By  LPJ

The windy city wasn’t windy at all the week we were there in October this year. The weather was gorgeous, and every day  I felt I was in sunny California. My Chicago trip with my nephew Chito (Albert Pandes Jr.) and his wife Benita was quite meaningful in two ways. First, I went to attend the wedding of Chito’s daughter Kate. Second, I saw the old Chicago Tribune building, a reminder of my former employer, The Peninsula Times Tribune of Palo Alto, California, then a subsidiary of the Tribune Company of Chicago.

I wanted to see the old Chicago Tribune building, a boost to reminiscing the good old days of working in the editorial department of the daily newspaper in Palo Alto, prior to being employed by Stanford University. Good thing, our quasi-host Leny and her friend Terry took us to the river cruise. The two-hour enjoyable boat ride offered an astounding close view of intricate and magnificent architecture of buildings both sides of the river in the heart of Chicago. The professional tour guide efficiently rattled the history of every structure, highlighting the high points, and even sneaking in known rumors that have become standard in the public storytelling, for their amusing and entertainment value. The caveat was the disclaimer — “those are just rumors”.

Kate and Roland Carnate with two of their sponsors.

The old Chicago Tribune building.

(Photos by Benita Pandes)

One such rumor (fake news in modern terms) is how the great Chicago fire of 1871 started in Catherine O’Leary’s barn close to the river. Myths blame the cow for tipping over a lantern. Others say a group of men gambling and drinking in the barn, overturned the lantern that quickly ignited flames.

Regardless of the stories, the facts maintain that noted architects and designers from all over the world either vied to be hired for the multiple constructions or initiated the building projects themselves. The result is a majestic stretch of awesome skyscrapers and some low ones defying the limits of art and beauty in structural development. The river tour was a continuous display of awe-inspiring architecture designs, like the circular twin Marina Towers, or even the controversial, modern Trump building that hugged the front view at the beginning of the river cruise. There were some old buildings as well, like the brown Chicago Tribune that stood with traditional pride, and the Tribune Tower jutting out and showing off its imperial Gothic design. I was happy to see the Tribune buildings — I had my fill of nostalgia.

But the major domo of all events during our week in Chicago was Kate and Roland Carnate’s wedding at St. Peter Catholic Church. The special occasion started at rehearsal night the day before. At the church, we greeted people we hadn’t met before. Facing eager and happy faces, and hearing names for the first time, we felt engulfed in a convolution of shared joy and anticipation. Relatives and friends of the bride and groom came from many different places. Though with introductions, names were a blur. But that day, it seemed like all were from Chicago, with only one goal, and that was to do a rehearsal to make next day’s ceremony perfect. Three times the processional to the altar, some slips and some misses, a few latecomers, but the rehearsal was just the staging of a solemnity that was to happen the day after. No one was more radiant than the bride to be, and that alone was enough flicker that ignited the joy in the room.

The wedding day was glorious: bight sunshine and blue skies with a light nip that freshened the air. No strong winds like I expected Chicago to have on any day, but a gentle breeze that stalked the very early morning light rain. The church at the tip of a strip of land bordered by roads on the sides and in front stood stately and beautiful. Inside, adding to its sacred elegance were the colorful paintings on large glass windows. The main isle that day was decked with white flowers. The guests filled the side pews, the groom’s family and friends on one side, the bride’s, on the other side — a custom for sitting arrangement at weddings. I’ve wondered about that custom observed to this day, and realize why guest lists need to have equal numbers for both sides.

Grandiose music cued the entrance of the wedding entourage led by cute ring bearers and pretty flower girls, followed by the sponsors and by groom’s men in their tux and bride’s maids in their dainty frocks. Kate, accompanied by her Mom and Dad, was a vision of loveliness in her fabulous wedding gown delicately laced all the way to the tip of her long, fluffed trail. The bride smiled her way down the aisle to meet her beaming groom before the altar. The music added to the solemnity, and I heard that the singer was the groom’s brother-in-law who used to be a member of the University of Notre Dame Choir.

Philippine tradition at the ceremony prevailed, such as the laying of the veil on the shoulders of the bride and groom, the placing of the white cord over their shoulders and the lighting of the candles, all signifying blessings on the union for sustainability of the bond. The attendees burst out in cheers when the officiating priest, Fr. Henry Kricek, completed the ritual and the awaited nuptial celebratory kiss finally came.

The reception after the ceremony was a blast, held at a lavishly decorated hall at Pinestripes, replete with a disc jockey and video cameras to record memories. The food was delicious, conversations were animated, music was compelling, that dancers seemed to crowd the dance floor all evening. That was a great party, and I definitely had fun. I even braved to move to the center of a robust disco circle. I stepped away when the crowd kept growing and growing, just happy dancers, young and old, who sang to the music as they swayed and pounded the floor.

There was no rest the next day as I had expected. It was a gorging day – a heavy lunch buffet back at Pinstripes, and all-you-can- eat meat buffet at a Brazilian restaurant. Indeed, an extended wedding celebration for the guests, compliments of the groom’s parents, and of Chito and Benita.

Not to forget, we stayed at the Embassy Suites where abundant spreads for breakfast buffet greeted us every morning. I didn’t need to be convinced to get my fair share of crispy bacon and sausages, or richly mixed omelets. Every day in Chicago jumpstarted from a filling, delicious breakfast that pampered every craving I had but which seldom got its way when at home. A good thing to be stuffed, because our days were packed with activities.

That week in Chicago was absolutely delightful, made more meaningful by our meeting nice folks we hadn’t met before, including some in the Ferraren and Carnate families. We indulged in new friendships, and a lot of goodwill abundantly spread around. That was all because of Kate and Roland’s wedding, a wonderful beginning to a blessed union.

Linda P. Jacob