Marry, marry, quite contrary: Must we change the law to welcome bride-bride / groom-groom nuptials?

Just let them marry whomever they wish.

This line -- and other statements expressing a similar sentiment -- makes its way into conversations more often these days, whether such conversations are face-to-face or virtual. You'd think it's a plea or a piece of advice directed at a concerned parent hesitant to let go of offspring who are of proper age to make up their own minds about life decisions. Dad believes grownup daughter isn't ready for wedded life and is jumping into it with the wrong guy (imagined scenario). But no, the statement in this case is being directed -- on one level -- at citizens who recognize marriage as something meant to be entered into by one man and one woman. On a higher level, Just let them marry whomever they want  is being directed at the State, to persuade decision-makers to legally recognize marriage between members of the same sex.

It's simply a civil union, some say, and everyone has the right to be in a partnership that is recognized by society.

It seems quite simple, and adjusting the law to accommodate the request of some individuals insisting on their preference may be regarded as a step toward justice for all. Is it simple? And would it be just to make such adjustments on the law? Most importantly, would it be the right thing to do?

Give them what they want, seems the easiest route to take. But think about what my friend Mark pointed out here, about whether believers that marriage should be between one man and one woman, should seek to stop the legislation of same-sex "marriage". I quote his written remarks:

It has been said that state-sanctioned marriage is civil, not religious in nature. Christians will not be forced to solemnize same-sex "marriages". We will not be forced to attend those. In short, we will not be affected. Hence, we have no reason to oppose same-sex "marriage". Worse, they say, the only reason we oppose [it] is our homophobia, our fear and hatred of same-sex couples.

But is this the case? No.

The motivation for us to take a stand in the political and legal arena is that we recognize the Law as one of the highest expressions of our collective beliefs. Modern liberals believe that the Law is simply the rules of the game. We do not believe so. We believe that the Law embodies what our people believe in. It forms the collective teaching we impart to the generation after us.

If we legislate same-sex "marriage", we in effect as a people say that same-sex relations, in the context of marriage which is inherently a sexual relationship, are OK. But that is precisely what we do not want to say. We do not think such relationships are OK. We do not think people will find complete fulfillment in those relationships. Hence, we are committed by our conscience to fight such a legislation. And we have a right and a duty to do so as citizens of this nation, to participate in the debate as we chart our nation's direction.

This is not yet an argument against same-sex "marriage". Rather, this is an argument against those who seek the passage of a law allowing same-sex "marriage" on the mere basis that we believers in "traditional marriage" will not be affected anyway. The basic answer to those people is that that is not true. We will be affected, as our children and children's children will be affected.

Apparently, it takes a broader perspective to see the entire picture, and a more other-centered mindset to learn to consider the repercussions of one's actions on the rest of society.

Do you see the emperor's frocks?

Gay unions and the tale of the emperor's invisible clothes


Almost two centuries ago, Hans Christian Andersen wrote a short tale about a very vain emperor who hired two tailors, who were in fact swindlers, to make him new clothes. The two promised to make for him the finest suits made of special fabric. They told him the cloth they would use would be invisible to those who were not worthy of their position and to those who were stupid. The emperor’s ministers could not see any cloth but they feared saying so, lest they be deemed unworthy of their position or be considered stupid. Finally, the swindlers pretended to put on the new clothes on the emperor who also pretended that he saw the cloth, lest he be deemed unworthy of being emperor. As he paraded down the streets, a child from the crowd, who was too young and simple to keep up with any pretense, cried out: But he does not have any clothes!

After two centuries, it seems to me that this story is being repeated with the issue on “gay marriage.” This time I would seem to be the child who simply cries out what he sees.

My initial observation about the debates surrounding this issue is that anyone who declares his opinion against gay marriage is right away labeled a bigot. This term is understood as a person who obstinately sticks to his own opinions and is intolerant of other contrary opinions. Another label attached to those who disagree with gay marriage (and the gender ideology accepted and promoted by the LGBT groups) is “homophobic.” This term is understood to refer to an attitude that includes hatred, antipathy, contempt, prejudice and rejection of the persons who practice the lifestyle of the LGBT ideology.

