Everyone loves a good love story of Tom Hanks-Meg Ryan levels, especially during this time of uncertainty. We love it because it allows hope to rise within despite all the bad news circulating. And so we dwell on what's positive.
I came across this story posted by Nicky Ledesma in the Facebook group "Negrense Chronicles" entitled, A Quiet Wedding - The First Wedding in Malacanang, written by the late Behn Cervantes for Special Press Edition Magazine, a Fil-Am publication which ran in the mid 1990s.
The shots of the magazine pages were there but it would take a microscope to read the text. So I had to convert the text for you, reader, to appreciate the story. Being a Negrense, I have so many stories to weave around this but will have to defer such so that we can just zoom in on Behn Cervantes' words.
And so it goes...
A QUIET WEDDING
The first wedding in Malacañang
by Behn Cervantes
The bride was a peaches and cream beauty at 19. The bridegroom was all of 22. In the 1940s, theirs was the ideal age range or couples to wed. He was a scion of the Ledesma family from the sugar-rich province of Negros Occidental. She was the daughter of Jorge Vargas, one of President Quezon's top Commonwealth officials. Lourdes Filomena Vargas y Yulo, "Nena" to her family and friends, was one of high society's stunning debutantes. While Eduardo Ledesma y Locsin, Dading to all who were his friends, was a business graduate from the exclusive De La Salle College. She graduated from the elitist girl's school, Assumption Convent. By the standards of the era, the two were good and ready to march down the aisle. Furthermore, the betrothal met the approval and had the blessings of both well-heeled families.
Dading and Nena were indeed ripe for marriage. They had everything going for them. Bonded with such deep love, Dading and Nena decided to wed at 6:30 in the morning of July 23, 1943. They were very much in love.
It was not to be. It was the wrong time.
This was World War II. It was during t thick of the Pacific war. Japan's expansionist scheme had been put into effect, so the Philippines was now occupied by the, Japanese Imperial Army in Japan's fascistic plan to incorporate the fertile, but American, territory to its Greater Fast Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere Program.
Jorge Vargas was the top Philippine official during these uncertain times as the deputy official in lieu of the absence of Manuel Luis Quezon, President of the Philippine Commonwealth who had fled the country with General MacArthur.
Young Dading, who survived Bataan and Corregidor was released from prison by the Japanese Kempetai. Life under Japanese rule was worlds apart from the pampered existence the young bride and prospective bridegroom enjoyed just a few years before the war. Their life ahead was uncertain, and its demands many. Nevertheless, the young couple faced the future with the optimism and strength that only comes from an abiding faith that love, specifically their love, would see them through. It would mature, sure to weather this storm and many more tribulations certain to come their way, they decided.
Jorge Vargas, as the top Filipino official during this war-torn period, was naturally, under heavy surveillance by the Japanese Army's intelligence section, the Kempetai. As it was for his future son-in-law, as well. No matter what the cruel games of destiny, love conquers all and proceeds toward its own chartered path. He set the pace for this life-changing event that would unite him with his Nena.
On May 18, 1943, an anxious Dading wrote his brother Nick: "I'll see her so she can ask her parents for a day when I could talk to them."
That meant he was set to ask for her hand in marriage. When the young suitor did, all the honorable Jorge Vargas asked was: "Will you love her for the rest of your life?"
The young Ledesma's answer was an unequivocal, "Yes, and God willing, will always be, yes!"
Tradition required the father of the prospective bridegroom to formally ask the future bride's father for the final consent. Since his own father, Jose Ledesma y Ledesma, due to the scarcity of transportation during the war, was stuck in Silay, Negros Occidental, Tay Joaquin, his uncle in Manila, would do the honors.
In the meantime, the organized suitor took matters into his own hands and harnessed the help of his supportive siblings. In a rush of letters to his brother Nick, he stated: "I'm writing letters in such a way that taken together they will give you a complete picture of my plan."
To a sister, he insisted: "Please, Inday, I want to get this over with now that I've made up my mind."
However, he asked Nick to: "Just keep your fingers, leg and toes crossed. I'll wire. If I say, 'practice singing O Promise Me!' then it's okay. If I telegram 'prepare castor oil', then you'll know what happened."
Nevertheless, he asked Inday to keep his plans secret: "Promise me, Inday, mum's the word."
