IT WAS not instant fireworks when the Congresswoman and the Major met four years ago. Both were partnered as secondary sponsors in a wedding. She caught the bouquet, he got the bride’s garter.
Two years later, kismet decided to send Cupid and allow tradition to happen. They dated despite the distance. He, in Tarlac. She, plying Manila and Bacolod. On weekdays, the Deputy Speaker was attending to her congressional duties while the officer and gentleman was busy with his ranger-ing responsibilities. Weekends gave them a chance to have moments together that led to the proposal.
And so it was on October 6, 2016, that Army Major Dranreb Lansang and House Deputy Speaker Mercedes Alvarez made their promises before God and men, at the historic Las Casas Filipinas de Azucar Heritage Resort in Bagac, Bataan.
In the turn of the century village dotted by noble-class mansions and wooden stilt houses, horses’ clippity clacking along cobbled stones and guardia civils manned their posts. Amid the foregone era setting, Chedeng descends from her carriage looking resplendent, walks through an arch of sabers and marches down the aisle to be wed to her hero, dashing in his white duck, Dran.
Tears of joy streamed down many cheeks as Chedz and Dran professed their promises to one another:
From Dran: “Chedz, you know me better than anyone else in this world. You have shown me love than I have ever known. There is still a part of me today that cannot believe that I am the one who gets to marry you. This I promise you and you better believe me because I am a Ranger. My life now is yours and I will die loving you. One lifetime with you is not enough. I love you so much.”
Chedz, holding back her tears, replies: “Dran, I might still be that same difficult person to love. But I will love you with all of my heart and even if I fail, I will still be here, I will be your home, as you are mine. Just understand that I am not much of a good lover, but my love will never be watery, it will not slip through our cracks, I will always stream from within as long as you believe in us. I am always at war with my emotions and my thoughts, but your love is the peace that I need. Thank you for saving me, for being my hero, thank you for giving me the courage to trust love one more time.”
Like a nostalgic movie set in the 1800’s, two people in love set out to create a life together not as a Deputy Speaker or a Major Ranger. Just two people in love, Dran and Chedz. What could be more perfect!