May You Always Remember

I was very honoured to serve as the best man of my friend, JB Delacruz. It was a beautiful wedding, and I’ll write about it some time for sure. For now, here is my best man’s speech.

Good evening everyone.

I’ve known JB for quite a while.  I’m JB’s younger kuya. I know I have the title of best man, but I’m very proud to say, JB, you’re a much better man than me.

JB is so humble, so teachable, so curious. That makes him wise. He is so generous, so kind, so sacrificial. That makes him loving. And he is so talented, so gifted, so creative. That makes him magical.

JB, you are rich where it counts: in talent, in wisdom, and most of all, in love. Remember that.

Tina, you are blessed tonight because you married a man who is rich in the things that count. Even more, you are marrying the man who loves you most, even more than himself.

Last Friday, after the final meeting  for the wedding, JB was dropping me home, and we talked about the night JB first told me about Tina.

JB had called me and wanted to have dinner because he said he “met someone”.

If you know JB, him saying, “I met someone” is like me saying “I’m going to use the bathroom.” It’s a regular occurrence. So I told him. “Sino nanaman ito?”

But when I got inside JB’s car that night, I knew something was different. It had not been 5 minutes of him talking about Tina when I leaned back and said, “You’re a dead man. You’re in love.”

JB was surprised with my reaction. He said, “How do you know? I’ve barely said anything about her.”

I told him, “I don’t know how I know but I know.”

You see, Tina, you did something to JB. Unintentional it may have been, but significant nonetheless.

When JB saw you that day at the grocery, you captured his heart – and just like Mr. Darcy – He was in the middle before he even knew love had begun.

There are many way to describe what started that day. JB was attracted, smitten, bewitched, among other words, but I think the word “captured” is the most appropriate. Because not only did he find you so beautiful that day, in time you would hold his heart, as you do tonight, and now, for the rest of your life.

Somehow, JB managed to capture your heart as well. I don’t know how. It’s quite the miracle. But like he said earlier, this whole thing is a magical miracle.

JB showed me his depth last Friday, when after I reminded him he was a dead man, he looked at me and said, “Someday, you’re going to die too. And you’re going to enjoy it as much as I am.”

I made that sound nicer. What he really said was, “Mamatay ka rin!”

And I couldn’t sleep that night.

Now that you hold each other’s hearts, value, cherish, and protect each other. Having someone’s heart is a privilege, and like all privileges, there is a connected responsibility.

You are responsible for each other’s growth.
You are responsible for each other’s happiness.
You are responsible for each other’s flourishing.
You are responsible for each other’s dreams.
You are responsible for each other’s lives.

JB, like my dad always tells grooms, it is your responsibility to cultivate Tina, that she will become more beautiful and more excellent through the years.

Tina, it is your responsibility to support JB, to be his partner, to share life with him. JB is so blessed to have you, he really is.

Finally, you are responsible to remember.

Remember that it is God who brought you two together.
Remember today, this beautiful location, the cool evening, the golden moon.
Remember the faces, the voices, the music, the laughter.
Remember the excitement, the preparation, the trepidation, and the expectation.
Remember your vows, your promises, your commitments.
Most of all, remember each other and the love that you share.

If you don’t remember all that I’ve said remember this line: REMEMBER TO LOVE.

Now, can everyone please stand-up and take whatever drink you have.

Congratulations JB. Best wishes Tina. May you always remember.

Cheers.