A story of success in the Philippines, the Sanguyo family started in Bulacan growing vegetables and selling them at the local market. Later as their lives improved my Balae (The father of my son-in-law Chrisanto or Chris for short) branched off and started supplying the markets of Olongapo and Bulacan with fresh fruits and vegetables then Spreading into Baguio to bring other types of fruits and vegetables to both the Bulakan and Olongapo markets and the fleet of trucks growing every year.
With the passing of years the family grew as did the family business. Later building an apartment building and warehouse space plus stores and stalls in both markets it was decided to buy land in Subic Valley for the family home and rice farm. Ten hectors plus a one hector fish farm to grow tilapia, pigs, cows and goats. (Chickens for family use only)
All this can be attributed to hard work and good planning. All of the Sanguyo offspring’s went to college, with one Doctor and Registered Nurse now outside of the family business. With the passing of the father a few years ago Chris (Chrisanto married to our daughter) has taken over the running of the farm and the wholesale vegetable business
Now for the wedding, Christopher (Chrisanto’s youngest brother) who works at Harbor Point Hospital is marring a young lady he works with and she is also another registered nurse. By the way I also thought the naming of two sons Chrisanto and Christopher was different. But since both of them have a Philippine nickname there is no confusion between Pendo and Tupie. But if I’m around I like to shout: Hey Chris!”
The wedding is at the San Roque Chapel on Subic Free Port:
Of course my granddaughter Heather Colleen is in the wedding party as a bride’s maid, and my grandson Jaden Logan is an escort I know that will workout well as he just turned two. The wedding will start at 09:30 in the morning so I’ll show up at 10:00 just to be a bit early.
What I used to most love about a wedding in the Philippines is the Photog scam. Whereas as you enter the service there will be a group of photographers snapping pictures of everyone, to sell as you exit the service. Years ago they would stall everyone into waiting by staging and taking pictures in every conceivable location in the church and again outside the church, until the guy developed and returned to sell those candid shots to each and every person in the wedding party at P250.00 each. But with the advent of digital photo’s it’s no big logistical deal now, and not at all as impressive as it used to be in the days of film.
It will of course be a Catholic ceremony, so my legs will stay active hopping up and down during the wedding. As I former Altar boy, I miss the Latin, where the priest turns to the worshipers and says: “I play Domino’s better than you do.” Or something, approximating that, there I was sitting in the church (Since the Navy built it there was central Air.) but the priest kept droning on and on, I looked around after the first hour and saw people sliding towards the doors. I thought it was the groom but only one of his brothers.
I faked a cough and brought my handkerchief to my nose and hauled butt for the door, into the rain. But believe me wet was a better choice than being stuck inside listening to the speech through 30 year old Bose 501 speakers. I made my way through the rain drops to the trunk of the car (Boot for our British friends) and snatched an umbrella. I stood outside for 45 minutes more watching the photog guys setting up their display in the rain.
The doors swung open and the humanity raced out to be in the rain. The service was over. Praise, be to the Lord.
The reception will follow at the Golden Dragon Restaurant again up the road from the chapel on the Subic Free port. (Texas Joe’s is much closer) We entered and were escorted to our table. Then held a meet and greet with people we’ve not seen since the last wedding or funeral. Then the talking guy got up and started a long rant about the bride and groom and all with accompanying pictures flashed on the screen behind him. The food was brought to our table the first thing was pancit of course, which was more than likely warm at one time but since the wedding started an hour and a half late the food was now cold. Lechon which I thought you could never go wrong with, but I was wrong, and take pity on the hog that gave up its life to be as poorly cooked as it was.
My son-in-law Chris looked at me and asked if I wanted to go to Texas Joe’s and eat? We left by the kitchen door so no one would see us. He went back and I stayed for a few hours until Mayang and the family came to pick me up. Let me clarify I eat Philippine food, and find a lot of it to be good. But I refuse to eat poorly prepared food no matter what type. But at Texas Joe’s the day was complete.
I remember in the mid 1960’s when I married my bride, in North Carolina, and how wonderful it felt when I became single again. But to this young couple Christopher and Alianne I do wish them all the happiness and joy as they start their life together. And that they find what I found when I was in my late forties when I met Mayang.
Do you remember that tingling sensation you feel when you fall in love? That is common sense leaving your body.
Welcome back. Good to see you’re still in your rare auld form. I lost count of how many Filipino weddings I’ve attended in the last 30 years. But I still can’t tell what exactly is going on. We had an Army chaplain some years ago who was originally from Africa. He conducted the mass in English, but he used that old sing-song style. I still didn’t know what was going on, but it was more pleasant to listen to.
