posted by: Gypsygal Prime

(Para kay Foyan,…at sa mga patuloy naniniwala; mga gustong maniwala; at ayaw maniwala)

“Journeys end in lovers meeting,
Every wise man’s son doth know.”

Twelfth Night (II, iii, 44-45)

Shakespeare

I never cry at weddings. But I wish I could, considering that I’m one of those hopeless romantics who feel happy whenever I see a friend finally finding someone she can grow old with.

I know that sounds odd for a thirty-something journalist who witnessed far too many break-ups and heard too many philandering husbands (and wives too!) claiming that they had affairs because the “romance” is gone.

I went to Singapore last month just to attend a wedding. And this is one time that I really, really wish I do cry at weddings. Not that there’s much drama during Malvin and Foyan’s nuptials (or better known as MalFoy. Apo, alam konng it’s corny. Parang Brangelina at Korimar. But what to do? Pag in -love ka, corny ka). In fact, I never had so much fun attending a wedding (never mind that I probably gained another 20 pounds just eating all those grilled shrimp at the dinner banquet) or that my (flat) feet were hurting for days as I danced for hours with the wedding entourage at the Pump Room.

I’m not Foyan’s confidante. The honor belongs to Nina, my lil sis. I am therefore not aware of the specifics of this whirlwind romance that started with – and this is too Web 2.0 for this Gen Xer – a social media network catering to travelers (the couple both love to travel) – that ended at the Singapore Registry of Marriages. All these happened in the span of a few months.

I admit was cynical. I don’t know why I continued to hold on to the notion of a long engagement, when I’ve seen too many couples who dated for years either ending up divorced or not getting married at all.

And sometimes, I can’t help question my own beliefs on relationship – do you really need to date for a long time just to get to know your partner more?

But this I know. I know that Foyan, who confided in me once upon a time, how sad she was that she cant find a serious relationship. That was wayyyyy before she met Malvin.

This is also what I know – based from tidbits I gathered from my little – and will not be named- spies ( a journalist will always protect her sources :):

That they started out as friends, that they never planned to fall in love, that it’s true, cynical Virginia, love just happens; and that this is one relationship that Foyan enjoyed so much. To quote one of my, eherm, informed sources:, “nawala ang lahat ng angst ni Foyan.”

I only met the “MalFoy” couple during the wedding. But it was enough to convince me that this was one marriage where friendship and fun trumped passion and intensity (the two things that I always looked for in a relationship – but also proved to be the most destructive elements in one relationship I valued most.).

I’ve seen them made their grand entrance, at a wedding banquet. The two dressed in their white seventies disco get up -Malvin in his Elvis finest gear and Foyan in her miniskirt, go-go boots and shades.

I had my share of bad break ups, the last one was so intense, it took me years to finally get over it. But I never stopped believing.

When I see the MalFoy couple, at the Pump Room, where they danced the night away , drinking champagne, while a showband played “Dancing Queen”…. I continued to believe and hope that happy endings do happen.

Shakespeare said that journey’s end when lovers meet.

That may be true.

But perhaps, and this is with all due respects to the Great Bard, it’s also true that a meeting of lovers may just be a start of another wonderful journey.

This is why, sometimes, I wish, at least once in my life, that I’ll learn how to cry during weddings.