It may happen that because people do not want to be called bigots or homophobic, they are moved to support the LGBT lifestyle and gay marriage. But why the pretense? Why pretend that gay “marriage” is marriage when it really is not?
Now, having said that, I might be labeled by the LGBT groups as a bigot and homophobic. But am I?

If by bigot we mean one who obstinately sticks to his own opinion and is intolerant of others’, I would say the issue at hand here is not a matter of opinion but a matter of scientific truth or fact. That the emperor in the tale was naked was not a matter of opinion but of fact. That marriage is between a man and a woman for the purpose of having children and establishing a family is also a fact, a given of nature. I’m just sticking to the facts. Of course, people can deny the facts or can invent their own. But doing so does not change the truth. Now following our definition, could it be that the LGBT ideologists are the real bigots?

If by homophobic we mean one who hates or has antipathies toward the LGBTs, I have to say I do not have such feelings or demeanor. As a priest I have always welcomed them with open arms.

The adjective “homo” has two meanings. One is from the Greek word that means “similar”; and so homosexual means same sex. The other is from Latin, and it means “man.” Using this latter meaning, could it be that the LGBT ideology is really homophobic, that is one that shuns or rejects the true nature of man?

Just like Pope Francis, I do not judge the persons who follow and practice the LGBT ideology. Who am I to judge, he said? What I condemn is the error and the tyranny of that ideology. Gay marriage is not marriage. And like the little child in the tale who cried out that the emperor was naked, I must say, homosexual acts are shameful.

- Fr. Cecilio Magsino
Philippine Daily Inquirer / July 17, 2015

A hodgepodge of headlines around the globe

July has been most interesting so far in quite a few parts of the world. While a lot of people continue to do good, there are some places whose residents are experiencing one kind of ordeal or another due to circumstances beyond their control. Some yield to the suffering; others fight back. There are those who take it all in stride while working towards something better.

The bad news can bog us down if we're not vigilant about the amount and kind of materials we read everyday. And that's why I start and end the list of headlines below with stories which demonstrate that the world we live in is a good place as long as we continue to do good.

So, we take a look at what's been happening in other parts of the world, and we do what we can to make the world better -- from where we are, with what we have.

Nine-year-old Filipino Daniel Cabrera

Filipino boy receives scholarship after photograph of him studying on the street goes viral


Christian farmers fined $13,000 for refusing to host same-sex wedding are fighting back


74 children executed by ISIS for 'crimes' that include refusal to fast, reports says


 

Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto

Kenyan leaders to Obama: Don't lecture us on gay 'marriage'


Oregon bakers on $135k fine: 'Christians get ready for civil disobedience'


Pope Francis' Mass in Ecuador focuses on family, draws multitudes


Atlanta Fire Chief fired for 'anti-gay' views 'absolutely' wants his job back


Kansas police officer buys diapers, shoes for mom who shoplifted them for kids

Breaking free: 4 gay men speak out

The following contains testimonies from men who, at one time or another, engaged in homosexual activity and who know well the struggles that come with being attracted to persons of the same sex. There may be cultural differences (two are from the Philippines while the other two are in the West) but amid all of these and amid the experiences they have gone through, the one thing that led them to seek the truth and, inadvertently, to a joy and freedom they did not know before then, was the choice to love God. As one of them put it, "I'm attracted to men, but I love God more."

Kung ako lang ang masusunod, gusto ko rin sanang mag-asawa ng kapwa ko lalake kasi 'yan ang hilig ng katawan ko at ilang beses na rin ako nagmahal ng kapwa ko lalake. Umabot pa noon sa puntong nangarap kaming magpakasal kahit bawal pa noon. Pero kumilos ang Diyos sa buhay ko hanggang sa natunton ko na mas mahal ko ang Diyos kaysa sino mang lalake na dumaan sa buhay ko. At ayon sa banal na kasulatan, hindi ang makiapid sa kapwa ko lalake ang gusto ng Diyos para sa buhay ko. May dakila Siyang plano para sa buhay na ibinigay Niya sa akin. Kaya pinili kong sundin ang Diyos imbes na ang sarili ko. Ang plano Niya ang perpekto. Ngayon, mayroon akong kapayapaan at ligaya sa buhay na hindi kayang tumbasan ng anupaman. Salamat sa pagpapatawad mo o Diyos! Alleluya!

