Everlasting love

It dates back to the late 1950s when a typical lad, Godofredo, intelligent but seemingly unfeeling, met a sophisticated and outspoken lass, Rosario. It was not the love story everybody was expecting. She was brought up by one of the prominent and well-respected families in their place. Among the nine siblings, she had always been the darling, everybody’s favorite. He, on the other hand, although intelligent, was laid-back and never cared about the future.

She was already a teacher then and he was a nobody. A beautiful, young professional, she had many other suitors, aside from Godofredo. He really fell for her but she never liked him. He was persistent though.

As a good reputation was one of the standards then, he was not liked much by her family. It was not unusual at that time to expect much from someone who pursued the affection of a lady. His free-spirited attitude among other traits, was what they abhorred. Nonetheless, he proved himself worthy of her love. He endeavored to become respectable and no sooner than anybody expected, he became a teacher. He struggled just to be welcomed by society and in time he gained the respect due him. Anything and everything for the love of Rosario.

The heavens eventually intervened and got their lives intertwined. They got married and now have five children, 19 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. It is a big, happy family and everyone can assume how loving the two could be. But the contrary happened. If one barely knows Godofredo and Rosario, one can hardly witness the love in their eyes. Never affectionate, never tender, never dramatic. There were no I love yous, no hugs or kisses. It was plain and uninspiring.

But they loved each other in their own way. He, though brutish and manly, was far more than that. He is actually very caring. He cooks her favorite food every morning for breakfast—his own version of lugaw. He gives her her medicine and nurses her. He hates not being with her at night, especially when she is sick. He would call his daughter even in the dead of night just to tell her the how-tos of taking care of his Rosario. He would sing her love songs, rarely but passionately. He would caress her hair and look at her with all the love in his eyes.

She, on the other hand, had a different kind of love, perhaps the kind of love no one would understand. She was always teasing him on how he was very much in love with her. She would call his jokes corny but would still laugh her heart out when she heard one. She is meticulous and stubborn, always intolerant. She is brutally, painfully honest. Nevertheless, she cared for him, discreetly, silently, in her own way.

Indeed they are completely different but they were destined to become partners. Fifty years after they vowed to love each other, they were bound to repeat their vows again. It was 50 years of unfailing and unconditional love.

He arrived first at the church and he appeared as manly as he did the first time. He stood tall and exceedingly handsome in his barong. He was wrinkled, unassuming, yet he managed to have the same stern look. He walked here and there and gazed blankly as he patiently waited for her. Perhaps he was anxious; it had been 50 years after all.

She was lovely as ever. All made-up with the final touch of a blushing bride’s smile. She too was wrinkled and full of freckles but she was sophisticated and still lovely. She entered the church at her own pace. She walked slowly, taking little steps as her ailments hindered her. She smiled at her friends, her family, at everyone. Perhaps she was anxious, too.

And so they said it again, their I do’s, their vows and till death do them part. Finally, he kissed her bride, on her forehead, then on her cheek. They were glowing, blessed and in love. It was divine.

Maybe it was not really the love everybody wanted but who could have guessed? They were remarkably different but astonishingly perfect for each other. They love their children and even more their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They love each other most. They loved the life they lived and lived the love they have.

This is Godofredo and Rosario’s story, my Nanay and Tatay. Never perfect but well written. It is their melody, a love song in a golden thread.

Golda Meir T. Tabao, 22, took BASS-Political Science at the University of the Philippines Visayas Tacloban College and worked as a lecturer there.