Jennifer Lim-Baroña on Marriage and Happily Ever Afters

I have two sisters, one 4 years older than me and the other thirteen years younger. I would say I have the best of both worlds. I got a chance to experience being a Siobe to my Achie and a Dichie to our Siobe. On my wedding day, it was only my older sister who made me cry. This is during the ceremonial toast. As to why, here it goes:


"Good Evening! For those of you who don’t know me, I am Jenny, the very proud sister of the glamorous Bride. I want to start by Congratulating the Bride and the Groom and thanking all of you for coming here today.

As I look at Al and Jack, I feel such a whirlwind of emotions. I know that Jack has found her true match and I know that theirs will be a marriage of long standing.

Jack, I first met you when I was only 4. I was so proud to have a sister. For many years we shared the same bedroom and the night will not pass till we tell each other what our day has been. One of those favorite topics we had aside from boys – is to talk about our dream weddings. I have fulfilled mine 3 years ago and I am sooooo happy that you have made yours today!

As children, Jack and I were pretty much inseparable and we always managed to keep each other laughing. When I think back on our adventures in childhood, I have nothing but fond memories. The fondest memories include the times we spent our Saturday afternoon buying 20 pesos worth of chips and candies and 500 ml bottle of Coke from Manang’s sari-sari store near our house at 3pm to get ready and watch our fave afternoon shows like TGIS and Shaider (Ang Tinaguriang Pulis Pangkalawakan).

To this day, Jack is the only person I know that can make me laugh so hard till it hurts. I have lot more funny and embarrassing stories about her, but because this is her special day, I will leave her alone now.

When I moved to Singapore 4 years ago, I passed my responsibility to look after our parents and youngest sister, Dennise to her. And I am truly proud and happy that she has done a great job even better than me.

Being away from home over the years and no matter how far apart we are from each other, I know she is only a chat-away and has always been there for me in times of need and somehow always knows exactly the right things to say.

So I hope I can now return the favor on her special day as Jack is one of the nicest , truest people I know which is why she is not only my sister by chance but my best friend by choice.

Thanks for putting up with my lectures. We’ve had happy times and sad ones.

We’ve shared our secrets and fears. Thank you for giving the true meaning to the word Sister and for sharing these last 27 years.

When I saw you walk up the aisle, leaning on Papa and Mama’s arms with your beaming smile, I can only feel how ecstatic you are today!

So Al, I just want you to know Make her this happy always & you will be forever my hero!

I never knew Al before they became friends in High School, so I can’t tell horrible stories about him but I can tell you that I think he is perfect for my sister. He’s easy going, responsible with a great sense of humor and most of all can deal with Jack’s morning wrath. We are very happy to welcome Al into our family!

Being married for 3 years now, Ricky and I thought about some words of advice that we’d like to give the newlyweds.

The two secrets of long lasting and happy marriage are a good sense of humor and a short memory!

Whenever you are wrong, admit it. Whenever you are right, be quiet! And, Al, always remember….A happy wife, makes a happy life!

Separately, you two are special, remarkable people, but together you are complete. As you sit side by side to this roller coaster of life, remember to scream from the peaks, hold hands through the dips, laugh through the loops, and enjoy every twist and turn.

For the ride is much better when you share it together. Coming together is the beginning, keeping together is the progress. Working together is success.

Finally, I would like to request everyone to please raise your glasses while I toast for my sister and her husband:

Take each day and cherish your time together. Love one another and stand together. Put your love and your family first; your job and your hobbies second. May their loving friendship and partnership continue to blossom and that they are blessed with children So here's to love, laughter, and happily ever after. Cheers!!!" - By Jennifer Lim-Baroña

I can't help but look back and remember those moments when we are much younger. Life was not easy but we are happy. It made as stronger as a family and as individuals.

To my Achie, I am where I am today because I have a sister like you. You taught me how to do a lot of the things that I know... from reading my first book, to writing my name, to typing my first document using a computer, you made my first email account when I was 14, you held me when I first got my heart broken, you picked my prom dress, you accompanied me to every college entrance exam I took, you clapped the loudest when I received my diploma, you guided me in my career decisions, the list will go on and on and on.

Thank you for the gift of sisterhood and friendship. Always remember I have your back as you have mine.

Change is good

Do you know the sound of your home? By sound I mean, you know the familiar feeling of knowing what is happening inside your house even if you don't see anyone? Like for example, you know your mother is cleaning just by the sound of her footsteps, you know your sister is still sleeping even though you haven't checked on her, you know your dad is fixing something in the garage, you know when someone wakes up next room by just hearing a certain creak of the floor and so on and so forth. Familiar sounds which reminds you that you're home. This sense is often a product of knowing your home, of a sense of security one gets from being at home.