But, he kidded Nick to practice O Promise Me because: "Nena wants it sung in swing, tango classical, rhumba, boogie-woogie and waltz".
Then, with a sense of urgency, he wrote Nick again requesting: "... tell Inday to have my suit cleaned. If I wire, 'send suit,' that means it." The Japanese authorities had introduced clothing rations so Dading couldn't buy the shirt he needed for that all-important occasion. In the meantime, he had already bought socks, handkerchiefs and a belt for his wedding outfit. Regarding the wedding plans, he confided to his sister, Inday: "I think Nena and I prefer a quiet one."
Nena was the first' Filipina to wed in Malacañang Palace. Before the Philippine Commonwealth was put into power, only the colonial government heads resided in that palace beside, the Pasig River. For decades, Spanish governor generals and their families replaced their Spanish colo-nial counterparts and lived stylishly in this grand old palace constructed with the best of Philippine hardwood and European furniture and chandeliers. Filipino servants served them American and European cuisine. Centuries-old acacia trees and flame trees gave comfort and shade to the residents and the important international visitors allowed inside its decorative iron gates.
When Manuel L. Quezon was proclaimed President of the Philippine Commonwealth, he and his family moved in and lived there. With the onset of World War II, the American government deemed it necessary that he and his family escape to the United States via Australia.
General Douglas Mac-Arthur advised Quezon and his family to join him when he fled to Australia just before the Fall of Bataan and Corregidor. He also brought along Sergio Osmefia, the vice president, so Jorge Vargas was left as the top official in the absence of President Quezon.
The Vargas family had access to Malacañang Palace. It was decided the wedding of his daughter Nena would be held there. The wedding was big society news. Manila's 400 were intrigued by the romantic union of this youthful couple during such perilous times.
Precisely because everything seemed against the love-struck pair, those who loved—them spared nothing to create the romantic atmosphere which would help make the event forever a glorious memory for the youthful couple.
Nevertheless, festivities were restrained by war conditions. Nothing could be as it was. The couple realized there would have to be limits to the festivities and, alas, even their happiness. Sadly, the bridegroom's family could not attend this memorable occasion owing to travel limitations and the dangers involved in inter-island journeys at this particular time. The Ledesmas were isolated in the family homestead in Silay much to the disappointment of the bridegroom and the Ledesma clan, but there was nothing they could do.
Tay Joaquin Ledesma, the surrogate father, stood in lieu of the groom's parents. He was also one of the two principal sponsors. Marina Yulo Vargas, mother of the bride, was the other. Mons. Guglielmo Piani, the Apostolic Delegate to the Philippines, officiated the solemn and elegant exchange of marital vows. However, all ceremonial matters were simplified and brought down to bare essentials. The times required it.
The lovely young bride wore a Valera creation, a simple satin terno with hand-embroidered butterfly sleeves that showed off her cameo beauty. A diaphanous tulle veil trailed her as she slowly marched down the sampaguita-scented aisle on the arm of her distinguished father, Jorge Vargas. He wore a formal black suit. His wife, Marina, was naturally, in an elegant terno.
The guests wore the prescribed attire for such an occasion with many of the ladies in the best of Philippine ternos complete with the accompanying pañuelos and serpentinas. Members of the High Commission and their wives were also in attendance, but their attire befitting the era whenceforth of which they were the proud members of, a raging war notwithstanding.
The ceremony was held in the the reception Hall of the Palace where an altar had been ingeniously improvised and decorated. The aisle was decorated with thousands upon thousands of chained sampaguitas, while the huge hall of dark and shiny Philippine hardwood was tastefully bedecked with gardenias, lilies and tube-roses. The Viennese chandeliers were lit, casting a resplendent glow on the hall and the guests. A soft dewy breeze blew in from the Pasig River as O Promise Me was sung.
Nothing within the bounds of good taste, despite the harsh limitations imposed by the war, was spared the couple. They were to treasure loving memories of this occasion, a war notwithstanding.
The Vargas and Ledesma families, being members of Philippine high society, partook of the good life and were accustomed to the best and most lavish, but, they also had a social conscience. War demanded austerity, so on this occasion, their well-heeled guests were fed only cake. The money intended for the wedding's breakfast was instead donated to the Philippine Red Cross.
