orientation play that I organized in campus. It was in those rehearsals where I (played Cupid) introduced GJ, another voice actor, to the Davao lass, the new girl in town. Both have great modulated voices and are flawless in written in spoken English. The kind of material I was just scouting for.
Kristel now helps manage their College as Basic Education director; GJ, a licensed agriculturist, is just as excited to make the Land of Promise their new home together.
I also remember carrying DJ Cediño while I was at Molave dorm where her father Pastor Bong was my “big brother”. I would refer to DJ as Little Miss Philippines as I always found so much beauty in her dusky lovely presence.
Later as a Physical Therapy student, DJ was crowned Miss Silliman Headline Girl. She and Cloy will be making New York their home where Cloy is a registered nurse.
I unfortunately missed both wedding events. I returned from a recent trip to the US after the wedding date of GJ & Kristel in Davao; then it was also hard for me to cancel a tour of Valencia by Silliman guests in the afternoon of the big day of Cloy & DJ here in Dumaguete. So from a distance, I was just singing from my heart:
Is this the little boy at play?
I don’t remember growing older,
When did they?
I will continue to pray for the beautiful and fruitful union of these two young couples so close to my heart; I pray they will stand strong against the challenges they will face, and continue to celebrate the joys of their blessed partnerships; and I will pray more fervently that the homes they will be building will make a big difference in today’s world and beyond.
#omGTel
#DeejisonClaude9
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