Dear Manang Elenitz and Manong Tito,
Happy Ruby Anniversary! I join our loved ones and friends in applauding you on reaching this milestone.
To us, forty years of harmonious and blissful marriage is both remarkable and exemplary. Congratulations!
I have witnessed your beautiful love story since its inception. Truth be told, I had wished for it.
There is a prologue to tell. It happened in the early 60's. Housed in the campus of Northern Luzon
Teachers' College (then Normal School) was the Ilocos Norte Softball Team training to compete in the
Northern Luzon Athletic Meet. The team was composed of the best softball players from Ilocos Norte's
colleges and high schools. I was one of the lucky high schoolers chosen for the team. During our breaks
from training, we stayed in the campus and mingled with the studentry. In the process, we got a chance
to see and admire the campus beauties.
One of them was petite, fair-complexioned, and bespectacled. She was lovely and congenial, and possessed
a sunshine smile. In short, she exuded a radiant personality. We knew her name, and my teammates and I
thought she was the most beautiful coed.
Came the evening of the Christmas Festival. This charming young woman was conducting her class chorus.
She had graceful hands. She displayed a harmonious rhythm with her choral group, and through her dainty
pearl-framed eyeglasses, one could see the passion she imparted to the music, the singers, and the
audience.
I was mesmerized. O, how I admired her so! Watching her conducting, and listening to her responsive
chorus, I had this remote thought. Hmm, I wonder what it would be like to know her. Perhaps, my eldest
brother would meet her one day... and she would become his bride??
She won the best-conductor award, and her chorus garnered the most-outstanding honors in the festival.
The softball team could have told the judges! As they say in softball parlance of players who make
spectacular plays, "Good eye, good eye!" Well, in this case, it was also "Good ear, good ear!"
I saw her again shortly after that, in a Girl Scout event that took me and my troop to Vintar. She was
a guest at the reception. I continued to admire her.
A couple of years later, I heard that my eldest brother was courting a young lady, whose name was very
familiar to me. Imagine my pleasant surprise! I was star-struck!
One afternoon before the start of the daily Bacarra basketball game, Manong Tito fetched Manang Elenitz
from Vintar to meet our family. Dad's first reaction was, "Improvement of the race!" because of her
fair complexion.
At our first meeting, Manang Elenitz proved to be everything I imagined her to be. Lovely, caring, and
good-natured. She spoke in cheerful and embracing tones. I concluded she was as beautiful inside as she
was outside. A perfect match for my brother (I thought), the original handsome, caring, and good-natured
young man....
Somewhere in one of our family albums is a picture of us at the Bacarra plaza documenting this first
meeting. I recall that in the photograph, Manang Elenitz had her arms around our youngest sister Alice.
A cute little girl at the time, Alice must also have liked the match she saw in Manong Tito and Manang
Elenitz, because shortly thereafter, she suggested that we name the 2 ducks in our backyard "Titz and
Nitz"! She fondly recalls that these ducks always stayed together, and that one was always laying eggs!
'Twas an auspicious sign, don't you think?
A couple of years later, you got married. My remote wish years earlier had come to fruition! From the
outset, you showed us an excellent example of a great marriage, one that is full of love, respect,
cheer, and devotion to each other.
Yours is a match made in heaven. How fitting it is that your theme song alludes to it. Through the years,
I have heard you sing a duet celebrating your love for each other through Cole Porter's words and music.
(The original duo, Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly, who sang it in the mid-fifties movie, High Society, would
be so proud!)
I give to you and you give to me
True love, true love.
So on and on it will always be
True love, true love.
For you and I have a guardian angel
On high, with nothing to do,
But to give to you and to give to me
Love forever true.
Mommy Paz was especially thrilled to witness the beauty of your marriage. One time during my balikbayan
visit from Christmas 1973 to Valentine's Day 1974, she shared with me her utmost joy in reading a card
that you, Manong Tito, wrote to your sweetheart on your 6th wedding anniversary. You likened your marriage
to a journey in a car that started with just the 2 of you. Somewhere along the way, you stopped to usher
in your first passenger, Alma Elenita. A few miles down the road, you did the same for Grace Pacita, then
for Lilian Jane.
Like her abalayan, Mommy Flordelis has been just as delighted to see your happy and enduring union. She
has been the recipient of the deep filial love the two of you have generously manifested. One of the
things for which I have been grateful to you has been the way you have always kept Mom in a warm spot in
your hearts...and a cool spot in your home (when you host her in the Philippines). Manang Elenitz, your
love for Mom was eloquently expressed in a statement I heard you say many years ago. You said,
"Some women consider their mothers-in-law as "sabidong" (poison). Not me!" Indeed, by the respect you
show Mom and the selfless deeds you do for her, it is evident you consider her as...nectar.
I also heard that filial love expressed to our beloved Dad, when on his burial, your "dungaw" (dirge)
included your gratitude to him for raising a fine young man who became your fine husband. Once again,
thank you, Manang Elenitz. And thank you, Manong Tito.
Forty years after you professed your "I do's," your happy journey continues. But now, you are driving a
luxurious mini-bus, and it has become more raucous as you have welcomed more passengers (including the
little ones): Elaine Ruth Flordelis and Vernon Alfonso III, Lyndon, Peter, Caps, Angeli, Jojo, Kei, RG,
Janelle, and Megan.
As your journey continues, Mommy Pas is definitely beaming from heaven. Mommy Flordelis hops on to take
the ride with you whenever she can, while the rest of us track your trip (and ride vicariously with you)
as loved ones in a loving family always do.
Again, Congratulations! God blessed the day you met, and may He continue to bless you.
Let the joyful journey go on and on!
Love Always,
Your Ading Pearl, Abirat-Kayong Walt, nephew Wally and niece Jasmine.
