50 TWO FUNERALS AND A WEDDING Funeral procession for Dña. Concepcion Luciano de Henson in <strong>Angel</strong>es, 1935. (Jojo Valencia) Funeral procession for Dr. Gregorio Singian in San Fernando,1937. (Lazatin Family)
Fray Francis Musni Fr. Juan Almario officiated wedding A grandiose event never witnessed in this part of Pampanga was the wedding of the Señores Torres y Singián. It was celebrated with extraordinary pomp and solemnity on the evening of the 27th of April, 1912, a Satur- day, in San Fernando, capital of Pampanga. The guests in attendance were numerous and exclusive, the majority coming from prominent and influential families, those of the elite, the distinguished and the affluent. They are united as in the proverbial confraternity and amiability of families of engaged couples. The intimate feelings of jubilee become sharper with the emotions felt before such splendor, magnificence, solemnity and greatness of the ceremony. The afternoon of the same day was blissful with unrestrained sunlight, an afternoon full of happiness and harmony. The immense crowd came and went with agile gaits to see the exquisite pagoda built on the Singián grounds in Paroba, Barrio Sto. Niño. Here, one could see the whimsically adorned pagoda. This was to serve as an extension of the dining room to sit the numerous guests, who would come to offer worthy tribute of affection, prosperity and happiness to the betrothed couple, who would be forever united before God and man. For this purpose, the distinguished masters in the art of decorating and em- Doña Consolacion Singian and Don Jose M.Torres Nuptials on April 28,1912 GIFTSofLOVE Excerpts from the bride’s personal journal, including the catalog of wedding presents, reveal the genteel lifestyle of small-town nobility Original Spanish text translated by Prof. Renán Singian Prado, Chairperson of the Department of Modern Languages, Ateneo de Manila <strong>University</strong> bellishing, Señores Don Antonio Torres and Don Mariano Cunanan displayed their accredited ability by capriciously and artistically decorating the locale. They used Chinese lanterns, banners and a variety of ferns. The light of the numerous gas lamps and the embroidery of natural flowers enameled on the extremely white colored roof, the columns and the tables of more than ninety table settings in an oval looked like a dwelling of illusory glory. Anahao fronds carpeted the floor from the foot of the stairs to the grand dining room, transforming the scene to a diaphanous ambience. The multitude, who witnessed such a solemn ceremony, acknowledged the pleasant and unrestrained gaiety of the atmosphere so much so that long and enthusiastic pleasantries and animated conversations ensued. From three in the afternoon, the numerous invited guests started arriving cordially received by the Señoritas Torres, sisters of the groom and the Señores Singián, brothers of the bride. After sharing impressions, they stood up to look at the magnificent pagoda facing the window, which was in front of the stairs. At around six in the afternoon, in the distance, the locomotive whistle blows announcing the arrival of a Special train with two First Class coaches from Manila totally brimming with distinguished and illustrious guests from that City. Their beautiful ladies and enchanting daughters joined the gathering of lovely Pampangueñas, who had earlier lingered to witness and to take part in the memorable ceremony. At the sound of the wedding march played by the Henson Orchestra before the multitude enters the majestic figure of the bride, Señorita Consolación Singián, who appears from the door behind the stairs luxuriously dressed in her precious wedding gown, all in white with the symbolic flowers of orange blossoms. She is in the arms of her godfather, the Honorable Señor Don Florentino Torres, Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. They walk in between the silent gathering and he brings her before a magnificent altar standing on one corner of the house. Here, three priests garbed in their Sacred Ornaments carrying a cross and candles were waiting. Behind the bride with her godfather followed the groom with his godmother, the Señorita Doña Máxima Singián. In the midst of a sepulchral silence, the Parish Priest, Don Juan Almario, reads the epistle of Saint Paul while the deacons and the sub deacons answer. And the blissful couple is eternally united in the sacred bond of marriage before God and man to be forever blessed and to enjoy happiness in this life and in the next. After the betrothal, in an instant the altar was removed for the reception of the numerous invited who first queued before the newlyweds who were standing at the foot of the altar, the matrons first followed by the young single ladies and then the gentlemen. After this, the bride was brought to her room and here her friends and the sisters of the groom helped her change from the wedding gown to a dress of very fine gaza of pink artistically and capriciously executed by the wellknown couturier, Pacita Longos, who also made her trousseau. Now dressed and bejeweled, the rigodón de honor, with thirty-five pairs led by the newlyweds, followed by Doctor Singián, brother of the bride with Señorita Pilar Torres, sister of the groom, began. Then came uninterrupted the waltz and the two-steps up to nine thirty in the evening. At this time, the guests went down to the very well decorated extensive dining room, 51
Change language