A promise of love the second time around

THE precious possession that ever comes to a man in this world is a woman’s heart.

After years of giving public service to his country nabbing rated criminals in Northern Mindanao, Police Superintendent Reynante R. Reyes of the Regional Intelligence Division (RID) finally took a day off and tied a knot to his lovely wife, Marybel L. Geroy, in a grand church wedding at the Saint Augustine Cathedral this city.

Reyes says it was never too late to have a church wedding since this was what he promised to his wife 13 years ago after their civil wedding, when he was still starting his career as a police official.

The couple has two children -- Marey Consuelo and Reyson Alexander.

CAGAYAN DE ORO. Police Superintendent Reynante R. Reyes and his wife Marybel with the PNPA cadets. (Joey P. Nacalaban)

Considered a tough policeman, Reyes showed off his soft side by fulfilling his long time promise of a grand wedding as he believes that one of the values of married life is the union or unity between man and wife.

And so on June 30, under the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) tradition, Reyes patiently waited at the end of the aisle with his son Reyson Alexander for his stunning wife who slowly marched down the aisle with swords held up by PNPA cadets to give honor and respect to the bride. She was followed by the entourage and 42 sets of principal sponsors.

It was a joyous occasion, witnessed by Reyes’ PNPA batch ’99 Tanglaw-Lahi colleagues and most police officials. Even his brother, Sr. Eden Reyes, came all the way to witness the momentous occasion.

At the end of the formal wedding rights, PNP cadets waited outside the church for the newlyweds to come out and performed rituals based on the PNP tradition.

The reception was later held at the Xavier Sports and Country Club where families and friends were treated to a sumptuous meal, good music and entertainment.

To add fun to the event, the cadets did slow drill exhibition and presentation of bull ring and mini ring.

But the most touching of it all was when the couple’s daughter, Marey Consuelo, gave her speech, thanking her parents for giving them a good life and imparting on them good values.

Marey recalled when his father was always busy but finds time to be with them.

“He is often strict but we considered it a blessing for us to learn the good values of life. So when we grow up, we will carry the virtues we’ve learned from our parents,” she says.

The reception wrapped up with a fitting tribute to the PNPA through the song “My Heart Belongs to PNPA.”

Reyes promised to be loyal to his wife just like the loyalty he gave to his profession, serving others before himself.

“After many years of hard work and savings, a dream wedding for my wife has finally come true. It may take a while but it was never too late to show how much I love my wife for the second time around,” he says.