K’wentong OFW … a tale of a pure romantic love…
OFWS especially here in Nigeria are happily married (either ‘HIV positive’ meaning ‘ hair-is-vanishing’ still carrying combs in their back pockets ‘for-the-memory-of-it’ or pot-bellied) senior and middle-aged citizens, dependent teen-agers and children.
Love can not blossom in this environment. Illicit, yes. But being Filipinos upholding the moral code deeply rooted in the Filipinos’ nature and the love and respect for the family values, such conducts are just that: illicit.
A PURE UNADULTERATED LOVE
Until a young couple came along.
Oh no! They didn’t come together. Not even in their wildest dreams that a special day is set aside for them.
Emmanuel Ramos, Jr. the youngest in the family who hailed from Laoag, Ilocos Norte came with dad Boy Sr. and mom Fely of the Culture and Tourism department of the Philippine Embassy in 2008. Then, a shy, timid and soft-spoken 23 year old Business Admin graduate of the Lyceum, he was just tagging along with his dad, playing tennis and even with his broad physique surprisingly IS a very good basketball player. Meanwhile, in 2010, a 26- year old Davao Medical School Foundation, Inc. graduate and a registered nurse came to work here in Abuja. Lyn C. Mante who hailed from Banaybanay Davao Oriental, the youngest daughter of Yolando and Leila Mante definitely didn’t expect that her fate would be here.
And as FATE would have it, it was JayR’s 25th birthday and Lyn was among the invitees. Who would resist Boy’s lechon and scrumptious dishes? Guests wouldn’t of course. That’s called ‘love-at-first-bite!’
But with Jay R and Lyn – whamm – LOVE-AT-FIRST-SIGHT! As Lyn caught sight of Jay R, she was scared that somebody might hear the thudding of her heart ‘gosh, but he must be married with that big tummy of his.’ (Take note: a pure girl like her was already cautioning herself.) Jay R meanwhile had the same sudden constrictions in his chest – ‘if ever she becomes my girlfriend, I will marry her!’
There was definitely love in the air. Lyn couldn’t find an accommodation. Geranfil ‘Doy’ Abrillo of The Philippine Embassy offered a temporary sanctuary. That made them neighbors with… who else? Jay R! A terrific smile from fate. Lyn would be peeping through the kitchen window in the hope of getting a glimpse of Jay R. Jay R would be in their porch craning his neck to catch a glimpse of Lyn. And the most satisfying thing was that Emmanuel Ramos, Sr, actually wanted her to be his daughter-in-law. His next step? Find Lyn’s weakness which is ‘turbong baboy’ – aha! Lyn became a frequent guest of the Ramos family and even with just a few steps back to where she resides, Jay R makes sure that he is there to take her home. Aside from the fact that they are obviously very much in-love, Jay R’s ‘crew’ and Boy’s ‘allies’ especially Pastor ‘Jun’ Robles, pushed harder for their union. Fely? She’s just too happy to have this girl with her.
Unfortunately, Emmanuel ‘Boy’ Ramos, Sr. did not live to witness this union. He succumbed to a terminal illness last year. Nevertheless, everyone felt that he must be happy that the ‘fruits of his labor’ came as sweet as it should be.
Lyn and Jay R were united on April 30, 2011 as officiated by Consul-General Alex V. Lamadrid. There is a solid foundation as a start in this marriage: Aside from having each other, they have their feet firmly on the ground; Lyn works as a nurse at Medicaid Radio-Diagnostic Centre and Jay R at Moreno Group as a procurement officer.
Who cares about Will and Kate of the United Kingdom? We have our very own – Lyn and Jr.
‘…at ang kasal ang instrumento ng pagkakaroon ng isang pamilya na naaayon sa batas at moralidad ng ating bansa…’
This wedding is the FIRST ever held here in Abuja. No others can give an impact as to what Consul-General Alex V. Lamadrid stated during the ceremony. He reiterated the importance of the family, the strength of every nation. And here he is quoted verbatim:
KASAL NINA EMMANUEL V. RAMOS, JR. AT LYN C. MANTE PHILIPPINE EMBASSY, ABUJA, NIGERIA 30 ABRIL 2011, 3:00 P.M.
PANIMULA (Consul General Alex V. Lamadrid)
Kagalang-galang na Sugo ng Pilipinas sa Nigeria, Ambassador Nestor N. Padalhin, mga kasama sa Embahada ng Pilipinas, mga pinagpipitaganang ninong at ninang, mga minamahal na kaibigan:
Magandang hapon po sa inyong lahat. Tayo ay natitipon ngayong hapon upang saksihan ang pag-iisang dibdib ng dalawang Pilipino sa Abuja, ang anak ng isa nating kasamahan – si Emmanuel V. Ramos, Jr. o JR, at si Lyn C. Mante.