Hmm. Common sense…. tingling sensation…. I wondered what happens, now I know.
Take care,
Pete
Pete;
I too enjoyed the sing song style, put me right to sleep.
It make no sense that so much planning & money is spent on wedding arrangements so a good time can be had by all, and then most every one is put into a sour mood waiting for the picture taking which drags on & on. Your solution of spending an hour or two at Texas Joe’s during the photos sounds like a good one.
Loren;
Any time at Texas Joe’s is a good idea. When you coming home?
Paul – That Chrisanto Sanguyo guy son-in-law of yours, he’s pretty hard not to notice in almost all of your stories involving family. He is one heck of a very perceptive guy. He is always looking after your own comfot and welfare, providing you company when you feel alone, and an escape valve when you need it the most. In a world filled with Pinoy idiosyncrasies where a Kano from Boston could easily get lost or shunted aside, Chris seems to be always there for you to make sure you don’t feel isolated. You are either lucky to be his father-in-law, or he is lucky to be your son-in-law.
John,
It seems to be a combination of both. I see RGIII got injured yesterday. Did they say how long he would be out? At least Kirk Cousins came in and played great and they won. I’m happy too since the Browns beat the Saints yesterday. Got up at 1:00am and watched it live on a free website. Hoyer has made everyone forget about Manziel lol.
Papaduck,
They said they will be doing a sonogram this morning on RGIII, to determine the severity of his injury, and how long he may be out for. That was the lead story on the news here last night, on channel 4 and 7 both. (I am in the DC area) By the time you read this, you should know the results there I imagine. I was impressed with Cousins though, he did pretty good. They interviewed 2 guys on the news last night, that had stopped shaving mid last season, til the Redskins won a game, they had some pretty impressive beards though.
Bill S, whereabouts in the DC area do you live? I lived in the DC area for more than half of my life – mostly in Alexandria – having retired from the Library of Congress after 40 years. Although I live in Delaware at present, sitting my son’s beach house on Fenwick Island, I visit northern Alexandria, Frederick, and Ft. Washington almost every other weekend to be with to be with my family AND to satisfy my cravings for Filipino food – at the Manila Oriental in Springfield, the Kababayan in Woodbridge, and Pampanguena in Gaithersburg. Let’s meet for lunch sometime.
Btw, I have been a Redskins fan since Otto Graham was their coach.
I meant northern Virginia, not northern Alexandria…
John, I have lived in Northern Va. area myself since about 1980. I was visiting my sister who worked in DC, for HUD at that time, and found I could make far better salary here than MO, so moved here the following year. I too have been a Redskin fan since that time, but haven’t had a great deal to cheer about since Superbowl XXII, it seems, the big highlights being when they beat Dallas it seems. A local sportscaster here said he thinks RGIII will be out for the rest of the year, even though they haven’t officially said when he might return,,,if this season.
I live in a very small town close to Fredericksburg now. I did live in Manassas for many years, not too far from Woodbridge, or the Potomac Mills mall. I try to stay out of DC as much as possible, because of all the traffic and ticket camera’s they have, but I do take some jobs there from time to time. I occasionally go to the Pinoy Cafe in Manassas, but mainly just to mail Balik Bayan boxes. Lunch would be good sometime.
I have started the long process of selling about 95% of everything I own, both personnel and business, so that we can move to the Philippines. The house is emptying out pretty good, but the large woodworking machines and heavy equipment are not selling too fast, so have no idea when we can put the house on the market just yet, am hoping next year though if possible.
Hi Bill S –
Everybody seems to be moving to the Philippines lately. Except me. 🙁 There was Papa Duck not too long ago, now there is August, Pete, and you.
But, I will be there in December – for a visit, if Papa Duck would hurry up and tell me that he already found a red welcome carpet to lay out on the tarmac at NAIA for me and my wife, at past midnight on December 10th. LOL It’s been a while since I was there last.
Best wishes on your upcoming move. It just occured to me that you and Cordillera Cowboy, who is also preparing for the big move, are practically neighbors out there in the F’burg area. I was just at the Kababayan Pinoy resto in Woodbridge the other day.
The type of business you have, it sounds to me like you could easily start a business in the province in your wife’s name. No?