(If it were up to me, I would like to marry another man because that would be following the dictates of my body and I have loved men several times. It even reached a point in which we dreamed of going through with a wedding despite its being prohibited at the time. But God worked in my life until I realized that I love God more than any man who had entered and would enter my life. And according to sacred scriptures, to fornicate with other men  is not what God wants for me. He has a great plan for the life he has given me. Hence, I chose to follow God rather than my own desire. His plan is perfect. Now, I have peace and joy that nothing whatsoever can equal. Thank you for your forgiveness, oh God! Alleluia!)

- Cesar Evangelista Buendia, from a post on his Facebook account (set to public)

* * * * * * * * * *

* * * * * * * * * *

According to [Jovi Atanacio], while many members of the same sex desire union with their romantic partners because of love, Atanacio believes true love desires more than just physical and emotional union.

“It wishes the good of the other. It wishes the good of the other person, encouraging him or her to embrace the virtue of chastity,” he explained.

He clarified, however, that chastity does not mean turning one’s back on love, pointing out it is but a profound and courageous expression of that same love.

Single and chaste, Atanacio, who also maintains the Facebook group “Wanted: Filipino Saints”, underscored the need to grow in the understanding of what love really means.

“If two members of the same sex profess love for each other, they will strive to do what is best for one other. They will encourage one another to identify themselves as beloved children of God who happen to experience same-sex attractions, rather than people who are defined by their sexual urges and happen to believe in God.”

- from 'I'm attracted to men, but I love God more' - Catholic man

* * * * * * * * * * *

The other day, I was joking with someone about smoking crack, like you do because people make jokes about using hard drugs with the understanding that, ‘oh, nobody I know deals with that.’ And then literally the day after I made that joke, I found out that somebody who I’ve known for a very long time has been smoking crack for months and months.

And that is exactly the sort of situation I dealt with growing up, which is where it was sort of standard to make jokes, ‘ha ha, gay people’ because nobody we know is gay – and of course if you hear that sort of thing all the time, you begin to think of yourself as outside of the realm of normal human experience.

Is that how you felt growing up?

Absolutely.

Do you think that that actually pushed you more outside ‘the realm of normal human experience,’ because you perceived it to be that way?

Very much so. It sounds cliché to say it, but your perception really does become your reality. If you believe yourself to be of such a nature that you don’t actually belong in society with most other people, then you begin to interpret small thoughtlessnesses as large exclusions, and so you become less able to interact with your actual peers. And then they see you beginning to draw back, and start to think of you as someone who doesn’t really want to be part of their group anyway.

How have you managed to overcome that in adulthood?

Partly through therapy; partly through the group, People Can Change; partly through friendship; and partly through my spiritual director.

- Joseph Prever a.k.a. Steve Gershom, from Why choose celibacy? A gay Catholic speaks out, the second of a 2-part interview

I now pronounce you...

On the personal level, one thing that hampers fruitful discussion and clear understanding where the matter of homosexuality, same-sex "marriage" and "gay pride" are concerned is, disagreement seems to be interpreted as hate by quite a few people. Emotions really do get in the way many times, so dealing with people -- loved ones especially -- who wrestle with same-sex attraction and are emotionally entangled in a relationship requires a considerable degree of tact. It is possible to maintain good friendships and to stand by your deeply held values simultaneously, and it goes without saying that regular prayer and allowing grace to nourish your life of faith will see you through.

On the level of society, here is something you will want to watch as it presents the issue with eye-opening facts -- all in 5 minutes. No mental gymnastics required :-)

On Capt. Picard, wedding cakes, and the real meaning of tolerance

It's not only in the United States that bakers are being forced into closing their businesses and being threatened with lawsuits if they refuse to extend their services to some clients. An incident involving another wedding cake and a same-sex couple happened in Ireland, and Jean-Luc Picard a.k.a. Patrick Stewart stated his position on the matter. Find out why he took the side of the bakers.

