I can't tell you how ecstatic I am about this long-awaited wedding of Jon and Charisse. Finally, the long wait is over. Yes, I can now rightfully claim Charisse as my daughter-in-law, and believe me, it's a grand feeling.

 

I've been asked why the wedding had to take place in Metro Manila. Why not in New York where Charisse and Jon reside? Or why not in Chicago where their mom (that's me of course!) resides?

 

Well, I thought that Metro Manila would be the best place because it would ensure that we would have the best attendance from all the families concerned. The Mobo's of Kalibo, Aklan, the Trinidad's of Bulacan, and the Cuyugan's of San Fernando, Pampanga.

 

Thankfully, I was right. I could not have asked for a better attendance by relatives of the wedding principals: from the Philippines, the U.S., Czech Republic, the Sultanate of Brunei, and Canada.

 

I was also concerned that close friends from afar wouldn't be able to make it to the wedding. Well, most of them are here, too - from Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Michigan, Baltimore, New York, Florida, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, U.K., and Scotland.

 

To you all, thank you so much for joining us in this most joyous occasion, one that we will treasure and hold dearly to our hearts, for as long as it takes and whatever it takes, for as long as a lifetime.

 

On behalf of Charisse and Jon, thank you all for sharing your precious time with us.

 

Maraming Salamat Po.

Someone had said that “something” is addition. I always thought it referred to marriage. For indeed it is the one that matters, binds, and ultimately weathers strong winds and high waters. Today, I am proud to welcome handsome, loving, gentle, mild-mannered entrepreneurial spirit in Jon. Jon, welcome to our family, son. That Jon is what he is now is a testament to Rose’s strength of character. As someone who lost her husband early on and had to bear seeing 6 more children through school, I empathize with you, Rose. And if I may say so myself, Rose, I think we have done something good!

 

You know, when Jon and Charisse first lived together, I was worried.  But Charisse wrote to me saying, “Mom, do not worry.  Jon is a good man.  He is good with money and he throws the garbage!” I did not realize it is important for a man to throw out the garbage.

 

As I look around the room I see some family history unfolding. For the first time in almost a decade, all my 7 children in the same room. How I wish my husband were here to witness this. I also see the love and affection showered upon Jon and Charisse by family and friends who had come from all over the globe to be here today. We have all converged here from the United States (California, Connecticut, New York, Illinois, Maryland, among others), the United Kingdom of Great Britain, the Sultanate of Brunei, Scotland, Canada, the Czech Republics, Hong Kong, and various great provinces in the Philippines (Pampanga, Aklan, Camarines, Metro Manila, and others).

 

On behalf of my family, I thank you all for coming. And with  Mr. Trinidad’s presence, this affair truly is about family.

 

In closing, Jon, I am most happy to call you a son. Rose, I hope you will realize that you have also gained an extraordinary daughter.