Marriage Advice…

The husband and the wife should…

Let their LOVE be much stronger and intense
than their hate and anger.

Learn the wisdom and true value of COMPROMISE;
It is always better to bend a little than to stand still yet miserable.

Deem and believe in what is the BEST than what is the worst.

Bear in mind that genuine FRIENDSHIP
is the basis to a lasting marriage.

Remember that the person you choose to marry
also deserves your respect, trust, kindness and courtesies
that you give and show to your friends.

I am…

When I got married in 2006, I finally realized that this new phase would really change my life forever – my priorities, schedules, habits, routines and activities. My hubby and I had a 4-year engagement and we were right to think that we still needed ample time for adjustment. It was indeed true when people say that you and your partner will only know one another if and only if both of you will live under one roof.

Though we knew each other for quite a long time, we were surprised that we still make many revelations not just in our daily activities, values and attitudes, but also in our perceptions, beliefs, insights and points of views.

However, I am so thankful that we always manage to resolve those conflicts and settle those things out. I believe that all these happen simply because we religiously put God in the center of our relationship.

Thus, we try our best to keep our communication lines open, stay away from petty quarrels and bridge whatever gaps we have so far. Well, of course, aside from love, understanding, respect and trust are the keys to a successful marriage.

A man wants to feel that he is always understood; a woman wants to feel that she is always loved.

The father that NEVER was…

Many people believe that a typical family is comprised of a father, a mother and a child. Yes, indeed. But, not for me. I have a family, an extended family that I can call my own though I do not have a father, a biological father.

In my twenty-four years of existence on earth, I have never seen him. Not even once. Never. Ironically speaking, he just resides nearby – a tricycle away… three streets, two subdivisions, several blocks. Well, I don’t even have a picture or anything that may remind me of him. And if someone will ask me why, well, I still do not know until now.

Needless to say, I simply consider him not just as my biological father but also a sperm donor. (I even make use of it as a joke… Whenever I would be asked on what I would tell him when we could get the chance to meet for the first time, I would just smile and quote, “Hey, thanks for the sperm.”)

Kidding aside, he never extended a hand to help my mom in raising me and granting my wants and needs. He never gave me a centavo to provide my necessities. He never had the guts to stand on his own and take accounts of his decisions. In other words, he chose his mom over us – his own family.


On a lighter side, though I don’t have my biological father with me to give me a father figure, I was so fortunate that I had my dearest grandpa, my mom’s dad, to make me feel how it was like to have a father. He was even more than a father to me. He, along with my grandma, was there for my mom through thick and thin.

Indeed, I must say that I would not be here where I am right now if not for them. They had shown me unconditional love and tender loving care that only they could ever give and share. More so, they have successfully given me my needs – be it financially, physically, mentally, emotionally, and most of all, spiritually.

I was…

I once dreamed of a happy family with the usual, typical members – a father, a mother, and their offspring. This was simply because I had none.

Since I came from a broken family, I missed to experience the joy and fun of being loved and cared by a father. I didn’t have a father figure to look up to. But, I am still indeed thankful to be loved and raised by a single parent, my greatest mom as she was supported by her mom and dad (my one and only grandparents), and her siblings as well.

They all helped me out, nourished and nurtured me to be the best someone that I am right now. My achievements, my career, my views and values in life – I owe these all to them.

However, I guess it still feels a lot better to have a family and a home that you can really call your own.

Loving My Wife More

It has been a week since our little prince was born…
And honestly, I admire how you managed the pains and long hours of labor just to give birth to our precious one.
I know how you sacrifice even your life and I’m so thankful that God saved you from such risk.
No wonder, pain and hard work really result to glory.

Now, I love you more!
Not only because you’ve given me a child but also because I firmly believe you’re worthy of it.
Certainly, this is not a commitment but I will try my best not to cause you further burden.

