Palen couple marks 25 years of marriageBy GLENN LUMANTAO
I haven’t encountered any couple whom as dedicated and committed like Boy and Bebie to their marriage. Last Tuesday, I was lucky enough to witness the renewal of marriage vows between Juanito “Boy†Palen and Julieta Calacar Palen at the Quinoguitan Parish Church on their 25th year wedding anniversary.
It was a rainy day as typhoon Feria brought perennial rain showers and gloomy atmosphere. But nevertheless, not even typhoon signal No. 3 can hinder the celebration.
The reception followed at the Loboc Tour Park and Restaurant. A cozy place which serve good food and a green ambiance.
Boy and Babie are simple couple. They are living a very Christian lifestyle. Active in the church activities as well as in the community. The two is really a picture of a model couple.
Boy, 51, is the eldest of four sons of Gualberto and Ceferina Palen of Calunasan Norte while Babie, 48, is the 2nd daughter of the late Nicolas Calacar and the surviving Lawrencia Calacar of Candabong in the same town.
Boy is working as seamen abroad while Babie is serving as a barangay kagawad of Candabong. The couple is blessed with four lovely children, Rence, 23, a registered nurse, who is in now working at the East Avenue Medical Center, and “JR,†21, a fresh nautical graduate. The two younger siblings are Roy Cesar and Julie Anne who are still in elementary.
THE LOVE STORY
The love story started by mere chance. One ordinary afternoon on March 30, 1982, Babie, on her usual way home from school took her uncle’s jeepney sitting at her permanent seat in front. Suddenly, a big guy politely asked permission to take the seat beside her. As the ride traveled for couple of minutes, approaching Loay town proper. Boy anxiously started the first move by asking the girl where she was heading to, as he also introduced himself like a typical gentleman. Until they parted ways as they reached their respective destinations.
The following day, Babie in her astonishment saw the guy approaching their house in Candabong. The courtship immediately started. The following day Boy visited again to continue what he was started. Finally on the fourth day, Babie gave her “sweet yes.†They became sweet lovers four days after they first met. Easy Girl? No! She just saw the sincerity of Boy.
Couple of weeks after, Boy went back to his work overseas. Although thousand miles away, the two strengthen their bonding through letter sending until the two tied the knot of marriage on June 23, 1984.
The rest was history. The four day courtship turned out to be an eternal love.
On his part, Fr. Roque Maguinsay, the former parish priest of Quinoguitan Parish Church, expressed his appreciation to the couple for being very active speakers of the Church marriage enrichment program.
The newly assigned priest Fr. Oliver Saligan, who was the main celebrant, also shared his thoughts as how Jesus Christ offered this life to the church, as how he marries and loves his vocation as a priest, that’s how Boy and Babie exactly vow their commitment to love each other.
ONE AND ONLY LOVE
Loboc former mayor Federico Adarne, one of the sponsors, in his message called it “Gugmang Bugtong†(one and only love). That there is really such thing as love which is worth dying for. That it is better to stay single than not to have this kind of love.
The teary eyed daughter Rence, wholeheartedly expressed how thankful she is that God gave her parents like Boy and Babie. That even the father just spent a month or two every year at home, she still feels and experiences the oneness of the family.
It is indeed a one and only love because when we are about to wind up this article, we just knew that this is already a second renewal of vows since they already have it done in their 10th year anniversary in 1994. Now we are looking forward for the next renewal of their vows in the next 25 years as the couple promise their well wishers to have their Golden Wedding anniversary in 2034 if God will still bless them good health and the meaning of true love. Congratulations!
Linkback:
https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=20871.0