And do you equate tolerance with never disagreeing with others? Do you lose your cool because other people seem to be full of bigotry? You may just learn a thing or two from the stuff Chris Stefanick says here:

Pondering "I do," "I want," "I believe," and other phrases we take for granted

Here's something that struck me today:

Why are Christians working so hard to defend traditional marriage?

The answer comes from what marriage is about. Marriage is not about special rights one receives from the government in order to have a better life. Marriage is an institution by which humans learn to conform to their gender role in love in order to serve God, their spouse, and their children—then their community, etc. The issue of gay marriage is that people want to force marriage to be something it never was: a relationship about my feelings, wants, desires, and passions. The redefinition of marriage necessitates a fundamental paradigm shift. In essence, the new marriage definition removes God as necessary, conforms the spouse and children to serve the person's idea of his/her own sexual role, and demands the community support the person's idea of his/her own sexual role. Traditional marriage teaches innately sacrificial love, but new marriage demands selfishness. Which one is better for society?

- from the Facebook page  We Defend Marriage -- and We're Gay 



There have also been several incidents in the US involving weddings, cakes, and bakers, but I can't say that I've read each of the stories entirely -- in fact, I've only relied on comments I've come across on social media (from different sides of the issues) to form an idea of what may have transpired. So I'm unable to provide any accurate details about those happenings (I'll share some of them in another post the first chance I get). However, here below is something I can definitely say shows the principle guiding the conviction of many -- particularly those who strive to remain faithful to the teachings of the living God, when they choose to recognize only marriages between persons of the opposite sex.

Don't you think this makes the issue a tad clearer? I do.

The spirit of a boy or the wisdom of a man

You can watch a better-quality version of the video right on the website of the Foundation for A Better Life, which produced it and other great materials. Plus, the lyrics of the accompanying song are included in that version.

Another video -- titled Dishes -- that points out something easily taken for granted in relationships is here

From this day forward

Online shaming, the 'age of awesome' & other features of our times

What do you do with hundreds of bookmarked links on your computer that have been bookmarked for over a year? Leave them there? That's what I've done... after repeatedly telling myself I will delete some of them because -- let's face it -- most of these just stay there without serving any purpose other than reminding me they're there just in case I'll need them/want to read them again in the future. Well, a while ago I've decided that I'll delete like mad. A lot of the materials make for good reading and do contain substantial points worth remembering or pondering -- even living by.

So, why would I keep such materials to myself? I'm randomly picking several that I'd like to share with you, starting them with an excerpt from each link:

I hadn’t fallen out of love with my husband, not remotely, but the intense self-sacrifice that was being asked of me during our first walk through a valley was enough to make a part of me yearn for my days of singlehood. Having naively expected the honeymoon to last forever, I was caught off-guard by the challenge of caring for someone I wasn’t currently feeling dizzyingly, head-over-heels, madly in love with. What had always come easy—nurturing my man and marriage—was, for the first time, hugely difficult without the consolation of romantic sentiment. In the blink of an eye, a bucket of ice cold water had crashed over my naïve, fanciful visions of what marriage was all about.

Read Refined by Fire

* * * * * * * * * *

When I was a kid, I wanted to be an international playboy. I wasn’t sure what that was, but I liked the sound of it. I imagined yachts would somehow be involved and top models. And planes: lots of planes flying hither and thither over impossibly blue skies. The day would start in New York and end in Martinique, perhaps with a stop-off for lunch in Miami, if I could be bothered. I didn’t really get to live that life (thank God), but I see it up close now and then and it makes me giggle.

Read The Virtues of Fine in the Age of Awesome

* * * * * * * * * * *

Conversations, as they tend to play out in person, are messy—full of pauses and interruptions and topic changes and assorted awkwardness. But the messiness is what allows for true exchange. It gives participants the time—and, just as important, the permission—to think and react and glean insights. “You can’t always tell, in a conversation, when the interesting bit is going to come,” Turkle says. “It’s like dancing: slow, slow, quick-quick, slow. You know? It seems boring, but all of a sudden there’s something, and whoa.”
Occasional dullness, in other words, is to be not only expected, but celebrated. Some of the best parts of conversation are, as Turkle puts it, “the boring bits.” In software terms, they’re features rather than bugs.