John,
Thats the plan, but not able to tell just when it may actually happen though, since its totally dependent on when everything can be sold. I have to pretty much sell everything first, cause once the house does sell I wont have anyplace to put everything and plan to load the container, and ship it as soon as the house sells, so everything is pretty uncertain as to when things will actually happen. I was hoping to be able to put the house on the market next March, but will have to see if that will be possible or not, large woodworking machinery is hard to sell I am finding out, but at least the heavy equipment market has gotten much better, than in past years.
I have talked to Pete a few times, he lives farther south, closer to Richmond it sounds.
So when are you planning to make the big move yourself?
We are going back for 6 weeks also early next year, have many, many things I need to check into there.
I would have loved to take a lot more of my woodworking stuff with me, but anything that is industrial, is taxed at 100% I have read, so dont want to buy it all for a second time. I have no desire to try a business there, just want to retire and do a lot of traveling throughout Asia especially. I will take a lot of small tools with me, and a lathe, just so I can have something to do, I get bored easily if I am not doing something.
Randy, an online news I saw at 12:26PM today says there is no fracture on RGIII’s dislocated ankle. At 3PM today, Coach Gruden is scheduled to have a press conference, possibly to throw light on how long RGIII might be out. At least with the injury, Coach Gruden won’t have to bench RGMe. LOL To be fair, though, RGIII did look good on the series of plays he ran before the injury, combining pocket passing with the read option. And, he did look very good just like back in 2012, except for the one sack when, again, he held on to the ball for far too long. I think the coaches are planning on having him mix it up with the pocket and the read-option this season, instead of turning him into a true pocket passer to keep opposing defenses guessing therefore more hesitant. But his legs are just too fragile, I think. Personally, I hope he stays out, and keep Cousins in. I was impressed with Colt McCoy in the pre-season enough to feel confident he can just be s good as Cousins in the event Cousins goes down. If and when that happens, Snyder will have to come in to back up Colt McCoy. Hahaha Congrats on the Browns win, Randy. Did Anne stay up to watch the game with you?
John,
Actually she didn’t even notice I got up. I was debating whether to get up or not. I was afraid if I watched it they would find a way to lose.
So, you’re one of the guys who would turn a beer bottle a certain way while watching a ball game so that the God of superstition will favor your team, eh, Randy?
John;
Oh it is I who is the lucky one, I couldn’t have made up a better guy.
Paul,
It sounds like a good choice going to Texas Joes. You never get bad food from there. Paul, Where was your barong at? It would have looked good with your jeans lol. Did you guys get hit bad from the typhoon? We got a lot of rain and some wind and that was about it.
Randy;
A lot of water is all we got here, I feel for the folks up north.
Barongs are over rated, and I still have a few but it seems that only the wedding party was wearing them.
I always enjoy your articles and your take on things.
one thing though?…“I play Domino’s better than you do.”..I always thought that was “The Pope always wins at dominoooo’s”…all this time i have been wrong?…I guess it is true you learn something everyday..:)
good read man and thanks..:)
Richard;
Since the Pope is from South America I’d say your right, I learned the game in Puerto Rico sitting on the plaza in the morning having coffee with the other old guys.
Hi Paul,
I enjoyed reading your article and looking at your pictures! On the lechon I have come to feel that it is the most over-rated Filipino food. The pig looks beautiful with the apple in its mouth, but I far prefer Eastern North Carolina barbecue for taste. Have you ever eaten at Wilber’s barbecue in Goldsboro, NC near Seymor Johnson AFB. They do a good job cooking pig!
Jay;
If I could only get my mouth around some NC Bar-B-Q Your right there is nothing better. And no I’ve never been to the one you named.
Great story Paul, as always
Chris S
Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed it.
I have tried to contact you via facebook, but I can see now you dont get on there much… I have had lots of problems in the past posting on this site, due to my (work) computers pre-set security.
Chris S.
I’m on Face Book every day.
I would like to get in contact with you (other than here) and pick your brain on some topics. Please let me know how we can accomplish this. Thanks Sir
Chris S.
I see no problem with that, contact Bob for, my E-mail address.
Hi Paul – interesting story. Seems to be a lot of Catholics in the Phillipines and with that comes a certain openness towards all races I should think. As for “hard work and good planning” I was interested to note that wherever I read about diversification in aqua/agriculture recently, tilapia pops up all over the place. There once were laws in Europe that one was not allowed to feed salmon to one’s handmaids seven days a week – obviously salmon must once have been a staple fish and not been held in too high esteem. How that changed with scarcity. Now tilapia, for all its hardiness and being ideally suited to aquaponics, seems on the rise. I wonder when it overtakes the other species.