View of the beachfront and Dakak Bay from Le Bamboo Cafeof Dakak Park and Beach Resort
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
- Jeremiah 29:11
At 11:00 o'clock p.m. on Thursday, May 12, 2011, three of my close friends and I were at the Ceres Southbound Bus Terminal waiting to board the midnight bus that was to take us to the Port of Dumaguete.
From Dumaguete, we were to board a ferry boat that would take us to the Port of Dapitan, a famous shrine city located in the peninsula of Zamboanga in southern Philippines.
Because the Philippines is an archipelago of 7,100 islands, the only way to travel from one island to another is by ferry, or by plane. The islands are far apart, so there are not very many bridges that connect them.
This was not going to be just any trip for each of us. And we all knew it was not going to be easy.
We were about to embark on a journey of love.
Arlene is our friend. Her son RD was going to get married to his sweetheart of seven years, a lovely woman named Hannah. It was going to be a destination wedding to Dakak, a tourist spot nestled in the coves of Dakak Bay, about 40 minutes from Dapitan Port.
Arlene has been through some very trying times these past years. Her faith has been severely tested. Financial reversals... a serious illness that afflicted her husband Rudy... a near fatal accident for her son Matt whose SUV was totally wrecked but the lives of all the passengers were miraculously spared... these are just some of the things she has been dealing with recently.
Many times Arlene has wondered if God has turned His back on her.
Yet she never gave up. She remained steadfast in her faith.
But time and again, Arlene would tell us, if it were not for the love and support of friends, she would have given up a long time ago.
There are times in a crisis of faith that we need the love of friends to carry us on.
And this is why we were willing to go on this journey. It was for the love of Arlene.
Many times each one of us were about to back out... even at the 11th hour... but on that Thursday night, all four of us - Elena, Jing, April and I - were ready for what was ahead.
And we were not disappointed.
It seemed like heaven was smiling on us from the time we decided to attend the wedding.
We went because we wanted to be a blessing to Arlene. Instead,we were the ones who turned out to be blessed.
It is a spiritual truth. We can never "outgive" God.
The wedding was so beautiful!
Truly, it was an honor and a privilege for us to have witnessed how God poured His anointing upon the ceremony. As I write these words I am still amazed, finding it hard to believe that the past weekend is not just another beautiful dream.
The rest of the story follows below, together with "some" of the pictures I took to document the memorable event.
Elena, Jing, April and I boarded the Ceres bus to Dumaguete Port at 12:00 a.m. midnight.
It was such a bumpy ride, and we hardly slept, but this is us, all smiles upon arrival in Dumaguete at 4:30 a.m. of Friday May 13.
While April bought our tickets for the ferry, we had a pictorial session at the port. Here we are with our belongings on a rented kariton (a wooden pushcart), on our way to the ferry terminal.
Jing ...
Elena ...
At the boat terminal waiting to board the 6:00 a.m. ferry
Jing's trendy travel gear
Here she comes, the George and Peter Montenegro Ferry
against the Dumaguete sunrise
snapshots of the Port of Dumaguete
Good morning, Dumaguete!
Elena: "There's always a first time!"
It was definitely not traveling in style and glamor... but at least there were bunk beds.
And we slept most of the four hours that it took us to reach Dapitan Port!
Elena and me... just a few minutes after we woke up!
View of Zamboanga del Norte from the ferry
Four hours after leaving Dumaguete, here we are at Dapitan Port at 10:00 a.m. Friday
April, Elena and Jing on the wharf
RD personally welcomed us and the rest of his guests who also arrived on the same ferry.
Several SUVs and a tourist bus transported us to Dakak Beach Resort where we were booked for the weekend.
Everything was well organized.
Hannah was at the hotel lobby to personally welcome her guests.
Guests were handed a guest advice card and map of the resort upon checking in.
The beach looked so inviting with its powdery white sand and crystal clear waters.
photo by Claire Algarme
Group photo taken after lunch.
Arlene, Cecile, Menchu
me, Jing, April, and Elena
On our way back to our cottages after the Hawaiian party
Four of us shared a cottage - and in the next pic, we are seen just about ready to fall asleep!
Four sleepyheads: "It's been a long day!"
Sunrise on Saturday, May 14. Shot taken from our veranda.
