A Memorable Wedding Experience in Cebu

Good day, Hivers! It’s me again, @rubenjr. It’s been a while since my last post because the past week has been quite hectic. We were busy preparing for our trip to Cebu, as I was appointed the chairman of the wedding of the daughter of our circle of friends. When we got back home, my daughter @rufajane caught a fever, so I decided to prioritize taking care of her before sitting down to write this blog.  Now that everything has settled, I’m glad to be back to share with you our unforgettable experience before, during, and after the wedding. To give you a little background, both the parents of the bride and the groom are part of our close circle of friends. That’s why I was chosen to serve as the wedding chairman. My children also had special roles, my three daughters are bridesmaids and my son is a groomsman. The wedding was scheduled for October 12, 2025 (Sunday), and was held at Bai Hotel, Cebu. Since the groom’s family is Korean, and most of their relatives live in Korea, they had to travel ahead of time. Many of them arrived as early as Friday, while the bride’s family, being from Davao, traveled on Saturday. We, too, left on Saturday to make it in time. Because the roads were still in poor condition after the recent earthquake, we decided not to take our own car. Instead, we hired a van that could safely transport our whole family to Cebu. Fortunately, we found one available. We brought quite a number of bags since almost every member of the family had a part to play in the wedding. The trip was long and slow, as we had to drive carefully through damaged roads. Honestly, I was still anxious about staying in a hotel for two nights, especially since aftershocks were still being reported. But because the event was so important, we decided to take the risk and entrusted everything to Jehovah God’s protection.  When we arrived at Bai Hotel, we were warmly welcomed by our friend, which is the father of the groom, who had taken care of our accommodation. We were assigned to Room #19 on the 12th floor, where most of the groom’s Korean relatives were also staying. We were the only Filipinos on that floor (probably?), while the bride’s family occupied the 19th floor. Everyone was so kind and hospitable. Despite the language barrier, their smiles and gestures made us feel genuinely welcome. It was heartwarming to see how two families from different cultures came together in celebration. The next morning, we went down to the hotel’s restaurant for breakfast. It was an eat-all-you-can buffet, but they had a strict rule: no leftovers allowed, or you’d be fined ₱500 (if I remember correctly). The food was excellent, and we enjoyed every bite, though we had to eat rather quickly since rehearsals were scheduled that afternoon. After breakfast, we chatted with some friends and relatives who were also dining there. Later, my children had to attend their entourage dance practice, which lasted until noon. When they returned to our room, they skipped lunch because they had to get ready for the pictorial at 2:00 p.m. Fast forward to the actual ceremony everything went smoothly. We’re truly grateful to God that no earthquake occurred during the event. The wedding was elegant, meaningful, and filled with joy. After the ceremony, everyone eagerly took photos, both inside and outside the venue, while the reception hall was being prepared. During the reception, I was also invited to sing together with one of my children, and we offered a heartfelt song for the newlyweds. The reception was lively, with heartfelt speeches, laughter, and delicious food. We ended the celebration around 10:00 p.m., which was the limit of the booked schedule. Despite the exhaustion, everyone was happy and grateful for how everything turned out. It was a night filled with love, unity, and new friendships.  That evening, we returned to our hotel room to rest. However, around 1:06 A.M., we suddenly felt the hotel shaking. It turned out there was another earthquake, reportedly from Bogo, according to the NDRRMC. I wasn’t certain about the exact epicenter, but thankfully, everyone, including us, was safe. The next morning, Monday, we packed our things and prepared to head home. The journey took several hours, and we finally arrived at our house around 1:00 p.m. My daughter, @rufajane, came down with a fever, probably due to fatigue from the long trip, but overall, we were all fine.  Despite the unexpected tremor and the tiring travel, we were deeply thankful that everything went well from the safe trip to the successful wedding and the meaningful connections made along the way. This experience reminded me how life can be unpredictable, yet with faith, patience, and unity, everything can turn out beautifully. That was all for this blog. Thanks for reading! 😁