Read Saving the Lost Art of Conversation

* * * * * * * * * *

When Mike “Gabe” Krahulik, the artist behind the popular webcomic Penny Arcade, heard that an unprofessional PR rep for a game controller had been insulting and taunting one of his readers, he gleefully posted the damning emails to his website, along with the man’s Twitter name, for the express purpose of unleashing the Internet kraken.
“I have a real problem with bullies,” Krahulik wrote, after the marketer was deluged with hate mail. “I spent my childhood moving from school to school and I got made fun of every place I landed. I feel like he is a bully and maybe that’s why I have no sympathy here. Someday every bully meets an even bigger bully, and maybe that’s me in this case.”

But even if you think your bullying is serving a greater good, the fact remains that you’re still just a bully.

Read Why You Should Think Twice Before Shaming Anyone on Social Media


* Illustration from Creative Educator

Companions

State of the (same-sex) union matters

There was a time that the word "queer" was simply a synonym for "weird" and "strange" and meant nothing more. If I remember correctly, I first encountered the word in one of my Nancy Drew books (probably to describe a suspect the protagonist was trailing in one of her pursuits).

Language has a way of morphing so that new meanings are eventually attached to certain words -- like "queer." To this day I'm not certain whether or not this word is derogatory, for though it's been used in movie dialogues to insult characters with homosexual tendencies, it also seems to have the "approval" of the men concerned by way of show titles, as in Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. So when referring to men or women who are attracted to members of the same sex, I simply say "people with same-sex attraction" (SSA) or same-sex couples.

Do you have friends with SSA? And have you been hearing of efforts to make it possible for two men or two women to get married? It's been going on for a few years now, and in the past decade, several countries and parts of the United States have given recognition to same-sex couples being part of a "marriage." Lately people have been talking about the notion of changing the definition of marriage. What do you think of that? If you aren't exactly raring to go there, at least you probably feel that you owe it to your friends to support them by advocating moves to legitimize their unions and to recognize their "right' to get married, just like any other couple who have the deepest affection for one another.

Well, regardless of where you stand on the issue right now, here's a short video I recommend. It's simple and presents the ideas surrounding the topic in "plain English". One line that struck me:

"They can respect Dan and Michael's lifestyle choice without affirming and embracing their lifestyle."

Another one:

"Changing the definition of marriage was a big deal and it could have some serious consequences, consequences that would affect not only their children but also their community."

Some of the figures/stats in there may be inaccurate since a lot has developed since the video came out (2008?). At the time, too, Proposition 8 was still being debated on in the US state of California. But everything else is pretty much the same no matter what decade you're in.

This blog has several entries under the "homosexuality" tag so feel free to explore that if you'd like a glimpse of other news, features and insights on the topic.





 

What in the world is going on?

Good things, too, apparently. I must admit that with all the atrocious developments happening especially in matters concerning life and family, it can be a struggle to pay attention to the things worth celebrating. I did a brief search of the goings-on for the month of May to get a fresh perspective of the bigger picture -- we were quite busy and preoccupied with election issues in my country after all, what with Filipinos trooping to the polls on May 13 and the more actively engaged ones spending a lot of time on the campaign trail weeks prior to that as well.

Tens of thousands gather for the May 12 Italian March for Life

So outside the Philippines, the gay lobby has been increasingly active lately, and thereby the legions firmly upholding traditional marriage have been making their stand known more intensely, too -- particularly in France. There are a couple of news items on that below, along with a thought-provoking analysis on the way media has been treating the issue. You'll also get to read about the effect of the Gosnell trial on one formerly pro-abortion reporter covering the case, and the continued closing down of abortion facilities, this time in California because “we just didn’t have enough patients,” according to a receptionist at one of the facilities. And, some 30,000 life advocates who staged an Italian March for Life got the wonderful surprise of having the Pope suddenly show up during the event. Then there's the horrific "butchering" of an off-duty soldier in Woolwich, England, but as the man lay dying on the pavement and with a crowd looking on from afar (frightened, as the weapon-wielding assailant was meters away), two women came forward and let courage quietly lead the way.

