“ Confucius once said – ‘Be a lotus .’ This means, no matter how ugly, evil and how sinful everyone around you might be, do not allow yourself to be stained. A lotus remains beautiful even as it lingers in the dirty waters of the pond. So be a lotus….for it just has to start with one to fill the pond with more beautiful flowers.” - Dr. Lorina Cabaluna

The beautiful chapel atop a hill at Midlands in Tagaytay, named "Madre de Dios" or Mother of God is fast becoming a favorite for weddings and anniversaries.

Overlooking the breathtaking view of the world–famous Taal lake and volcano, it is picture-pretty and makes a wonderful background for the photo opportunities that usually accompany these social events.

One weekend, I was at this chapel for the silver wedding mass of our friends Paz and Greg Monteclaro, the sparkplugs of the Mary, Mother of the Poor Foundation of Fr. Fernando Suarez and Couples for Christ.

Since the last time I visited this chapel, the stained glass windows at the back of the altar have been changed.

From the depiction of the Holy Family, the new window now shows the wedding at Cana when Jesus obeyed his mother’s request for Him to change water into wine.

Jesus is shown as the central figure with His Mother looking very proud of her Son. She has just told the stewards to "do as He tells you" and they are shown pouring wine from water jars.

I was told by Henry Ocier of the club that the local stained glass makers, the Kraut company, used their new techniques which makes the huge pictures look flawless and with vivid colors. Felicidad "Nanay" Sy, who was one of the principal sponsors of the Monteclaros, reportedly personally supervised the changing of the stained glass. It is a beautiful scene, especially if you pay attention to the bridal couple who look so blissful on their special day, unaware that Christ performed His first miracle upon the request of His Mother.

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And speaking of weddings, Greg from Iloilo and Paz (formerly Gogolo) from Sorsogon had a super surprise that day. Only daughter Donna flew in from Australia to be with her parents and her brother John. Greg was moved to tears when he saw Donna walking down the aisle in front of her equally surprised mom. Two days later, she flew back to Australia.

The celebrants were extra-special too. Healer Fr. Fernando Suarez led a delegation of priest friends of the couple from Canada, Rome, and the Philippines who would miss the Monteclaro’s thanksgiving mass. Fr. Jeff Shanon, Fr. Angel Pusikit, Fr.Ronelo Jabines, Fr.Mario Sobrejuanite, Fr. Ricki Ignacio--the first Filipino parish priest in Rome--Msgr Jerry Bitoon who is with the Vatican, Fr. Moren Querickiolo, Fr. Boni Lopez, and Fr. Nap Baltazar were all there to bless the couple.

As Fr. Suarez said in his homily, he had not met a couple as dedicated as the Monteclaros were in serving the Lord!

He recalled how Greg and Paz literally took him and Fr. Shanon into their home when they were just starting his ministry here two years ago. Since then, Greg and Paz have been the surrogate parents and caretakers of Frs. ‘Ido’ and Jeff and their other priest friends when they came in from their foreign postings, especially those from Rome and the Vatican.

Shepherding the charismatic and increasingly popular Frs. Ido and Jeff when they were in the country was not easy as their schedules were also hectic, hectic, and hectic. But…Greg and Paz are coping well with the demands of the ministry while at the same time successfully running their export business and being "household head" of the Couples for Christ in their area.

The dinner at the veranda of the Midlands was lovely and intimate, with close friends from the Couples for Christ and the Mary Mother of the Poor Foundation. Grace Bontag was one of the party hosts and she did an excellent job of it.

Later, Fr. Jeff started the musical numbers with a love song he dedicated to Greg and Paz. The priests from Rome followed suit with spirited versions of "O Sole Mio" and "Granada" from Fr. Moren and "Dancing Queen" from Fr. Ricki!

To the two lovebirds, my congratulations and may you have fifty more years of togetherness and bliss!