Pictures:  Lala and Derek   Garcia Family   Mila and Hermie with Rory and Espie
 

The invitation reads:

Please join our families on this joyous occasion when our children

Kalayaan Prima Astorga Garcia
                        and
Roderick Andaya de Vera

exchange marriage vows

                        on

Saturday, the twenty-fifth of March
                  year Two Thousand
        at one o'clock in the afternoon

                St. Aidan's Church
        3501 Finch Ave East
                Scarborough, Ontario

        Hermenegildo P. Garcia IV
        & Milagros Astorga Garcia
                Rogelio Z. de Vera
        & Perle Andaya de Vera
 

---------------------------------------------------

                        Sponsors

Lord Mayor Art T. Viola                Consul General Linglingay F. Lacanlale
Rudy Montaniel                              Consul General Susan O. Castrence
Hermemegildo P. Garcia, Jr.           Ma. Jesusa A. Granda
Randy H. Scott                               Amerensia V. Balagapo
Nestor J. Andaya                            Cora Andaya Castro
Felito F. de Veyra                           Juana R. Astorga

        Best Man                                        Maid of Honour
        Gene Andaya de Vera              Isabel Illumin

        Ushers                                            Bridesmaids
        Chico Loden                                 Cory Andaya de Vera
        Norman A. Garcia                        Ma. Theresa G. Paterno
        Albert Gomez                               Mae Lazaro
        Danny Javier                                Christine Garcia
        Ralph Joseph A. Granda                Christine Aquino
        Graham Reid                                Pamela Elek
        R.J. Andaya                                 Katrina Silverio

                                        Jr. Bridesmaids

                                        Jessica Rachele Santos
                                         Alisha renee Balatbat
                                        Melissa Mae Balatbat

                                                Flower Girls
Kayleen Marie Claveria-Rodrigo          Francesca Beatrice S. Granda

                                                Ring Bearer
                                        Isaac Dane Santos

                                                Coin Bearer
                                        Tylor Jay Santos

----------------------

Cake favours  (yun bang mga hinuhugot from the wedding  cake),  care of Nini Marquez, Unang Ginang ni Pangulong Ericson.
Travel papers facilitation of the entourage from the Philippines, care of Lulu Morales, Unang Ginang ni  Abogado Dennis.

Note: Ninang si ConGen  Ling.

prep '65 pa rin!

Dear Ana B,

Thanks for sending me this greeting with this beautiful photo -- it
keeps me in perspective, and helps me maintain my calm.  So far, its been
going well -- credit goes to the couple who carefully planned and
organized their wedding preparations; and thanks to Derek's parents and
most  of all to Hermie, who has been very supportive; and thanks to Prep
65.

We're happy for Lala and Derek.  They are mature and ready to start a
family.  Both graduated from the same high school, went to the same
college, and took the same course (Business Management for Lala;
International Business for Derek).  They have been employed in the same
bank; they share a love for fitness and sports, and art,  among others.
Even with her recent promotion in the investments arm of the bank, Lala
continues to pursue her career in the visual arts, as she now prepares
for her first solo exhibition in New York next year. Her last exhibit
was sponsored by the prestigious Law Society of upper Canada at
Toronto's Osgoode Hall, where she exhibited her works along with those
of ther Filipino Canadian artists.  She has been commissioned to do
portraits, one of them to grace a major sports centre in Toronto.  Her
art has taken her to various art centres in Europe, and she has
travelled to various cities in the States and recently to Cuba. A very practical
and independent person, Lala  decided to take business to learn enough
business principles to enable her to manage and support her art.
Entrepreneurial in spirit, she strongly believes artists need not
starve, and they should personally thrive as their art flourish.

Derek, himself accomplished in his chosen field, is very supportive of Lala's
career,  and I think they are a beautiful pair. We are so proud of
them.
(By the way, Derek's mother is our business partner. Derek, just like
Lala, belongs to a huge extended family (his parents are from
Pangasinan), but Derek and all his siblings were born here and have
never been to the Philippines).

I am really pleased that in a way, Prep 65 has been and is actually
going  to be part of our family's big day.  Ling is the ever helpful
ninang (she was instrumental in the making of this family in the first
place, the  successful matchmaker that she had been,;and she has been
very supportive of Lala's art, from the time Lala was a child artist in
Manila -- Lala gave her one of her early chalk pastels; Ling's
colleague, Melody Lopez, got one of Lala's water colors, which Lala had
then gladly exchanged for a doll).  Bless Rory and Espie for coming
just for the wedding, with Rory agreeing to be Ling's proxy, and bless Lulu
and Nini too for being helpful in some other ways.  As my sister
Suzette (a UP high graduate) says, our kind of Prep 65 friendship is just so
overwhelming to her, she finds it difficult to describe.

