It was a series of unfortunate events. My best friend Christian’s wedding was scheduled at 8:00a.m. , December 23, 2008 in Leisure Farms, Lemery, Batangas. (Like who, would schedule a wedding at 8:00a.m. on a weekday, in Batangas when almost all of your guests are based in Manila…only my best friend).
Because of Beck’s engagements, we got home late the night before. The alarm clock of our maid didn’t sounded off, because of which, Beck and I overslept. As part of the entourage, I have to be in the wedding venue at 7a.m. … Beck and I woke up at 6:30a.m. To add to the problem, our maid forgot to look for my barong which left me no choice but to wear a long sleeved shirt in a wedding with a Filipiniana motif. Before we left our house, Beck suddenly had a bum stomach and has to answer nature’s call even though she’s already all dressed up. Then, when we were already driving for 10 minutes, I got a call from our maid telling us that we forgot the wedding gift. So we have no recourse but to make a U-turn to get it. In the end, Beck and I were 2 hours late for the wedding. The bride and groom, the entourage and all of the guests are already on their way from the garden wedding venue to the reception at the club house of Leisure Farms. If not for the two religious services (one Catholic and one Baptist) which prolonged the wedding ceremony, we might even be late for the reception. When we arrived at the wedding venue, I realized that I forgot my DSLR camera. Did I mentioned that it was a series of unfortunate events?
I didn’t know that I’m supposed to give a speech and hopefully, I have done a good job even though I am not prepared. In my speech I mentioned about an interview done by WWE wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson wherein he was asked, what is the thing that he is afraid of. This professional wrestling champion didn’t answered the question directly, instead he said “You know the stupidest thing I ever did?… was to talk back to my wife”. If a man of The Rock’s stature have said this, what makes Christian think that men of lesser mettle, like me and him, would be an exemption.
Then I told to everybody in attendance that being Christian’s best buddy since high school, I sort of know what he will do and what he will NOT do. And being somebody with an overdose of testosterone, Christian will never ever, make a flower garden. Last October, Christian invited me to go to Batangas to plant some flowers at their vacant lot at the Leisure Farms. Christian would like to have a garden wedding, that is a garden planted by Christian’s own hands. That Saturday in October, under the hot noon sun, I looked at Christian, all sweaty and laboring to plant some flowers and ornamental plants so that two months later, he would have a garden wherein he will marry the woman of his dreams. Love does change people.
Finally, I shared to Christian and Rose about the passage in The Bible about the story of Naomi and Ruth and should be their vow to each other. Although this was an exchange between a daughter in law and her mother in law, I think this is also applicable to husbands and wives. In Christianity’s holy book, Ruth said to Naomi “Don’t urge me to leave you or turn back from you. Where you will go, I will go and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people and you God will be my God. Where you die, I will die and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.”
Congratulations, Christian and Rose!!!
From left to right: Daniel (Christian brother), Christian’s father, Christian, Rose (the lovely bride), Beck and me.
Beck and me with the Presidential daughter, Ms. Luli Arroyo-Bernas. Ms. Luli is a close friend of the bride, Atty. Rose King. When Christian and Rose told me that the most well liked among the Presidential children will be attending, I recounted my most unforgettable encounter with Ms. Luli.
I had the privilege of meeting, in various occasions and capacity, Gov. Bong Bong Marcos, Kris Aquino, Jo Ramos and Cristy Ramos, who are all children of previous Philippine Presidents. But the most memorable, or should I say embarrassing, is the encounter I have with Ms. Luli Arroyo.
It was in 1998, I was one of the leaders of Lakas ng Kabataan para kay De Venecia (LAKAD), the youth arm of Jose De Venecia’s presidential campaign. My group will be attending a General Assembly of the Kabataang Kaibigan ni Gloria Macapagal (KKGM) which is the youth arm of the then Sen. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s vice-presidential campaign, at Max’s Roces Ave Branch. I am seated together with the leaders of the two organizations, and right across me is Ms. Luli Arroyo. I tried to open a conversation with her and for reasons up until now, I could not comprehend, I uttered, “You know, you look better on TV than in person”. Then I had a jolt of electricity and I wanted to have the power of Sue Richards, The Invisible Girl. I know I uttered the wrong words, what I meant to say was, she is much lovelier in person that on TV. Ms. Luli, just smiled and said that what I said doesn’t sound right. And I don’t know what words to say to ease a very awkward situation.