Buffet Breakfast at the Le Bamboo Cafe
Pastor Joe and his wife Marilou
After breakfast
More Dakak Beach pictures...
RD with his mom's friends
This bamboo umbrella reminds me so much of Thailand!
The groom RD and his best man, younger brother Matt, with their father Rudy.
Guests were brought to the church by bus.
Menchu and Jing on the bus
April and her high heels!
Dapitan Church
photo by Teng Formosa
The bride Hannah waiting inside the bridal car
Flowers for the flower girls and junior bridesmaids
Inside the Dapitan Catholic Church
Arlene with her dear friends Menchu and Cecile who were two of the principal sponsors
Isn't this sweet!
Bride's father
Lovely Hannah... she couldn't hold back the tears
on her way to the altar...
After the wedding which was solemnized at the Catholic church,
the bride and groom, their entourage, and all the guests returned to the hotel for cocktails and refreshments.
We gathered at the beachfront to witness a beautiful Christian blessing ceremony for RD and Hannah, officiated by Pastor Joe Ascalon.
The bridal canopy or chuppah, symbolizing the first home that the newly wed couple will build together. Open on all sides, it is a picture of hospitality and an open heart.
The unity candle - when lit, is a symbol of two hearts joining as one.
The tallit and Bible
The Jewish prayer shawl is a symbol of personal holiness, obedience to God's commands, spiritual covering, spiritual protection, and spiritual authority.
The Bible stands for the authority of God's word, and by using it in a wedding, the couple expresses the importance of feeding on it for spiritual nourishment and relying on it keep them on the path of righteousness.
Random snapshots of beautiful guests...
Hannah's cousins
Marilou, our pastor's wife
Elena, looking so elegant in her gown...
some of the principal sponsors...
The newlyweds RD and Hannah walking in...
Exchange of wedding vows... releasing blessings... the bride and groom and their parents...
Mother to Son: "We release you to manhood, you are no longer your mother's little boy. I declare that you are a man, fully able to be the head of your family; and your father and I are proud of you."
Son to father: "If you could only fully understand how happy I am today because you're here."
Son to mother: "My brother and I are the men we are today because of you, you have been a pillar of strength. I love you."
Daughter to parents: "Thanks for all the support, the love... I'll always love you."
Daughter to mother-in-law: "Thank you for accepting me and welcoming me into your hearts."
Son to father-in-law: "Thank you for believing in me. I will bring honor and pride to this family."
Father to daughter: "I bless this marriage, and I love you and your husband... but you will always be my baby."
Such touching moments... tears fell from everyone's eyes!
Pastor Joe explains the meaning of covenant marriage:
"From this day on, remove the word separation from your vocabulary. Marriage is for keeps... what God has joined together, let no man put asunder."
The wedding reception
Elena and me...
The wedding cake... a symbol of the process involved in a marriage relationship
Cutting the cake...
Hannah and her dad ...
The next day, Sunday, was the day of our departure...
Jing: "Tropical fruits, anyone?"
Time to say good-bye!
Hannah and RD, saying good-bye to their guests....
After loading our bags into the luggage compartment ...
we boarded the bus that will take us back to the Port of Dapitan...
April and Menchu
Menchu decided to join us instead of taking the plane back to Bacolod ...
Thumbs up!
Good- bye, Dakak!
Back at Dapitan Port: waiting to board the Ocean Jet fast ferry...
Arrival at the Port of Dumaguete, 4:00 p.m. May 15, Sunday
Pizza and pasta at Why Not? restaurant...
A portion of the boulevard in Dumaguete
At 11:00 o'clock p.m. on Thursday, May 12, 2011, three of my close friends and I were at the Ceres Southbound Bus Terminal waiting to board the midnight bus that was to take us to the Port of Dumaguete.
From Dumaguete, we were to board a ferry boat that would take us to the Port of Dapitan, a famous shrine city located in the peninsula of Zamboanga in southern Philippines.
Because the Philippines is an archipelago of 7,100 islands, the only way to travel from one island to another is by ferry, or by plane. The islands are far apart, so there are not very many bridges that connect them.
This was not going to be just any trip for each of us. And we all knew it was not going to be easy.
We were about to embark on a journey of love.
Arlene is our friend. Her son RD was going to get married to his sweetheart of seven years, a lovely woman named Hannah. It was going to be a destination wedding to Dakak, a tourist spot nestled in the coves of Dakak Bay, about 40 minutes from Dapitan Port.