The bride's exquisite gown was donated to a Carmelite Monastery where its ample yardage was turned into bandage material, in great demand during those war-torn years. The picture perfect wedding was everything a young bride could dream of and more. It had all the required elements of romance, but danger also hovered over them and the whole country. This uncertainty could darken their future.
However, Dading and Nena had founded their relationship on the oldest and strongest of forces—love, so together they forged ahead to wherever fate and their love would lead them. After the ceremony, the couple drove to Assumption Convent in whose chapel Nena offered her bridal bouquet to the Virgin Mary, a tradition maintained by Assumption alumnae. The young bride, kneeling in front of Mary's statue after she offered her bouquet, prayed for the love and strength she needed for the challenges which assailed her. She had grown up in comfort with all things available to her. Now, she would start a new life under difficult conditions and would need spiritual help along with the support and love of her young husband.
After all, Nena and Dading would start a life together during a most precarious period. Nothing was certain. Where would food come from? Work? How could they raise a family under these perilous conditions? A million and one worries beset a young married couple during normal times. Theirs were compounded by the complexities and uncertainties of war. Nothing was predictable, except their love for one another. That would keep them strong. It would anchor them and make them face the future with hope and optimism. They could create a life of their own during these terrible times.
Dading had made a difficult decision. It was going to be arduous caring for a wife in Manila. How about the family they soon intended to have? So Dading decided to take his young bride to the family homestead in Silay. However, this would mean he would have to wrest her away from the comfort of her home and the love of her family. Naturally, It would be difficult to separate the young bride from her doting family, especially since she would have to deal with her father whose task of running the government under foreign command required all the support he could have from his family. He wrote Nena's father:
I place before you my case for wanting to go home... It is undeniable that lofe over there will be many times harder. Things that are so easily accessible for her here will be heavensent for her there - if she can have them at all. There will be more responsibilities and, consequently, more worries; less amusements, more loneliness. At a glance, she seems to be receiving nothing and losing everything in a bargain like this. But placing her int he crucible of difficulties, the abrupt change in surrounding will make her a mature woman and the best of wives. Of this I am convinced.
However, he assured the anxious father that "... throughout her severest test, during her bitterest sorrows, she will not walk lonely and alone. Her tribulations will be mine as well as her happiness. You who have been married these past twenty-four years must know, as I have been merely told, of the lightness of a sorrow shared, the ecstasy of a happiness divided between man and wife."
As a final assurance Dading stated: "And so, with your permission and what's more with your blessing, Nena and I would like to return (to Negros) to begin life as just another Mr. and Mrs. Juan dela Cruz. We will not leave, Dad, if you think our departure unreasonable, if you find my reasons unjustified. We want to go with your understanding, your love and your blessings so that when there shall be more 'peace on earth and goodwill towards men', we can look forward to a glorious forevermore."
In September of 1943, a mere two months after the wedding, Dading and Nena sailed aboard a Japanese boat for Negros Occidental, their chosen home. The Ledesma family welcomed the young bride with a big party where a young soprano, Conchita Gaston, was among those who entertained the Manila debutante. Their new home was just behind the old family house in Silay. The young couple settled to start their life together as Mr. & Mrs. Eduardo Ledesma. Nena and Dading, to all their friends.
On July 18, 1944, Nena bore Eduardo, Jr. Then, Ana, Marina, Ma. Regina, Margaret Mary, Elizabeth Christine, Antonio Andres, Jose IV, Lourdes Filomena and Jorge Roberto.
On July 23, 1993, they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, the memories of that war-torn morning in 1943 intact and glorious forevermore.
On October 11, 1996 Dading passed away. Nena, however, lives ever empowered by his love and conjugal partnership that experienced "the lightness of a sorrow shared, the ecstasy of a happiness divided between man and wife." And in her heart, Nena knows that "yes" as Dading loved her that morning of July 23, 1943, he did so, as she promised her father, for the rest of his life.
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Post Script : I mentioned to Nick Ledesma that there exists a copy of the full letter written to Jorge Vargas, and that what appears above are only excerpts. Perhaps with the permission of the family, the full letter could also be posted here in El Talonggo.
The blogger, Lloyd Tronco, is an Artist, Writer, Entrepreneur and Designer.
He is a Negrense based in Metro Manila, thus the name Talonggo (for
Tagalog-Ilonggo).
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