When Winlove Abello Cudal and I chose to get married on June 12, 1955, we did not know that the date was historical and that it would later be declared by the Congress of the Philippines as “Philippine Independence Day.” Since then, Philippine Independence Day celebrations have drowned out my wedding anniversary celebrations, which I either overlooked or forgot to celebrate in recent years here in San Diego due to my involvement with the Philippine Faire and Parade to celebrate the declaration of Philippine Independence from Spain.
Today I have to take time out from the Philippine Faire and Parade to celebrate our Golden Wedding anniversary! Our seven children – our seven bundles of joy – who made our lives worth living and all its challenges worth fighting for, are preparing to make this day a big one for us. It will be a simple gathering of friends and relatives but it will be so meaningful since once again we will be renewing our vows and declaring before God, and in the presence of loved ones, that we will take each other for “better or for worse, in sickness or in health, till death do us part.” Given that our relationship has been tested by time and that we were able to triumph over difficulties and adversities, the next phase of our marital journey would certainly be for better, for health and till death. There is no longer a doubt in my mind that this marriage is for keeps!
In a society where marriage has lost its permanence, where men and women have options to live together happily ever after or to change partners due to discovered irreconcilable differences, staying married to one guy for fifty years is a feat. I remember someone I met in an international conference who asked me, “Are you married?” I answered, “Yes, for the past 45 years!” His jaw dropped and followed up with “to the same guy?” Yes, to the same guy!” “Do you not find it boring?” No, my husband is fun, he is my friend, my confidante, and my companion for life.” End of conversation.
I must admit that there have been temptations, challenges, problems in our journey through life, but my husband and I have claimed that ‘with God nothing is impossible’ and that ‘we can do all things through Christ, the source of our strength’. A marriage founded in God and with God will never fail!
Our children -- Mary Ann, Gia, Bobby, Arwin, BenHur, Carlo and Sharon Rose -- are our pride and joy. They kept our marriage together and they are the reasons for its being. We praise and thank God for giving us the privilege to raise them, to send them to school, and to allow them to pursue their own dreams and aspirations. We have lived simple lives, complicated only by our love for community service, especially here in San Diego. We may have been misunderstood and misperceived for all our wide variety of involvements but deep in our hearts, we served to give spice to our lives, to strengthen our relationship with each other and to make a difference in the community!