Arlene has been through some very trying times these past years. Her faith has been severely tested. Financial reversals... a serious illness that afflicted her husband Rudy... a near fatal accident for her son Matt whose SUV was totally wrecked but the lives of all the passengers were miraculously spared... these are just some of the things she has been dealing with recently.
Many times Arlene has wondered if God has turned His back on her.
Yet she never gave up. She remained steadfast in her faith.
But time and again, Arlene would tell us, if it were not for the love and support of friends, she would have given up a long time ago.
There are times in a crisis of faith that we need the love of friends to carry us on.
And this is why we were willing to go on this journey. It was for the love of Arlene.
Many times each one of us were about to back out... even at the 11th hour... but on that Thursday night, all four of us - Elena, Jing, April and I - were ready for what was ahead.
And we were not disappointed.
It seemed like heaven was smiling on us from the time we decided to attend the wedding.
We went because we wanted to be a blessing to Arlene. Instead,we were the ones who turned out to be blessed.
It is a spiritual truth. We can never "outgive" God.
The wedding was so beautiful!
Truly, it was an honor and a privilege for us to have witnessed how God poured His anointing upon the ceremony. As I write these words I am still amazed, finding it hard to believe that the past weekend is not just another beautiful dream.
The rest of the story follows below, together with "some" of the pictures I took to document the memorable event.
Elena, Jing, April and I boarded the Ceres bus to Dumaguete Port at 12:00 a.m. midnight.
It was such a bumpy ride, and we hardly slept, but this is us, all smiles upon arrival in Dumaguete at 4:30 a.m. of Friday May 13.While April bought our tickets for the ferry, we had a pictorial session at the port. Here we are with our belongings on a rented kariton (a wooden pushcart), on our way to the ferry terminal.
Jing ...
Elena ...
At the boat terminal waiting to board the 6:00 a.m. ferry
Jing's trendy travel gear
against the Dumaguete sunrise
snapshots of the Port of Dumaguete
Good morning, Dumaguete!
Elena: "There's always a first time!"It was definitely not traveling in style and glamor... but at least there were bunk beds.
And we slept most of the four hours that it took us to reach Dapitan Port!
Elena and me... just a few minutes after we woke up!
View of Zamboanga del Norte from the ferry
Four hours after leaving Dumaguete, here we are at Dapitan Port at 10:00 a.m. FridayApril, Elena and Jing on the wharf
RD personally welcomed us and the rest of his guests who also arrived on the same ferry.
Several SUVs and a tourist bus transported us to Dakak Beach Resort where we were booked for the weekend.
Everything was well organized.
Hannah was at the hotel lobby to personally welcome her guests.
Guests were handed a guest advice card and map of the resort upon checking in.
The beach looked so inviting with its powdery white sand and crystal clear waters.
photo by Claire Algarme
Group photo taken after lunch.Arlene, Cecile, Menchu
me, Jing, April, and Elena
On our way back to our cottages after the Hawaiian partyFour of us shared a cottage - and in the next pic, we are seen just about ready to fall asleep!
Four sleepyheads: "It's been a long day!"
Sunrise on Saturday, May 14. Shot taken from our veranda.
Buffet Breakfast at the Le Bamboo Cafe
Pastor Joe and his wife Marilou
After breakfast
More Dakak Beach pictures...
RD with his mom's friends
This bamboo umbrella reminds me so much of Thailand!
The groom RD and his best man, younger brother Matt, with their father Rudy.Guests were brought to the church by bus.
Menchu and Jing on the bus
April and her high heels!
Dapitan Churchphoto by Teng Formosa
The bride Hannah waiting inside the bridal car
Flowers for the flower girls and junior bridesmaids
Inside the Dapitan Catholic Church
Arlene with her dear friends Menchu and Cecile who were two of the principal sponsors
Isn't this sweet!
Bride's father
Lovely Hannah... she couldn't hold back the tears
on her way to the altar...After the wedding which was solemnized at the Catholic church,
the bride and groom, their entourage, and all the guests returned to the hotel for cocktails and refreshments.
We gathered at the beachfront to witness a beautiful Christian blessing ceremony for RD and Hannah, officiated by Pastor Joe Ascalon.
The bridal canopy or chuppah, symbolizing the first home that the newly wed couple will build together. Open on all sides, it is a picture of hospitality and an open heart.
