Live in the Philippines

Live in the Philippines helps expats with visas, moving and other services regarding the Philippines.

Twenty Five

Family / by

Today is a big day in the Martin household!  A day that comes around only once in a lifetime in most cases.  For sure it is a one time deal for Feyma and I.

At the White House of Samal Island
At the White House of Samal Island

What am I talking about?  Well, today is our 25th Wedding Anniversary!  Yep, August 9, 1990 we were married in General Santos City, Southern Mindanao.  It was a very memorable day for me, and a great one.  I was 28 years old when we married, and Feyma was 21.

We have sure been through a lot that life has to offer in the past 25 years.  Lived in the USA for 10 years, and now we have lived in the Philippines for 15 wonderful years.  Well, some years in the Philippines were not so wonderful, it was not an easy adjustment to make.  Now that we have been here for some time, though, we are both happy with our lives here, I think.

We also have five wonderful kids as well, a real blessing!  Having kids always has its ups and downs, for sure, but the upside far outweighs the downside, and we have experienced a lot of ups.  Our oldest child, Chris, will be 24 years old later this year, a fine young man.  Aaron, our second child has been in the USA for the past nearly 4 months now, and we are so proud of him and the growth that he has made in that time.  Then there is Jared, our youngest son.  Jared is a very sensitive young man, very special.

Jean came to us a different way, a really fine young lady, and when she came along she really completed our family in many ways.  And, finally, Nicole, the final cog in the machine that is the Martin family.  Both of these girls were a great addition to the family!

Bob and Feyma Martin at the wedding
Bob and Feyma Martin at the wedding

But, wedding anniversaries are not so much about the kids, but about the couple who married.  In my eyes, although we are 25 years older now, Feyma is still the sweet young bride that I married in 1990.  The tough times have been relatively few, and the good times are too many to even remember or recount here.  If I had to choose again, I would do the same thing, because there are not too many things in life that bring you the amount of joy and success that Feyma has brought to me for these years.

Back when we had only 5 or 6 years of marriage under our belt, there was a couple we knew who was celebrating their 25th anniversary.  I remember looking at them almost in awe, amazed that they made it through those years and were still very much in awe.  Now, being in the same position myself, it just feels kind of normal to me.  I know for sure that we will always be together, no matter how long, for as long as we both live.  It doesn’t seem like a big deal, but I know that it is!

I love you, Feyma, and am looking forward to whatever life brings us in the next 25.  Gihigugma ta ka, asawa nako.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  17. Congratulations and best wishes to you both. Also, a big thanks and appreciation for all of the help that the two of you have provided to expat over the years.

  23. Congrats on 25 years of marriage, hope you have many, many more!

    Also, many thanks to you and your family for your columns, books, and general information. You’ve been a very valuable source for me and my fiancee, and I hope we will one day be in your place. I always look forward to the information you provide.

  27. Congrats Bob and Feyma! I hope you all have a wonderful day and many,many years to come of enjoying each others lives,and those who share it with you!

  36. Hi Bob,

    Congrats to you and Feyma ! A great milestone in your lives.I’m sure there were people that doubted your marriage would last a couple of years let alone 25.I hope you have many more come !

    We are a couple of months behind you 🙂

  46. Mita and I send our heartfelt congratulations also plus a really big thank you for all the help and gracious hospitality over the years. I too hope I am around for your 50th as well … I’ll be 95 then thus so close to my goal of 100 😉 Realistically the 75th may be too distant of a stretch, but who knows that new miracle vitamin I’m taking may work until my 120th … diba? LoL

  47. Happy Anniversary you two!!
    I loved reading your post Bob and it warms my heart to see yall doing so well and loving each other for all these years!!
    God Bless you both and prayers for many years of blessings and love in the Martin family!!!

    • Thank you Stacy Love Dickerson! I appreciate your sentiments very much. It has indeed been many years, but we are still going strong! 🙂

  48. Congratulations Bob and Feyma. In a world of constant divorces, 25 years is quite an accomplishment. May God continue to bless you and your marriage and your children.

  62. Happy 25th Year Anniversary and for the next 25 Year’s. My parents just celebrated there Golden Anniversary last month, which is becoming rarer these days.

  65. Congratulations on your anniversary. Zena and I are blessed to have met you two so many times. we cherish the memories of the times we spent together.

  66. Congratulations Bob & Feyma & all the best & God Bless. & thks both fr all yr interesting writings.

  77. Happy and blessed 25th Anniversary for both of you! Onnellista hääpäivää…in Finnish, but not finish your Happy days and years!

  84. Great story Bob Martin thanks for sharing. I have been married to my Filipina wife Vangie Cinader for going on 16 years now and would do it all over again in a heart beat. Glad to know your as happy as I am, and congratulations on the anniversary.

  85. Great story Bob Martin thanks for sharing. I have been married to my Filipina wife Vangie Cinader for going on 16 years now and would do it all over again in a heart beat. Glad to know your as happy as I am, and congratulations on the anniversary.

  86. Great story Bob Martin thanks for sharing. I have been married to my Filipina wife Vangie Cinader for going on 16 years now and would do it all over again in a heart beat. Glad to know your as happy as I am, and congratulations on the anniversary.

  87. Great story Bob Martin thanks for sharing. I have been married to my Filipina wife Vangie Cinader for going on 16 years now and would do it all over again in a heart beat. Glad to know your as happy as I am, and congratulations on the anniversary.

  88. Great story Bob Martin thanks for sharing. I have been married to my Filipina wife Vangie Cinader for going on 16 years now and would do it all over again in a heart beat. Glad to know your as happy as I am, and congratulations on the anniversary.

  98. Hi Bob,Feyma.
    Many many congratulations on reaching your 25th wedding anniversary. I hope that you share many more years of happiness together.
    I would like to echo some of the other comments above and thank you for the sound help and advice freely given to any contributor who asks.
    More power to you Bob.
    Dave,Joradin,Alex,Jordan and Shaun Pennell.

  102. Bob and Feyma!!

    Wish you Health, Wealth and Happines until your Golden celebration the next 25 years!

  108. Congrats Bob, here’s to the next 25 years time goes by so quick me and my wife
    We’re married in 1987 it just seems like yesterday the best thing I’ve ever done.
    Derek in pasig.

  113. Hi Bob and Feyma,

    Sorry for the late greeting. I would be remiss not to greet you on this special anniversary.

    Congratulations and here’s to more wonderful years ahead, together.

    Jon