It's only a few more hours before the wedding, and I'm already excited,
especially with the thought that Rory and Espie will actually be here
to share a joyous moment with our family.  To you Ana B, and all Prep 65
classmates, we invite you to be with us in spirit.

Mila

I am so glad that I was able to make it to Lala's beautiful wedding. So
touching and beautiful. During the ceremony and reception, it was thrilling
to watch how Lala & Derek expressed their love and devotion towards one
another [I give Rory credit for her arm-twisting tactics].  Despite the
initial complications & setbacks (on our part, and especially yours),  thank
God everything turned out just fine.
It was delightful to meet not only the bride & bridegroom, but also Norman &
Lawrence. They are everything you described them to us, and more.  I enjoyed
meeting the rest of your big family. They seem to have such zest for life,
and are very nurturing! How refreshing!

And the Greek food we had - ahhh, to die for!!! Now I need to find a place
here in Vegas where I can enjoy Greek food.  Sayang lang masyadong hectic
ang sked namin - we didn't have a chance to see more of your beautiful and
diversely interesting city. Except for the very cold weather, I think I
would love to live there.

Thank you so much for your gracious and warm hospitality. I will never
forget how much you made us feel so welcome - despite the thousand things
you had to deal with in connection w/ the wedding. You two are one of a
kind.

Now you can relax and enjoy each other on Mila's remaining days off from
work. Take care. Ed sends his regards, and is thankful for the refreshing
experience I had during this trip.
Love, Potit

p.s. thanks for your call earlier today, Mila. Sayang I was out w/ my cousin
& family - taking care of another wedding.

It was rush, rush, rush the whole trip to Toronto. Whole day Friday I spent
flying. I arrived at the hotel early evening where  Ataboy was already
checked in. Her flight was terrible (delayed, changed planes, lost luggage -
which Air Canada eventually  delivered  to the hotel late Friday. (We talked
until past 3am).  Woke up late Saturday, and whole day was spent at the
wedding ceremony & the reception. It was a beautiful wedding ceremony. We
had a really nice time at the reception - esp. since kasama namin sa table
yung priest na nag-officiate ng wedding. He's from Dagupan, and had a great
sense of humor. Talagang hagalpakan kami ng tawa - other guests must have
been wondering what in the world was the matter w/ us.

Took cab back to hotel almost mid-nite. The dancing was just beginning among
the young crowd (mostly cousins/relatives/friends - (it ended past 2am).
Sunday a.m. we packed up, then checked out. Mila & Hermie paid for our hotel
room (which was unexpected). Had lunch w/ Hermie & Mila, Mila's cousin &
Rory at a neighborhood-type Greek restaurant.  Great food. Nagpa-to-go ako
ng baklava. It was my turn to pick up the tab. Then, back to the hotel to
pick up our luggage, and Hermie & Mila sped us off to the airport. It was
such a close call - we almost missed our respective flights.

Over-all, it was a good thing that I went w/ ataboy. Mila was so happy we
made a special effort to be there for one of her very special days. She had
2 cousins who were there, plus Rory & myself. Out of about 250 guests to the
wedding, probably 230 were Hermie's and the bridegroom's
family/relatives/friends. The rest must have been business contacts. And
there were the 4 of us on Mila's 'side of the family'.

Suzette was that she was supposed to hand-carry the bridal gown, Mila's gown
& other impt. things needed for the wedding. these were mailed to Toronto,
and were received the day before the wedding. Tulala na daw si Lala (when
Rory saw her late Friday afternoon) - probably from worrying.  As always,
Mila had a back-up plan.

Anyway, all's well that ends well.  And so, I'm relieved to be back in my
own bed, and to my
not-so-exciting life.
Hope all's well w/ you.

Potit

Got back from a very enjoyable weekend with Espie, Hermie and Mila, and
Mila's first cousin, her Mana Amy (or Ate).  The wedding was nice, and I
enjoyed the time with Espie, puro daldalan.  The weather was also
beautiful--I did not even need a coat!
 

Everything turned out very well.  We had a really good time with Rory and
Potit and am very thankful to them and Prep 65.

Will tell you more about it -- all I can say is that it was a very
beautiful wedding, and we're all happy for Lala and Derek.

Mila