Paul marries Mia

My son Paul married his girlfriend Mia on Saturday, September 9, 2006, at Christ the King Parish Church on Greenmeadows Avenue in Libis, Quezon City. It was a Catholic wedding. During the reception at the Greenmeadows Clubhouse -- one of the principal sponsors, Dr. Angel Chua, the bride's father, Mr Ed Madrid, and I -- we were asked to give advice, some words of wisdom to the newly wed couple.

I was told to keep my piece to two to three minutes only. So here are some "words of wisdom" to the newly wed.

Pareng Ed Madrid said that he didn't really lose a daughter, but instead gained a son, so now he has three sons. I didn't really lose a son, but gained a daughter, so now I have three daughters.

To Paul and Mia:

Call on God to give you the grace to live together as husband and wife, from today, for the rest of your lives. We heard Fr. Bob Pepito say, "That is why a man must leave his father and mother, and cling to his wife, and the two shall become as one". You are two distinct and unique people, and to be as one for the rest of your lives requires tremendous effort and miraculous intervention from God. Make prayer a daily family practice, to call on God to keep you one.

To Paul:

Paul, love Mia. She did not marry you for your money, because you have none. She did not marry you for your good looks, because you have barely half your father's good looks. She must have married you for love. So love her. Love her in your thoughts, words, actions, and omissions. In what you do or not do, in what you say or not say, in what you think, you must be guided by you love for her. Do not cheat, or take another woman or man to bed, but her.

A Father's Blessing:

A Jesuit priest once told me that a father's blessing, like that of Abraham to Isaac, is like God's blessing. So I now give you my blessing: May God bless you Paul and Mia, and may he give you happiness and peace, and if He wills, may he give you children and riches beyond count. And may God bless us all.