It was Juan and Juana’s wedding. The church assistant was having problems with the groom’s parents as to what should be the place of each in the wedding processional. Normally, it’s a de-kahon solution. If it’s a traditional wedding, the parents wait at the alter with the groom. If it’s a modern wedding, the groom marches during the processional with his parents on either side.
But Juan’s situation is a little different.
Pedro and Maria are Juan’s parents. When Juan was still very young, Maria left Pedro for another man. Pedro eventually left for abroad and married Tekla. Juan was raised in the Philippines by an aunt and uncle.
On his wedding day, Tekla insisted that she had to have a part in the wedding processional just like Juan’s biological parents.
What happened in the wedding processional was this: the best man marched first followed by Tekla, then the groom and his parents. Weird, really, but the seating arrangement was even more strange.
Traditionally, the groom’s parents have specially allotted seats to the groom’s right just as the bride’s parents have theirs to the bride’s left.
But since Tekla wanted to take on the role of parent, she was the one who sat beside Pedro. Maria had to take a seat with the bride’s parents.
It’s a true story, although all names have been changed. When I relayed it to Speedy, he asked, “So, what did the groom’s father have to say about the demands of his second wife?”
I said, “I don’t know… but come to think about it, if he had been that much of a wimp when he was younger, it shouldn’t be so surprising that Maria walked out on him.”
Of course, it all boils down to delicadeza.
On a somewhat related note, at least Camilla had the delicadeza to stay away from the memorial service for Diana.
Weird and confusing and I can see lots of humor available with that situation.
Pang-pelikula!! I attended na din a wedding with the same circumstances kaya lang it was the bride’s mom and her kabit. The poor father was left on the sidelines na lang and looked like an intruder lalo na nung picture-taking. It was really sad but as you said, it’s delicadeza. To this day I haven’t seen the bride’s mother display even the slightest bit of delicadeza. Buti na lang di ko sila relatives!
And embarrassment too, perhaps, The Mentat.
Kongkong, kaya minsan, eloping makes more sense. No need to deal with family and relatives.
If I were Juan, hindi ako papayag na si Tekla ang katabi ng tatay ko.. kapal din nya noh!
And obviously the groom didn’t put his foot down on the issue. It’s obvious that he’s as much a wimp as his father was. LOL.
Kawawang groom, nadamay sa makulay na buhay ng mga magulang. Neither Maria nor Tekla should take the seat. Mas cool na miron lang sila pareho, hehehe…
If I were the bride and those old people are messing up my wedding, I’d put my foot down and say “No parent marches in the processional.” hehehe
Weddings in the US have to sort out similar situations, especially if there have been, er multiple marriages on either side (in one wedding I attended, the bride’s mom was on her 3rd marriage and the bride was close to both her stepdads). Easiest thing is to avoid all marches except the bride’s. It is her day after all.
Totoo yan, Mila, I don’t understand why the parents have to compete for attention. They had their day.
connie, i might even keep my wedding a secret from them if they would behave like that!!
I don’t know but this Tekla is so kapal ha. Who should have been given more importance here should be the aunt and uncle who raised Juan, not his parents who left him. It is Juan and Juana’s special day,why ruin it for them?
If I’m Juana, I wouldn’t let Tekla make “epal” in my wedding day. I wouldn’t want people making “tsismis” behind my back while in the middle of the ceremony!
Raqgold, good idea! hahaha rather than have your wedding talked about for months for all the wrong reasons.
Julie, there are a lot of parents who become dictatorial about their children’s weddings. Who to invite, who the ninongs and the ninangs should be, who should be in the entourage… naku, I know so, so many. “Ruining” a child’s wedding can encompass so many aspects.
Gene, natawa ako sa paggamit mo ng word na “epal”. hehehe it’s a term my kids use so often. When I first heard it, I had to ask what it meant.
huy, what is epal??
makapal ang mukha. hehehe the kids use the term liberally pero i really think that epal is a combination of makapal ang mukha and kup*l and they just don’t know it. hahahaha