Because of that faux pas, I wanted to leave immediately and so I hurriedly finished my plate and stepped outside. A few minutes later, I saw the head of LAKAD, Lyndon Daz together with Ms. Luli walking towards my direction. Lyndon introduced me to Ms. Luli as this and that. The ever amiable Ms. Arroyo just smiled and said, “Yeah, we’ve met.”
Perhaps to play a good practical joke on me, Christian and Rose have me seated on the same table with Ms. Luli Arroyo. This time I really watched my tongue or else I will go down in history as the most tactless person in the face of the Earth.
Just like what is often written in newspapers, Ms. Luli Arroyo is a very down to earth and unassuming person. Beck, Christian Dad and myself have personally witnessed Ms. Arroyo’s humility. Unlike most children of government officials, she doesn’t put her weight around. Ms. Luli Arroyo-Bernas is a CLASS ACT and should be an example to be emulated by us all.
Thank you very much, Mr. Luigi Bernas! There was sort of a quiz wherein guests have to answer the official names of popular professional football teams (Christian’s favorite sport. When he went to Barcelona last summer to watch a football game, he’s in heaven). Mr. Bernas was able to give the most number of correct answers and as a reward, our table were given bottles of merlot.
January 7, 2009 at 3:08 am |
Ms. Luli came from Baguio, along with her husband to a resort where the kids from the Home sang last Dec. 31, 2008. I wasn’t able to go, because I was the one left to “guard” the Home and my knee was acting up again.
My dad talked to her a little bit. My dad noticed that Ms. Luli was quite tired, from their travels, and surfing and other activities.
The President came to our city to commemorate Rizal Day. The day before that she was in the CAR region.
January 7, 2009 at 12:03 pm |
Sayang, its you missed a good opportunity. If Ms. Luli visits your town again, please, please do not tell her of the faux pas I did 10 years ago.
.
Your knees are really that bad?
January 7, 2009 at 7:31 pm |
Well, Ms. Luli promised to visit the Home someday on her future travels here to the north.
Well, my knees – I am more of the stubborn guy, that instead of resting my knees, I went on to do some kicking exercises since it was not that painful that time. Come next day, the topmost of my shinbone, where the injury is, was swollen. I did put some ice and took in painkillers, and rested it and I am still resting it this week. Next week, we will resume training with Kru Noel. But sometimes, the pain bugs me early in the morning and I am up at around 3 or 4am. But I’m saving for a bike so hopefully with cycling and proper diet, I can take off a few extra pound in the process and also strengthen my shinbone.
January 16, 2009 at 4:47 pm |
I’m pretty sure that she will fulfill her promise. I’ll tell my friend (who’s a friend of Luli) about that promise.
About your knees. Have you tried using knee braces? I had a terrible knee injury 2 years ago and it helped me recover and train at the same time. At first I used knee braces with hinges for extra support. Then gradually, I shifted to ordinary braces. I use the LP and Body Gloves brand.
January 17, 2009 at 3:09 am |
She will remember but it’s okay if she’s unable to come since she has a lot of work to do and we understand it.
At this time I am saving for a new knee brace/support the one with an open patella.
I’m aslo training my wards for upcoming fights in Panagbenga 2009.
It’s cold by the way here in La Union, specially at night and at dawn but I hope it remains like this throughout the summer but it’s colder in Baguio. I tried to walk in the early dawn towards capitol hill and it’s cold that I could not even break out a sweat.
It’s a busy time with teaching in the school here with our OLPC project and also training the guys MWF in the afternoon, it’s quite exhausting.