The unity candle - when lit, is a symbol of two hearts joining as one.
The tallit and BibleThe Jewish prayer shawl is a symbol of personal holiness, obedience to God's commands, spiritual covering, spiritual protection, and spiritual authority.
The Bible stands for the authority of God's word, and by using it in a wedding, the couple expresses the importance of feeding on it for spiritual nourishment and relying on it keep them on the path of righteousness.
Random snapshots of beautiful guests...
Hannah's cousins
Marilou, our pastor's wife
Elena, looking so elegant in her gown...
some of the principal sponsors...
The newlyweds RD and Hannah walking in...
Exchange of wedding vows... releasing blessings... the bride and groom and their parents...Mother to Son: "We release you to manhood, you are no longer your mother's little boy. I declare that you are a man, fully able to be the head of your family; and your father and I are proud of you."
Son to father: "If you could only fully understand how happy I am today because you're here."
Son to mother: "My brother and I are the men we are today because of you, you have been a pillar of strength. I love you."
Daughter to parents: "Thanks for all the support, the love... I'll always love you."
Daughter to mother-in-law: "Thank you for accepting me and welcoming me into your hearts."
Son to father-in-law: "Thank you for believing in me. I will bring honor and pride to this family."
Father to daughter: "I bless this marriage, and I love you and your husband... but you will always be my baby."
Such touching moments... tears fell from everyone's eyes!
Pastor Joe explains the meaning of covenant marriage:"From this day on, remove the word separation from your vocabulary. Marriage is for keeps... what God has joined together, let no man put asunder."
The wedding reception
Elena and me...
The wedding cake... a symbol of the process involved in a marriage relationship
Cutting the cake...
Hannah and her dad ...The next day, Sunday, was the day of our departure...
Jing: "Tropical fruits, anyone?"
Time to say good-bye!
Hannah and RD, saying good-bye to their guests....
After loading our bags into the luggage compartment ...we boarded the bus that will take us back to the Port of Dapitan...
April and MenchuMenchu decided to join us instead of taking the plane back to Bacolod ...
Thumbs up!
Good- bye, Dakak!
Back at Dapitan Port: waiting to board the Ocean Jet fast ferry...
Arrival at the Port of Dumaguete, 4:00 p.m. May 15, Sunday
Pizza and pasta at Why Not? restaurant...
A portion of the boulevard in DumagueteAfter our delicious meal, we all settled down for the long drive back to Bacolod City.
We reached our homes at 11 p.m. Sunday, exactly three days after we left!
Obviously, this wedding will always be memorable to me!
We reached our homes at 11 p.m. Sunday, exactly three days after we left!
Obviously, this wedding will always be memorable to me!
19 comments:
What a wonderful story---and what a beautiful wedding and celebration, all beautifully told in your blog.
Isn't it true that when we do something for others, we are the ones who benefit the most?
PS---You are beautiful.
Dear Lidj,
Thank you for sharing.
A fairytale wedding with all the right ingredients.
Pray that all involved may continue being blessed in abundance.
From Felisol
Hi Lidj,
What a beautiful place to have a wedding. I really love Hannah's dress, very beautiful. It is so refreshing to see newly weds; love flowing back and forth between the two you can almost feel the excitement of their adventure into a life together.
It sure does look like you had a great time with your friends. Thank you for sharing this, you are such a blessing.
Hugs,
<><
Hi Lidj,
Thank you for sharing this with us. It is a wonderful reminder for us to never lose hope and also be there for others in need.
Blessings,
Ken
Good morning, Lidj. I want to thank you for your wonderful comments on my blog. I appreciate your insights!
And---I know how frustrating it is to write a letter from the heart and then see it vanish.
My best to you.
I felt like I just came from a tropical wedding....and you know, it made me miss Saipan-something I didn't think I would do. You are so correct-a true giving friendship relationship is so important. Unselfish love for a friend...what a blessing.
Hi Manang Lidj!
Cried for joy when I read this article... cried because it is beautifully written and it touched my heart deeply.... cried because I miss you and my dear women friends back home!
What a beautiful wedding indeed sister Lidj! And thank you for sharing it with us. The pictures are awesome. There are many unexplored areas still from our homeland. It is beautiful...I'm glad you chose to go and found out you were blessed instead. We have an awesome Gift-giver Who loves to just do that!