As I look up from my computer, I see different things, I hear different sounds. I can see the mountains from where I'm sitting, I can feel the evening breeze coming from the open sliding door of the living room, I hear cars passing by from the street below. New sounds, new sights, new smell, new rooms... yes it's a different house. Not the one I have lived in for most of my life. I'm not living with my parents anymore. This house will be my new home. I'm getting myself acquainted with the new sounds I'm hearing. I'm sure pretty soon I will know each sound this house produces. I am looking forward in making this house a home for us.

I miss the sounds of my old home but change is good.

Till my next post.

The day I became Mrs. Z

Woke up on a clear Saturday morning with my favorite feeling of coziness which means the aircondition of the room is cold but I feel warm because of my blankets. The sun is up as I gazed across the floor to ceiling window in my room. I can hear the voices of my parents and sisters in the living room. I stayed on my bed, stretched some more and stood up. I went to the window and looked outside. I can see the busy streets of Shaw Blvd below. Cars are speeding up enjoying the still traffic-free streets while jeepneys and cabs are hurrying to earn more. To most people, the 2nd of January 2010, Saturday is a day to relax after the get togethers of New Year, it's an ordinary day to most but an extra ordinary day for me. Today, I am a bride. Today, I will become a wife.


I stepped away from the window and decided to face my excited family in the living room. As I open the door, they were all surprised that I woke up on my own. They said I was excited, I just smiled. It was 8:30 AM and my day has begun. I, together with my parents and Dennise (my sister) went down for breakfast. I ate a lot, thanks to the savory dishes prepared by the hotel. I was enjoying breakfast in between chatting with my family and exchanging text messages with my good friend, Marje. After breakfast, we went back to our room and I took a bath. After my bath, the suppliers started coming in. I fell in love with my dark red equadorian roses and my photographers love my red shoes.

They (my suppliers) said it feels like time stopped during my wedding preparations. It seems like they have so much time to do everything they want. They said, maybe because I am so calm. To be honest, I just want to savor each moment and enjoy it. I was calm because whatever happens, I know I will love this wedding. At 3:15 PM, I am inside the wedding car, I hear the sirens of my security escort as we make way to the church. I have been at Nuestra Señora many times but it was like seeing it again the first time. I'm at awe on how the sunlight touches the elevated church and how rich the history is behind the walls. I can see my family, relatives and friends all dressed up for my big day. I smiled and said, thank God they are on time. My coordinator approached me and said "Is it okay if we start already? Everyone is here and we are ready to start." I asked "What time is it?" She said "3:45", I said "Okay". This is the first wedding I have ever attended to start 15 minutes prior to official call time. I am always late but not on my wedding day!

I heard a soft knock on my window and my coordinator, Amy said "It's Time". I opened the door and carefully stepped down the car. I looked up to the close door of Nuestra. The moment I have been waiting for is here -- my very own "door moment". I have never been this nervous... not since my thesis defense. I hear my wedding march starting inside and on cue (based on my specific instruction on which part of the song), the big doors of Nuestra slowly opened up. First thing I thought of was, I can only see the altar and Al... oopppss I cannot see anything. I can only see the altar and Al (panic mode). Amy shouted, "Jack, start walking and SMILE!". And so I did, I walked looking at the altar for reference of where I was going and to the beaming smile of my groom, AL. We did the usual Catholic wedding rites... it feels fast and we cannot believe that it's over when Msgr. Ruperto Santos declared that we are husband and wife. Al even asked me "So ganun na yun, kasal na tayo?" I replied with "I guess". And so we are finally married after 10 years of being together.

Moving on with our reception, first I messed up our first dance. We even hired a choreographer for it but I didn't anticipate the weight, length and sheer volume of my wedding gown. We chose "I love you Always and Forever by Donna Lewis, it's fast, it's fun and we love the lyrics. We danced a few steps and missed on most but who cares I had fun! Hehehe! I saw a blank table on our left, a table allocated for Al's relatives, her cousin, suffering from cancer, collapsed a few days before our wedding. Her sisters said they are not sure if they will be able attend but I kept their table hoping that by some miracle they will. Guess what, they did. On the afternoon of our wedding, Al's cousin woke up after being in coma for 4 days and so her other cousins followed and attended the reception. Miracles do happen! It was nice to see all my guests, truly I am happy to see all their faces on our special day.

The reception was quick, light and fun. Everyone enjoyed the photobooth. My sister who did the ceremonial toast did a very nice job of making me cry. I will expound more about it in my next post.

It took one and half years, some tears, a little stress and tons of sacrifices to plan and execute this day but one thing I know, I have no regrets. I know that when I am old, I will look back and see my younger (and hot self) looking at me across the pages of my wedding album (I sure hope they will last for 500 decades or more) and think fond memories of this day. It was everything I planned and so much MORE. They say be practical. I say DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME (not on your 10th, 25th or 50th wedding anniversaries). It will never be the same.

So here's to starting 2010 with a BANG! Cheers!