So, read up on those below to get a better idea of the positive developments which took place last month!

One of many protests against same-sex 'marriage' in France bring together hundreds of thousands, May 26

France’s youth ready for more teargas: Demonstrations against same-sex ‘marriage’ continue

by Jeanne Smits, Paris correspondent

Tue May 07, 2013

Pro-choice reporter covering Gosnell trial changes mind on abortion

by John Jalsevac

Wed May 08, 2013

Tens of thousands march for life in Rome

By Francis X. Rocca
Catholic News Service 

Chain of six Northern CA late-term abortion clinics CLOSED

 from Jill Stanek's blog

 

Humanity amongst the horror of Woolwich attack

Tamara Rajakariar | 25 May 2013

Paris, France - Nearly 1 Million French Gay Marriage Opponents Stage Big Paris March

Published on: May 26, 2013

How's Life around the world?

Like I mentioned in a previous post not too long ago, these are exciting times for everyone involved in the crusade to uphold a culture of life! Exciting can be good, and it apparently has been in the Philippines -- people who value their freedom, their family, and the need to uphold common decency in society are uniting and standing up for their principles.

Elsewhere on the planet are significant developments as far as the issues of abortion, religious freedom, euthanasia and the push for taxpayer-funded "reproductive health" services in general are concerned. Some are positive and quite encouraging; others seem too absurd or senseless to be happening in real life, but should still be encouraging enough to us to be a motivation for our continued fight for Life.

Here, around the world in 8 headlines (all published this month), plus a short but great video -- put together by Blackstone Films -- of the March 23 nationwide rally for religious freedom that happened across the United States:


Sandra Fluke's appearance is no fluke

Pro-life conference teaches Kenyan students to combat anti-life agenda

Slovenia says no to same-sex marriage

Notion of youth majority as pro-RH 'wishful thinking'; student group doesn't speak for youth sector

Parisian pro-lifers unite in massive 'flashmob' against euthanasia

Cardinal Dolan leads U.S. Bishops' support of Stand Up Rally

EU illegally gave abortion providers $30 million, report says

President Obama pledges never to stop fighting for Planned Parenthood, which did 329,445 abortions in 2010

The trashing of a treasure

There have been times that I felt that my own people (lawmakers, to be precise) were selling my country, its heritage and its future to foreigners. It can be quite disturbing (and painful in some way) because aren't public servants supposed to take care of the public? Aren't the people whom they should be serving?

Lately I've been having that feeling again due to developments in legislation. Not a day goes by that I don't think of the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill, partly because reporting the developments concerning this issue is part of my job. But the more I learn about it and the more I understand the tiniest details about its history and provisions, the gloomier I feel about my own government leaders apparently putting other interests above protecting the country and its people. I mean, they can't all be ignorant of the facts.

Then just this week I attended a House committee hearing on the proposed divorce bill. What else will our elected leaders push our people to accept?

Below are articles I recently wrote that shed more light on the issues and developments:


More funds for RH mean less for basic services -- solon

MANILA, May 30, 2011―Allocating millions of pesos for House Bill 4244 means slashing the budget that would have otherwise been spent on education and other basic services, said a member of the House of Representatives in a recent press conference.

Full story

* * * * * * * * * *

RH Bill redundant, similar to int'l agreement

MANILA, May 26, 2011― Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez has underscored the redundancy of a portion of the Reproductive Health bill during interpellation in Congress on Wednesday.

Full story

* * * * * * * * * *

Curb corruption, not population to kill poverty -- pro-lifers

MANILA, May 27, 2011―A legislative measure that regards members of a huge population as the cause of poverty does not provide a proper solution, say pro-lifers who were present at this week’s plenary debates at the House of Representatives.

