Love, the second time around

Love, the second time around

(Below is a true story featured in the Brides To Remember (BtR) Magazine, Spring Summer 2005 Issue.)

Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.” Cynthia and Pete indeed achieved what true love meant to be. After 20 years of separation, divorce and annulment, the couple crossed paths again and got remarried on September 2, 2005, that also fell on Cynthia’s birthday.

The Enriquez wedding was truly the wedding of the year, if not wedding of a lifetime. At the posh wedding reception held at the Grand Ballroom of the Delta Hotel at Kennedy and 401, three hundred guests showed up from different parts of the world. But familiar faces from Toronto graced the dance floor.

We had Dr. Joseph Carlos and wife who ballroomed away the Rhumba, Cynthia’s best and long time friend Rubi Talavera with a gorgeous Canadian date, Paeng Nebres and his beautiful wife Sylvia who decorated the breathtaking 2-layered presidential tables, and Cynthia’s beautiful matron of honour, Linda Naval-Torres, the sister of the famous late singer, Rodel Naval. Another sister of the late singer, Stella Marie Naval-Castellvi sang the famous singer’s love song “Once Again” during the signing at church. Willy Santos melted the guests when he sang “Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal” during the veil and cord portion. Pete’s brother, Manny Enriquez, from Arizona sobbed while Willy was rendering this away.
The bride’s siblings also in attendance were: Lorna and Rey dela Cruz, Lota and Rick Ramos, Julie and Tony Hilario, Nora and Willy Ramos, Lydia and Jun Vergara.

The groom’s siblings in attendance were: Lody and TotoyTabinga, Tessie and Suming Galang from Detroit, Cedy Anciro from Manila, Manny Enriquez and kids from Arizona, & Auring and Eddie Gonzalez.

Cynthia’s story

For 20 years, Pete and I were separated and divorced. Our marriage was also annulled. It seemed that nothing was left of our love except for our three children, yet there is a happy ending to our story.
After our divorce in the mid-1980, I married and lived with my second husband for 18 years, while Pete lived common law with his girlfriend. In October 2003, I separated from my husband. I learned later that Pete had separated from his common-law wife during the same month. During our 20 years of separation, Pete and I saw each other face to face only 10 times, at kids’ birthday parties and graduations.

In January 2004, my children invited me to go to lunch for their dad’s birthday. Next they invited me to lunch for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and our kids’ birthdays and so on. It seemed our children were always making excuses for us to have lunch or dinner together.

A new friendship between my ex-husband and myself had begun to blossom. Our children and close friends were aware of this. Therefore, in June 2004, close friends of ours invited the two of us to their son’s wedding in Los Angeles. Our mutual friend Erlinda told us she had enough room to accommodate both of us and not to worry, we could stay at her place.

However, a surprise was in store: our own hotel room, compliments of Erlinda. Her generosity overwhelmed us so we did not refuse. During our stay together in Los Angeles, Pete and I reconnected. We talked of our first marriage together. We cried and laughed as we drifted down memory lane.

Pete resided in Niagara Falls and I lived in Scarborough yet after we returned from Los Angeles, we spent almost every weekend together. It did not take long for us to fall in love again. “Will you marry me?” Pete proposed with a stunning ring.

Since we missed our silver wedding anniversary, Pete and I decided to host a large ceremony and reception with 300 guests. Friends and family flew in from the Philippines, Australia, the United States, England and Switzerland. Most of these people also attended our first wedding.

Our original flower girls, all of whom are married with children of their own, agreed to be our flower girls again. My bridesmaids from the first wedding would be my bridesmaids a second time. My daughter Trisha, 24 would be the ring bearer. Our sons Brandon, 31, and J.J., 28 walked me down the aisle. Our wedding took place on September 2, 2005.

We are very grateful for ourgood fortune and we look forward to a happy future together…..

From BtR (Brides to Remember) Magazine:
“Cynthia and Pete, we at Brides to Remember thank you for your incredible story of destiny.”
“Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice: it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.”