I love you better…
And I vow to take care of you and our offspring as long as I’m living.
Let us always replenish our love everyday; avoiding petty quarrels that make our relationship uneasy.
Let us just focus on how we can abide by our promise to love each other and care for our children.
For who knows, we still are partners even after our lives on earth


Hope you forgive me for my intrusion.

When DAD talks to our Son…

The long wait is over; finally you’re here with us,
your proud and thankful parents.

We still don’t know what to come
but then we’re hopeful that we can keep our vows
to nourish you and to provide you only the best.

Not because it is our obligation;
but because we love you dearly and unconditionally.

We will not require you to follow our steps;
but, please try not to ruin our noble dreams for you.
All we pray is that you grow old in God’s love –
bringing goodness to people and inspiring them to do good unto others as well.

Be brave yet wise.
Excel in your chosen craft yet be compassionate,

Be careful with your steps;
but then, if you fall, keep in mind
we are behind you to catch you still…

LOVE’s images…

The word LOVE brings to mind different pictures, expressions and emotions. It may remind us of cupid’s arrows stringing two hearts together….

… of a soft silhouette of a girl and a boy against the reddening sky against the sea walls of Rizal park.

… of a fragrance and beauty of three roses standing still in a gentleman’s hand.

… of a the locket we wear close to our hearts or simply a sparkling ring we bring often to our lips.

… of a sophisticated yet the sweetest letter written on an unconventional paper that was kept for years and when read in the most unexpected time, it can always make the recipient smile for quite some good reasons that only he/she can understand.

Likewise, it is a touch that warms the hearts and deepens angle of promises and commitments.

It is something that makes happy moments happier; beautiful things more magical; and, every good desire of the heart possible.

Simply, it is planning, dreaming and finding new ways to share depths of companionship, trust, care, affection and intimacy.

Our experience of love may be exalting and exasperating, thrilling and saddening. Love is a relationship that comes as a holy gift from God. It lightens our life, gives meaning to our existence and enriches our personality as well. It is meant to be really fulfilling and strengthening – both a privilege and a responsibility.

Excerpts from my own married life’s NOTEBOOK…

Love… how it is like for me.

Poets often describe LOVE as an emotion that we can hardly control – one that overwhelms logic and common sense. That’s what it was like for me.

I didn’t plan on falling in love with you and I doubt if you also planned falling in love with me. But once we’ve met, it was clear to me that neither of us could control what was happening to us. We fell in love despite of our differences, and once we did, something so rare and beautiful was created.

For me, LOVE, like ours that has happened only once, is something I am really proud of. That’s why every minute we spent together has been seared in my memory and marked in my heart… I’ll never forget any single moment of it.

Yours was the love I was looking for; the man whom I truly wanted to spend the rest of my LIFE with…

These are just some few memorable lines from one of my favorite love stories, The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks... These words have simply inspired me to love selflessly and unconditionally.


Excerpts from my own married life’s NOTEBOOK…

My husband isn’t the expressive, showy and sentimental type of guy. Neither, he is fond of saying I love you all the time. It isn’t because he is insensitive nor less romantic. It is just because he wants me to learn how to read between the lines. Besides, he is not used to those things – knowing that I was his very first girlfriend.

He only shows his love to me in ways he truly knew best: he spends quality time with me and exerts too much effort in everything he does for me. He lightens my burdens, eases my fears and blows my doubts away by simply putting his arms around me, stroking my hair and planting a kiss on my forehead.

Indeed, I am so blessed because I have a man secure enough to let me be the person GOD has designed me to be (Well, I don’t think I’m even there yet.). I believe I am still a work in progress and Ren, in keeping his innate character of always wanting to be the best that he can be.

Likewise, he encourages me to keep on growing, try new things, pursue my interests, and live a life with optimism and positive outlook.

Though I always tell him that I love him so much, I don’t think I thank him often enough for being the kind of husband that he is to me ever since. I really thank God for bringing him into my life.