COMMUNITIES

A Match Made in Xavier

By Fr. Johnny Go, SJ

School Director

Posted Tuesday, 17-May-2005 01:09 PM

Below is Fr. Johnny Go's homily during the wedding of Ronald Demegillo and Jessica Junio last 14 May 2005 at the St. Ignatius Cathedral. The entire Xavier community offers its best wishes.

My dear friends, today we are celebrating a match made in Xavier School , where, as we know, Demzz and Jessica are working as teachers. Actually, that's no big deal since it happens quite often in Xavier. What is unique about Demzz and Jessica is that theirs is a match made by students of Xavier School .

Let me begin from the beginning: Jessica and Demzz first met in April of 1997. Jessica was fresh from UST, and Demzz fresh from the seminary. Both had just been accepted to teach in the high school of Xavier School. They met during the school's summer orientation for new teachers, but there were no fireworks between them. At the time Jessica was in a different relationship, while Demzz was still discerning about his religious vocation. In other words, pareho pa silang nakatali noon .

Demzz and his other ex-seminarian classmates, Holden and Monico, came to be known as the Xmen, while Jessica and her friends Joan and Jorann earned the label Spice Girls. The Xmen and the Spice Girls got close because according to the tradition in Xavier School , as new teachers, they were always being requested to do all sorts of things: to perform and present dance numbers for programs.

Naging magkakabarkada po sila, pero di naging close si Demzz kay Jessica dahil kahit na nagagandahan daw siya rito, hindi naman siya makahirit dahil ang tingin niya dito mukhang masungit at magaling mambara. Bukod dito, mahilig pa raw sumakay sa motorsiklo at malakas uminom.

Parang iba ang hinahanap ni Demzz sa babae: tahimik, mahinhin, parang ganun. In other words, everything that Jessica isn't.

Parang iba din ang hinahanap ni Jessica sa lalaki: Ayaw niya ng seryoso, planado lahat sa buhay, o kaya masyadong straight. In other words, everything that Demzz is.

Subalit ika nga nila, sadyang mahiwaga ang pag-ibig.

Napalapit si Jessica kay Demzz dahil nagkakaroon siya noon ng mga problema sa kanyang relationship, so who else could she turn to but the ex-seminarian friend who is serious and easy to talk to? Dahil dito naging madalas silang magkasamang kumain at mag-usap.

On a fateful Appreciation Day, a day when Xavier students pay tribute to their teachers, Demzz and Jessica were given the “Love Birds of the Year” Award, much to their surprise. Napansin kasi ng mga students na lagi silang magkasama. Pareho silang nagulat, pero dahil sa award unti-unti rin silang na-develop sa isa't isa! That October, when they attended an overnight seminar for new teachers, which we call “Colloquium,” they spent the night talking and getting to know each other, staying up until 5:30 the next morning!

Actually, bawal po yun, pero dahil dito, lalong lumalim ang kanilang pagkakaibigan. Sa totoo lang, na-i-in-love na sila sa isa't isa kaya lang wala pang nangyayari dahil ang pakiramdam ni Demzz, mahal pa ni Jessica ang kanyang dating boyfriend. Si Jessica naman ayaw maging hadlang sa pagpapari ni Demzz. Pero may ibang plano ang Panginoon para sa kanila, at unti-unti rin nila itong nakita.

Eventually, one day, on the 14 th of January, Demzz noticed that Jessica was no longer wearing the ring given to her by her boyfriend. So he felt it was time to make his move. After work, he invited Jessica to Quezon City Circle . Kunwari dinner lang, pero siyempre kabado siya. Naghanap sila ng bench sa Circle para doon siya makapag-propose nang maayos kay Jessica. Kaso n`ung gabing yun, lahat daw yata ng benches doon ay okupado na. Kaya ikot sila nang ikot at halos mahilo sila sa kakahanap ng empty bench hanggang sa wakas may nakita na rin sila. Takbo sila pero nung nandun na sila, may tao na palang nakahiga sa bench. Sa wakas naki-share na lang sila ng kiosk sa isang couple sa kiosk.

Kaya doon sa kiosk na yun, mga kaibigan, sa ilalim ng mga bituin, sa gitna ng mga okupadong benches ng QC Circle nagtapat ng pag-ibig ang ating bidang lalaki sa ating bidang babae.

That was 7 years ago. Every month since then Demzz and Jessica have been celebrating their monthly anniversary. Marami na rin silang dinaanan. Marami na ring trials na nalampasan, kasama na roon ang mga away. Tuwing nag-aaway sila sa mall, nag-wo-walk out sila sa isa't isa, pero di sila umaalis sa mall. May usapan kasi sila na walang iwanan, so pag lumamig na ang ulo nila, magkikita na naman uli sila. Sabi ni Jessica, arte lang daw yung walk-out. Sa katunayan, in the last 7 years, their cool-offs, if ever, lasted for only a few minutes.

Actually, I've never heard of a couple that has been more thoughtful to one another. This was evident in the way they spent one Christmas.

Jessica knew that Demzz loved animals, so before leaving for Tuguegarao for the Christmas break, she invited him to the Parks and Wild Life. When they got there, she went to the guard house and brought out a picnic basket. They went to a spot near the lagoon, where Jessica spread out a cloth on the grass and brought out the sandwiches she had especially prepared for Demzz. They spent the afternoon eating, talking, and playing cards. It was Jessica's Christmas gift to Demzz, who was deeply touched by the gesture even 7 years later.

Hindi rin pahuhuli ang Christmas gift ni Demzz kay Jessica. While doing window shopping at SM, Jessica fell in love with a green bag in a Hello Kitty Store. She wanted to buy it immediately but needed to wait the next day for the release of her salary. Pero pagdating nila sa Hello Kitty kinabukan, sarado na ang tindahan. Lipat sila sa kabilang building ng SM, pero di na rin nila ito naabutan. Inaway tuloy ni Jessica si Demzz dahil ang bagal daw nito kumilos. Ang di niya alam, sinadya ni Demzz ma-delay sila kasi binili na pala niya yung bag the day before. Bumalik si Demzz sa SM para lang bilhin yung bag as a Christmas gift. Needless to say, nang buksan ni Jessica ang special Christmas gift ni Demzz, bumaha ng luha ang kanilang kapaligiran.

Demzz and Jessica, it has been a 7-year march for you to your wedding altar today. We pray that as you begin this new chapter in your life together, you will continue to be extra thoughtful in expressing your love to each other. Jessica, lagi mong alagaan mo ang mga isda sa aquarium ni Demzz although actually Demzz says you never run out of ideas in making him feel special. Demzz, continue to make Jessica feel as well-loved as she does. Here are Jessica's exact words about you—and I quote: “Iniibig niya ako bawat araw na lumipas, mas malalim, mas meaningful, mas totoo.”

Demzz and Jessica, if you look around this church, you will see the beaming faces of your families and friends, who are all overjoyed at this truly magical occasion. With you, we thank the Lord for the wonderful ways in which He has brought you together, and we ask Him to make your love for each other strong and enduring as you enter into your married life. May He grant that you will continue to bring out the best in each other. And may He bless your new life together with His special presence, with love, joy, and laughter.

JOHNNY C. GO, SJ

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