Kru Noel came from CDO and mentioned that Kru Valdez was really disappointed with the team from Baguio. No training whatsoever raw. I will not be surprised if our opponents at Panabenga 2008 will be fighters from various clubs. But I do hope they don’t make the Philippine Team Baguio fight. Since they’re on a higher level and I won’t believe them if they try to justify this coming fight as a warm up fight for them. They better go fight someone of their own caliber not intermediates – it would be like taking a candy from a child. I would find it much better if Philippine Team Baguio fought Philippine Team Zamboanga! That would be much better and showcase their skills among the crowds.
January 17, 2009 at 12:02 pm |
I think she’s very active in charity work and there might be a big chance she will do come back to your children’s home.
You might want to try the knee brace with hinges as it offer more support, you’ll just have some trouble in doing the knees, though.
That’s the general perception among the other krus. Fighters from Zamboanga, CDO, Dumaguete and Ilo-ilo are catching up or might have already overtaken the fighters from Baguio.
I haven’t posted this yet, but remember the Battle of the Best that’s supposed to be held last year? It will push thru this Feb. 1. I’m not making an article on it yet because the line-up is still incomplete. I heard that winners from the recent POF will be included.
January 17, 2009 at 1:32 pm |
Thanks for the info. The thing I personally see is, MAP has no students of their own there. Prof Floro doesn’t have any students under him. When there are fights, they usually get fighters from other clubs. That’s why when we fight around February, fighters from various clubs would fight representing MAP Baguio and then Philippine Team Baguio would join. It discourages most of the beginners and intermediates since they would be toyed by the Phil.Baguio Team and they know that they can never beat them. The young fighters are not afraid to fight the Baguio team but they do know that their skills pale badly to the Phil.Baguio Team’s skills.
January 19, 2009 at 11:26 am |
Well, that poses an issue. I hope you understand that I will not post any reactions about this as I am an officer of MAP and my words might be construed as the opinion or decision of the organization. But I can assure you though that I’ll bring this matter up. In NCR, we do not allow any chapters to field fighters who are not their own students. And I myself is opposed to chapters who would get fighters outside their own gym. One of the purpose of MAP is to develop muay thai in the grassroots level. And not to show that “my gym is better than your gym”, and thus, get fighters who were not trained by you.
January 20, 2009 at 12:21 am |
I understand. I do not mean to put you in a spotlight or to get an opinion from you about this matter. I just meant to share what I saw.
Because, when we fought last year in February, our opponents came from various clubs of which I am not sure if they are under MAP. Since I know some of the coaches and former fighters of those clubs, in my conversations with them last year, they are not under MAP. Maybe I am mistaken. But it would helped to know if the numerous Muay gyms in Benguet and Baguio are under MAP or not.
I do not mean to create an issue against Prof. Floro. It’s just that there’s no answer when we ask if who’s who among the MAP Baguio Team (not the Philippine Baguio Team). Their fighters come from different clubs and when we ask if Prof. Floro has any students of his own, the subject is sidestepped.
Peronally, I just want to know that we are not the only MAP Muay gym near CAR. It would also be a morale boost for us to know that we are not the only Muay gym under MAP.
January 20, 2009 at 10:08 am |
It’s ok. It just happened before, in a forum that I voiced an opinion and then it was construed as the decision of MAP (and some MAP peeps might also be reading my blog. He he he). Some people could not make the distinction kasi.
One of the projects of MAP for this year (which was unfortunately assigned to me, one word of advice during MAP meetings. Shut up or a task will be assigned to you. He he he) is to make a database of all MAP members. All members will be given an ID Number. I got this idea from PAJA. Under their rules, no PAJA ID, no competition. I suggested this to Sir Robert and he like the idea. But then he assigned it to me
January 21, 2009 at 2:39 am |
Well, Sir Robert knows that you can do it. Who else can do it besides you? Since it is your idea and you know how the system works, I wouldn’t be surprise if Sir Robert gave you the task. Hehehe! With your brains and ability, this would be a good idea. Actually our fighters have licenses already from MAP.
January 24, 2009 at 12:54 pm |
Thanks, for the kind words man. But I do hope we can finish that project within the first half of the year so that only MAP members can join in MAP sponsored competition.
January 30, 2009 at 5:02 am |
Send us some word when it will be implemented that we too could update our fighters’ roster under MAP.