PACITA’S CHOICE
(Franklin’s, too)
Ria gave me a difficult task
Writing a line or two to unmask
The alchemy of a marriage
For 25 years stood with courage.
It could have been easy to compose
Despite the one-day deadline imposed
The form and tone I could freely choose –
A metered sonnet, free flowing verse,
Holy prayer or comical prose.
The topic too could be as diverse
On couples or about marriage
As general as relationships
Or specific to our friendship.
Originality is what’s hard
As these are subjects for greeting cards
Thousands of messages have been cracked
Creating a fortune for Hallmark.
To be unique I thought I would dwell
Why Franklin and Pat to each do gel
The secret they’ve lasted all these years
As the song goes – through laughter and tears.
It must be love, I was almost sure
Perennial answer, simple and pure
But others too they loved just as well
How come did not end with wedding bells?
Then, is it friendship which others say
A stronger foundation it lays?
Countless friends like me they’ve developed
Not one was good enough to elope.
Could it be as mundane as good looks
Or ideals we list in slum books?
With these, some Prepians and PMAers
Would have been more abundantly blessed
Yet none worthy to share wedded bliss.
Maybe, the magic of chemistry
Or perhaps, compatibility?
With these stuff soulmates too are made
Not all, bye to singlehood they bade.
So what’s behind the choice Franklin made
That Pat was indeed the fairest maid?
Reasons why Franklin was who Pat chose
From among others she too was close.
Love, friendship, physical attributes
Each of these would surely contribute
Chemistry, compatibility
Add unfathomable qualities
Such as luck, fate, divine destiny.
Or as some multiple choices go
"All of the above" is not a no.
Whatever it is, let’s raise a toast
Not only because tonight they’re hosts
FRANKly, they deserve our cheers, more joys
A big PAT on the back for their choice.
Rina Jimenez-David
Frank and Pat,
I am really sorry I missed the happy occasion. I did try
to juggle my schedule
but....
Elmer
Subject: re: a silver milestone
Dear Fran & Pat,
You are very blessed to have such a marriage. May you
have as many and more
to come!
Edith
Date: Sat, 20 Feb 1999 21:21:13 EST
To: brecks@pacific.net.ph
Subject: Re: guess who?
Patricia Pascual and Franklin Mangonon! How can I forget?
Congratulations on your 25th wedding anniversary and on having such a smart
child! If she were 4 years younger, I could have hooked her up with my
son, Eric. Eric is only 19 years old and just a sophomore in college, majoring
in economics. He still needs to grow up and be able to stand on his own.
Did you read my mail to Ana B. about my family? I don't want to be redundant,
so just tell me if I need to tell you about the rest of my family.
About Saudi Arabia, I never went there although I have
thought of it, but I did have a year's stint as a misioanry nurse in Hongkong.
Even met Delay and friends on their way to the US there.
I spent a couple of years at the UP CCHP in the early
70's and then emigrated to the US in '73. Went home to get married in '76.
Didn't know anybody's whereabouts at that time so I couldn't invite anybody.
I am looking forward to seeing you again in May. Please
do your best to make it. It would be a blast.
Saw some pictures on Mila's website and learned about
Miss Flora Cruz but I am not done browsing yet. Am just so glad that we
got connected again after so many years. It is amazing what the internet
can do.
It has sure made the world smaller.Please send
my regards to the rest of the group and let the news keep coming. Ana B.
has really done great in making me feel like I was there during Ericson's
birthday and on your silver anniversary.
Love,
Ebong (aka Evelina Ruiz)
Dear Pat and Franklin,
Thanks for sharing with us your blessings of your apparently
beautiful
marriage.
I actually thought of sending you a prayer, but it took
sometime before I
could sit down and write it. It is certainly past
Ria's deadline for the
prayer book. But I do not mind at all, for it is not
intended for that. In
fact, the idea just prompted me to have the chance to
express my private
thoughts on you for your special day.
Having lived in our new home for almost 15 years, where
I share my day to
day life with people in a city of over a hundred languages,
several
different religions, backgrounds and life experiences,
it humbles me to
know and realize that I am just one of them, and each
one's life, hopes and
dreams are just as precious as mine. And, so in
my little prayer I
composed specially for you, I hope to convey that feeling.
Congratulations and best wishes to you!!
_________________________________________
To the Gods of all faiths,
Bless Pat and Franklin and their enduring marriage,
Bless their daughter Ria and the love she has given them,
And may the strength of their commitment, the warmth
of their affection,
the intensity of their passion, and the spirit of their
love for each other,
resonate like music and carried by the wind to every
nook and corner of the
world,
to touch the hearts and minds of all mankind.
So there will be less bigotry, greed, cruelty, bitterness
and hate;
So there will be more tolerance, understanding, compassion,
goodwill and love;
So this world will be a safer, kinder and nicer place
for us, for our
children and our children's children.
Amen
_______________
Our thoughts will be with you on Tuesday,
Warm regards from chilly Toronto,
Mila and Family
i called you last night to greet you personally on such
important
occassion but i guess you were still celebrating. anyway,
congratulations! its too bad i'm not there to celebrate
it with you but
i'm sure the barkada was there in full force and
has adequately
represented me and aida. do write me details of the celebration.
Date: Sat, 13 Feb 1999 10:05:55 EST
To: brecks@pacific.net.ph
Mime-Version: 1.0
Subject: Re: a silver milestone
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit
X-Mailer: AOL 4.0 for Windows 95 sub 205
Happy Anniversary to a very lucky couple! May you have
lots more years of
marital bliss.
Love from Northampton, MA- Del, Ron, Dan and Liza Blank
Dearest Frank, Pat & Ria:
All my best wishes on your 25th anniversary!!! Everyone
of us has
touched our lives. We thank the Lord for this special
gift of belonging
to a rare breed that has shaped our lives in its shape
and form. My
family congratulates and wishes you good health, prosperity
and more
fun in the years to come.
From Vancouver with Love.
Tony Aytona & Family
Guess what! You have just received an animated greeting
card from Potit
You'll see the personal greeting by using the following
Web location.
http://www4.bluemountain.com/cards/box9993j/eiw5xxfsjawzsy.htm
(Your greeting card will be available for the next 60
days)
There is no charge for this service! :) HAVE a
good day and have fun!
__________________________________________________