JR at Lyn, sang-ayon sa Saligang Batas ng Pilipinas, ang pamilya ang pinakabatayan ng ating lipunan, at ang kasal ang instrumento ng pagkakaroon ng isang pamilya na naaayon sa batas at moralidad ng ating bansa. Ito ay isa sa mga pinakamahalagang araw ng inyong buhay, dahil sa araw na ito ay pag-iisahin kayo sa ilalim ng batas ng ating bansa. Maraming magiging bunga ang inyong kasal, hindi lamang para sa buhay ng inyong magiging pamilya, kundi na rin, sa relasyon ninyo bilang mag-asawa. Kaya’t nais kong ipa-alaala sa inyo na ang pag-aasawa ay isang pagtugon sa pagmamahal na inyong nadarama para sa isa’t-isa, sa ikabubuti ng bawat isa sa inyo.
Sa Pilipinas, dahil sa walang batas tungkol sa diborsyo, ang kasal ay pang-habang buhay, at hindi maaaring mabuwag kundi lamang sa pamamagitan ng pagyao sa kabilang buhay ng isa sa mag-asawa, o dili kaya ay sa pamamagitan ng prosesong legal ng pagpapawalang-bisa nito o annulment. Lubos ang aming pag-asa na ang inyong pag-iisang dibdib ngayong hapon ay pang-habang buhay sang-ayon sa itinatadhana ng ating batas.
Ipinapakiusap ko rin sa lahat ng inyong mga ninong at ninang, at mga kaibigan na sumasaksi sa kasal na ito, na kayo ay tulungan at suportahan upang ang inyong pagsasama ay maging maligaya, mayabong, at kapaki-pakinabang sa buong lipunan at bansa.
PAG-EEKSAMEN SA MGA IKAKASAL
Consul General Lamadrid: Ilang araw na ang nakalilipas, ipinahayag nina JR at Lyn na sila ay walang balakid upang ikasal sa ilalim ng batas ng Pilipinas. Ipinahayag din nila na sila ay nasa tamang gulang upang magpakasal, sang-ayon sa mga probisyon ng Civil Code at Family Code ng Pilipinas. Dahil sa sila ay may sapat na gulang na, hindi na kinakailangan pa ang pahintulot o payo ng kanilang mga magulang para sila ay makasal, kahit na alam naman nating lahat na ang kanilang mga magulang ay hindi tumututol sa kanilang pag-iisang dibdib.
TANONG SA MGA SAKSI: MAYROON BANG TUMUTUTOL SA KASAL NA ITO SA ANUMANG KADAHILANAN? (Wala po.)
Kung walang tumututol, ituloy natin ang kasal.
Ngayon ay tatanungin ko na ang dalawang mag-iisang dibdib tungkol sa kanilang mga intensyon.
Emmanuel (JR), tinatanggap mo ba ang babaeng ito, bilang iyong kabiyak, na siya ay iyong mamahalin, paglilingkuran at tutulungan, sa hirap at ginhawa, sa kalusugan at karamdaman, sa kaligayahan man o kalungkutan, habang kayo ay nabubuhay?
Emmanuel (JR): OPO, TINATANGGAP KO PO SIYA BILANG AKING KABIYAK.
Consul General Lamadrid: Lyn, tinatanggap mo ba si Emmanuel (JR) bilang iyong kabiyak, na siya ay iyong mamahalin, paglilingkuran at tutulungan, sa hirap at ginhawa, sa kalusugan o karamdaman, sa kaligayahan man o kalungkutan, habang kayo ay nabubuhay?
Lyn: OPO, TINATANGGAP KO PO SIYA BILANG AKING KABIYAK.
Consul General Lamadrid: Bilang tanda ng inyong pag-iisang dibdib, magpalitan kayo ng singsing na simbolo ng inyong katapatan sa isa’t-isa.
Emmanuel (JR): LYN, TANGGAPIN MO ANG SINGSING NA ITO, BILANG TANDA NG AKING WALANG-HANGGANG KATAPATAN AT WAGAS NA PAGMAMAHAL HABANG TAYO’Y NABUBUHAY.
Lyn: JR, TANGGAPIN MO ANG SINGSING NA ITO, BILANG TANDA NG AKING WALANG-HANGGANG KATAPATAN AT WAGAS NA PAGMAMAHAL HABANG TAYO’Y NABUBUHAY.
Consul General Lamadrid: Sa pamamagitan ng kapangyarihang ipinagkaloob sa akin ng Saligang-Batas at iba pang Batas ng Republika ng Pilipinas, kayo, JR at LYN, ay ipinahahayag ko bilang ganap na mag-asawa. Maligayang pag-iisang dibdib. Maaari na ninyong halikan ang isa’t isa bilang tanda ng magandang simula ng inyong pagsasama bilang mag-asawa.
Mabuhay ang mga bagong kasal!
PAGPIRMA SA KONTRATA NG KASAL
Consul General Lamadrid: At ngayon, inaanyayahan ko ang mga bagong kasal na pirmahan ang kontrata ng kanilang kasal. Pagkatapos nila, inaanyayahan ko rin ang mga ninong at ninang na pumirma sa kontrata ng kasal bilang mga saksi. Maraming salamat po.
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