God bless you and continue to protect you and guide you.
Lidj, you did an awesome job documenting this wonderful event. Breathtaking beachfront resort. But I can feel the love of Jesus always from your heart...for your girlfriends, passion for your journey and for all of us that you visit and encourage.
You are so precious!
Love you,
Mary
Warning. Long Comment:Tonight I am one of the happiest Peeps, Lidj--that you chose to say "Hello" on my blog. Tere are so mann Peeps, that I confess, I lose track of them at one time or other.
Reading carefully and thoughtfully, your post "Weekend...Dakak: For the Love of Arlene"..I chose to ponder these words:
"Many times Arlene has wondered if God has turned His back on her.
....
But time and again, Arlene would tell us, if it were not for the love and support of friends, she would have given up a long time ago.
There are times in a crisis of faith that we need the love of friends to carry us on."
Lidj...is it not that God's Love is expressed by that human love shown us by our friends? Is that not God loving us as well?
I might not understand God's direct language--being human. And so He uses YOU to talk and show love to others, Arlene, your fellow-travelers, and whoever (me) reads this blog
And you wrote:
"And this is why we were willing to go on this journey. It was for the love of Arlene."
Yessss, Lidj! You see--you carried God's love to Arlene and her family. And who ELSE benefited??? YOU and your fellow Pilgrims!
Anyway, that's the way I see it. And...I L O V E it!!!!!
SO glad you dropped by--can you tell?--grin!
PEACE!
Steve
This touched my heart in so many ways!! Thanks for sharing and for the pictures that just allowed me to be there for the joy ride.
The preciousness of Godly friendships...through thick and thin.
The beauty of seeing sisters in Christ in other parts of the world
The beauty of other parts of the world.
The union in marriage...God's hand in all that happens in this joyous time.
Thanks so much for sharing, my heart was encouraged and warmed by each picture and word. You can express truth in such a wonderful way.
Blessings!
Oh number six didn't slept into the creek...he seems to be my rule keeper more than the first five...maybe God is gracious to his old parents! LOL
Dear Lidj, It is so true, we can never outgive God. When you chose to bless your friend by going to the wedding, you were blessed! And, what a beautiful wedding! I think weddings give us a little glimpse of heaven :)Thank you for sharing this with us.
Beautiful story....gorgeous photos!
Hoping you are well Lidj..... as always, I love reading your post!
Have a great weekend.... I'll think of you when I'm eating Lola's cupcakes! : )
Love,
Lis
Lidj,
Thank you for sharing all the details of your travels and this beautiful wedding! It cheered my heart a bit, because today we are missing our nephew's wedding to a lovely Christian girl. It's difficult being away from the whole family, but trusting we're in the right place--where God wants us.
I love your photos and the all the joy captured for the rest of us to share in.
Blessings dear friend!! Linda
One more beautiful journey shared! Really Lidj... what amazing trips you have been on. And always... the FOOD... and my question remains... how do you stay so TINY!!
I am loving the exposure to the part of God's world that you live in. It's so beautiful.
Won't heaven be amazing!
Happy Sunday Lidj.
xo
I love when I set out to bless a friend but it is me who is blessed!
I love all the photos! The wedding looks absolutely beautiful! The wedding cake is beautiful and the bride look gorgeous! Beautiful country you live in!!!
I'm going to try to leave a comment again! If you have 2 - pick the first one - LOL
Friendship that lifts you up when you need to be sustained are gifts from God. Friendship comes from giving and I think of the scripture, "Give and it will come back to you, pressed down, shaken together and running over." What a blessing you were to your friend.
I also loved the bridge and groom words to their parents. We do not do that here - and I think it adds "grace" to the letting go.
The times that I have so not wanted to go somewhere because something inside me was battling - where those are the times I have been most blessed.
Yes - what a beautiful memory - but what a wonderful gift to your friend. Be blessed today Lidj!
Maryleigh
Hi Lidj -
I enjoyed this photo journey. The pictures express such joy.
The bride is stunning as she walks down the aisle.
Love is evident in your photos...
You looked like you were in such gladness among your friends. The bunch of you looked pleased throughout. Great journey.
Thank you, Lidj, for sharing.
Hi Lidia,
Wonderfu party
I wish I could be there onec.
Miss you
Oy
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