A Wedding

I was a judge from 1985 to 2006. In the early 1990s, a young man asked if I can solemnize his marriage at the Davao General Hospital (now the Southern Philippines Medical Center). He said his sick wife who was pregnant pleaded that they should marry at once. He was tired and depressed so I said yes. He said, “Pwede ba ugma sa buntag Judge kay kuhaon ko pa ang marriage license.” Akong tubag, “Balik na sa hospital. Ibilin lang ang resibo, kami nay mokuha sa licensiya.”

Next day at 10 am I entered the free ward room. Tungod kay kabus. There were 3 other patients with their helpers and families in the room. With only an electric fan, it was warm. His wife was pale, thin, gikapoy kaayo and could barely speak or smile. There was also lola (the wife’s mother), 3 children ages 6, 5, and 2 years old. Before the short ceremony I asked them to hold hands. The wife tried to sit but she was so weak the husband hugged and half carried her. Her face was peaceful and seemed to glow/flushed. She wanted to give her wedding the honor it deserved. After I said, “Karon, I pronounce you Mr and Mrs xxx,” everyone in the room clapped and wished them well. The wife was so happy she was crying softly and the husband. Human marehistro sa Curl Registar, ihatag ang among kopya sa marriage contract sa opisina two days later, around 3 pm, the husband returned to the office with our file copy. I said, “Oy, puerteng lipaya sa imong misis.” He replied, “Judge, sa buntag kami gikasal aron matuman ang pakiluoy ni misis nga legal ang mga bata. Sa alas dos sa hapon, namatay siya.”