Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago on Love and Marriage

Last 19^th of June, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago renewed her wedding vows at the Manila Cathedral. To symbolize their 40 years of marriage to former Interior Undersecretary Narciso “Jun” Santiago, she wore a ruby colored gown designed by Inno Sotto.

Though she refused to kiss her husband in public claiming it was “too sappy for my age”, she shared her thoughts on love and marriage.

Asked why they wanted to renew their vows, she answered:

"That is a tradition in our country. Catholic couples are supposed to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary, and then the 40th because they're still young enough to walk down the aisle, and then their 50th. But sometimes, many of them are already suffering from disabilities."

She also shared that she wanted to experience marching down the aisle with her 3 granddaughters, her reason in wanting to celebrate their 40^th wedding anniversary.

Asked about their secret to a successful marriage, she said:

"We never see each other in my house. That's the secret. Sometimes, I'm surprised that I'm married to someone so good-looking because I hardly ever see him."

Senator Santiago shared that they give each other autonomy, freedom, space. That freedom, of course, is given with the belief that they’ll both be loyal with their marriage vows. To her, “ marriage is an inviolable social institution as our Civil Code provides."

Her simple advice to young couples?

"Be kind to each other.“

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Kasal.com thanks the following source for this article:

ABS-CBN. Miriam on love, marriage and divorce (Posted on 20 June 2011) Retrieved on 3 July 2011 from http://ph.news.yahoo.com/miriam-love-marriage-divorce-120841951.html

Romantic Wedding Proposals on the Net

Is it just me, or are men being more romantic with their wedding proposals?

Several YouTube videos of wedding proposals around the world are going viral. These videos differ in styles and strategies to pop the question but all of them were unique and creative. I’m sure most women are dreaming of the same romantic wedding proposal after watching these videos.

Featured in Yahoo!, a serviceman in Kansas City proposed to his girlfriend in a baseball stadium. He proposed on the giant stadium scoreboard and surprised his girlfriend with an earlier than expected homecoming. 

This next proposal entitled “Making the Movies Jealous” by Matt and Ginny have reached 15,640,322 views in YouTube, highest for the “wedding proposal” tag. Ginny is in the cinema waiting for the movie to play. When the movie played, she was surprised to see Matt and her father on the big screen. Matt created a video asking for her father’s permission for her hand in marriage. After the father’s approval, Matt rushes to the cinema and finds Ginny. They even have a website now at www.mattand ginny.com. 

Other proposals circulating around are wedding proposals via videos in billboards in busy places such as the New York Times Square. A lot of these videos are circulating in YouTube and other social networking sites.

One other YouTube video with 41,190 views is from “mcquade71”. His proposal to Heather was through a fake acting audition as Heather was an actress while he was a comedian. As he wrote, “There are four takes, and in each one the casting director keeps telling me to improvise on the written (fake) script. In the last take, she tells me to completely improvise the whole thing. And so I propose with a real ring instead of the toy I've been using for the previous three takes, and a real proposal I wrote (I was so nervous I didn't get it exactly right.)” After several takes, and after seeing the real ring, she finally got the idea that it was a real proposal. 

For guys planning to pop the question anytime soon, check out what’s already been done out there online. You might catch an idea that could make your own proposal as special and unforgettable as well! Good luck!

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Kasal.com thanks the following source for this article:

‘Duk. Yahoo! Sports. Video: Serviceman’s surprise marriage proposal at Royals game (Posted on May 31 2011) Retrieved on June 4 2011 from http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Video-Serviceman-8217-s-surprise-marriage-prop?urn=mlb-wp8250

A Thank You from Lani to Bong on their 25th Wedding Anniversary

Celebrity couple and political figures Lani Mercado and Bong Revilla have just recently celebrated their 25^th wedding anniversary and renewal of vows last May 28.

It has been widely publicized that the Revilla family life did not come as easy as some other families. They have had their fair share of problems that were also under public scrutiny.

Their wedding was a huge affair with celebrities and political figures gracing the ceremony and the reception. But behind all the glitter and shine of the silver gowns and tuxedos worn on that day, it cannot be overlooked how the love between husband and wife has endured for more than two decades. Their vows were heartfelt, sincere and touching.

"I never suffered because I love you, our children, our family. The love makes us strong through the trials," her voice trembled as she held Bong's hands and faced the altar. "Thank you for teaching me how to forgive. Now, I know myself more.  Thank you for teaching me to be a public servant like you."

Lani also clued people in on who wanted to bring them down.  “We made it through”, she told Bong, "despite the  you-know-what department."

Bong gave Lani his message as a reply, "I am yours alone forever," and that he will always "choose her to be his wife and mother of his children."

Married life is certainly not easy. Lani and Bong’s 25 years of being together shows that love and marriage can endure the most difficult trials life can throw at you. It is a process of learning and growing together as a couple. May they be an inspiration to other married and soon-to-be married couples.

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Kasal.com thanks the following source for this article:

Maridol Rañoa-Bismark. Yahoo! Omg. Lani to Bong: Thank you for teaching me to forgive (Posted on May 30 2011) Retrieved on May 31 2011 from http://ph.omg.yahoo.com/blogs/omgphnewsblog/lani-bong-thank-teaching-forgive-053033463.html

 

Kasal.com Real Weddings: Love Across Cultures

The best love stories are often those of love without boundaries.

Think of Romeo and Juliet, Rhett Butler and Scarlet O'Hara, Prince William and Duchess Katherine or even Mother Teresa's love for the poor. These love stories tell us of how love can reconcile differences and surpass all hardships.

Joseph and Nancy in their
Bangladeshi wedding outfits

Joseph Rana Biswas and Nancy de-Sagun Biswas have celebrated their love into marriage despite cultural differences. Joseph being Bangladeshi and Nancy being a Filipina, their love story is a real life testament to love's ability to span across cultures.

Nancy tells Kasal.com how they celebrated both love and cultural diversity in their very special wedding day.

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