Full story

* * * * * * * * * *

RH legislation a "cultural intrusion" -- lawyer

MANILA, June 1, 2011—While the formulation of Philippine laws is essentially based on the needs and conditions of the country’s citizens, the crafting of the Reproductive Health (RH) bill cannot be attributed to Filipino lawmakers but to foreign organizations, said Atty. Jo Aurea Imbong, Executive Secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Legal Office.

Full story

* * * * * * * * * *

Divorce a gross injustice to children

MANILA, June 3, 2011―The cost of divorce on children was among the crucial points repeatedly brought up at Wednesday’s Congressional committee hearing on the divorce bill sponsored by Gabriela Representatives Luzviminda Ilagan and Emerenciana de Jesus.

Full story

Something old, something new...

How's this for a retro issue?

Several years ago, my brother started saving old photos on digital format. Some of them were even on slides (you know, the one you view using a slide projector), like the ones of my grandfather during his early 20th century sojourns and of his academic pursuits. The photo above was taken on our parents' wedding day in May 1953 -- an early matrimonial ceremony at Pinaglabanan Church, San Juan followed by a breakfast reception at the Aristocrat Restaurant which, according to them, cost P1.50/plate! And no professional wedding coordinators were involved in the preparations!

[Addendum: Not P1.50/plate, my mom pointed out a few nights ago when I asked her again about it. It was P3.50/plate] =)

I think the cover below fits them to a T, whether or not it's Valentine's month :-)

Sowing the seeds

"When people spend more time planning the wedding than planning their marriage, it is no surprise when the marriage fails because no one bothered to plan for it....

"When people spend more time investing and trying to obtain what it is they do not have than investing in what they already have, it is no surprise that a marriage goes bankrupt because nothing was invested in it. "

— Paul Catalanotto, from his latest blog entry, "It Is No Surprise ..."


Hat tip: Dawn Eden

Decoding the Mrs.

I need subtitles for my spouse
A humorous look at what his wife really means when she says 'fine.'
By Chuck Cohen

'...we got married to stay married'

As always, the discussions at Modestly Yours are intriguing, thought-provoking and a welcome change from popular culture. Something by blogger Alexandra Foley --

By not having divorce on the table, my husband and I have an excellent incentive for making this work and growing through the problems without contemplating finding a new spouse. However, NOT getting divorced does not mean that our marriage is taken for granted because there is always the possibility that we could separate and live apart. So both elements --treating the marriage carefully because it is fragile and yet not worrying at every step one is considering trading in the other for a newer model -- helps us to take our marriage vows seriously and live in the peace that these vows offer.

With these thoughts in mind, I read an article in Glamour about Faith Hill, where she says, "We have disagreements, but we got married to stay married. If you didn’t want to walk the same path or believe the same things, it could be difficult, but if you have the same goals you can get through bumpy moments. It’s remarkable to have someone walk beside you as you grow and change; it would be nice to see [marriage] that way instead of it being a major challenge."

Full blog post at Modestly Yours

An explosive wedding

Here comes the bride -- in the bomb shelter
By MARK WEISS

Ten months ago, Shlomi Buskila, 29, a native of Kiryat Shmona, was on his way to his nephew's wedding in the town when he stopped to speak to friends on a street corner. Maya Lugasi joined the group and took a look at Shlomi, and it was love at first sight.

They decided to get married. The wedding date was set for July 20 at the Tehila banquet hall and 800 guests were invited.

Then the war broke out.

The problem: Home Front Command instructions do not permit public gatherings in communities within range of Katyusha rockets. The solution: on Sunday, guests were informed of the new venue, the Matmid religious high school's bomb shelter.

Only a kilometer to the west of the school, just over the mountain ridge, is Lebanon. Throughout the day, the silence of a deserted Kiryat Shmona is pierced by deafening booms - usually the sound of Israeli artillery pieces, but sometimes the noise of incoming Katyushas exploding.

"This is the day we've been waiting for and I'm not going to let the terrorists destroy the happiest day of my life," said Shlomi. "We are getting married in the bomb shelter and later, when the situation calms down, we will reschedule the party." About 50 guests turned up, including 20 out-of-towners who decided to risk it.

Full story at Jerusalem Post

Hat tip: Modestly Yours