Grandma at 42!

I haven't updated my blog for sometime now due to my being so busy with a lot of things - work, school and being a first-time grandma. The last as being the most exciting though.

Yes, I am already a grandma at 42! How do I feel about it? It feels very good! And I thank God for this new chapter in my life. Not all women will get to experience what I am experiencing right now.

Normally, when we hear of the word grandmother, we always picture an old wrinkled woman. Oh no, not me! A lot of people even think that I am the mother of the baby I am carrying, who is my grand daughter. Well, being a grandmother is something a woman should be proud of. Being a grandmother is another level of fulfillment.

I am creating another blog for my grand daughter so I can share my experiences about being a grandmother and to share updates about my granddaughter. I may sound corny but I am sure grandmothers like me will be able to relate with me.

The new blog that I created is "My Girl". Although, pictures of my girl can also be seen at the website my daughter created for my grand daughter.

Through my new blog, I hope mothers and grandmothers like me will also post comments and share their feelings and experiences being one. Afterall, being a mother and grandmother is indeed a big deal.

Family Pictures

My parents recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and it was a great opportunity for all of us to be together again to bond with my parents in this very special event of our lives. My brothers and sister who now live in other countries came home just for the occasion.

Having moments like this again, made me recall of the times when our family was still young and we were still small and few. This could be better presented through our family pictures which were taken during different times.

This family picture was taken sometime in 1966. I am the one seated on my mother's lap. We were only six children then. Some years later, the family grew in numbers.





















This picture was taken sometime in 1994, a few months after I gave birth to my youngest son (he is 14 years old now). This picture must have been taken during my father's birthday anniversary.
















We decided to have a picture taken with all of us in white tops and jeans, very casual. My youngest brother, who recently got hooked in photography hobby, took this picture at my sister's house yard.


















The succeeding pictures were taken during the golden wedding ceremonies, in Ubay , Bohol and in Tagbilaran City. The family members has indeed grown in number, kids have grown bigger and we have matured, since my parents started a family by sealing their love in three wedding ceremonies 50 years ago.

Blissful 50 years

My parents recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and I sent the following article to the local papers:

Tirol-Reyes Golden Wedding Anniversary
Former Bohol Governor , Atty. David B. Tirol and his ever lovely wife, provincial board member Dr. Amalia Reyes-Tirol, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last May 10, 2008 in Ubay, Bohol and on May 11, 2008 in Tagbilaran City.

Fifty Years Ago


It was indeed true love for Atty. Tirol that he and his family went to Ubay, the hometown of then Miss Amalia Maboloc Reyes, seven (7) times to ask the hand of the beautiful Ubay lass into marriage. This was also during the time when marriage of couples with different religions was a still a very big issue. When the Reyes family finally agreed to the marriage proposal, the wedding was arranged.

However, the marriage was not just sealed the usual way. Atty. David B. Tirol and Dr. Amalia R. Tirol actually got married three times (Beat that!). First was a civil wedding rights on April 28, 1958 then on May 11, 1958, in an early morning Catholic church wedding in Ubay, Bohol and followed by a late afternoon wedding ceremony held at the then Graham Memorial Church (now Graham-Leopando-Belarmino-Tirol Memorial Church) in the Tirol compound in Tagbilaran City.

The Celebration

To re-enact what transpired fifty years ago, the Tirol children, lead by the eldest, Dr. Mutya Kismet Tirol-Macuno, prepared a double grand wedding celebrations.

In the Ubay celebration, held a day earlier on May 10, 2008, invited guests were mostly relatives of Dr. Amalia Reyes-Tirol, public officials of Ubay and its 42 barangays, municipal mayors and vice mayors of the 2nd district of Bohol, provincial officials of Bohol, faculty and staff of Bohol Northern Star College, and friends. The wedding ceremony was held in the afternoon at the Sto. Niño Church in Ubay and reception (prepared for 1,000 persons) followed at the President Magsaysay Center.

The ceremony was celebrated by Msgr. Margarito Gonzaga, who also officiated their wedding fifty years ago. Close friends of the Tirols stood as principal sponsors. They were Gov. and Mrs. Erico B. Aumentado, Former Gov. and Mrs. Rolando Butalid, Former Gov. Gelacio Gementiza (of Davao del Norte), Mrs. Daday Reyes, and Mr. and Mrs. Alex Gaviola (representing the family of the late Justice Ramon Gaviola).

The secondary sponsors were Jovencio M. Reyes and Mrs. Araceli Reyes (cord), and for the veil, Martin Reyes and Maxilinde Reyes.

During the reception, guests were served with sumptuous foods prepared by Cainget Fish Grill and Restaurant (partly owned by Dr. Macuno) and entertained by the Sidlak Dancers of Bohol Northern Star College (where Dr. Amalia Tirol is school president). A huge five-layer gold-colored wedding cake, adorned with fresh flowers, was enjoyed by everyone. Guests were also served with slices of the freshly roasted calf (from the D & A Tirol Invisible ranch).

May 11, 2008 was another big event at the Tirol compound. The renewal of vows at the Graham-Leopando-Belarmino-Tirol Memorial Church, was officiated by brothers-in-law of Atty. Tirol, Revs. Daniel Bernaldez and Victor Casabal. Mrs. Taciana Belarmino and Mr. Casimero Bompat stood as principal sponsors. The Tirol family members, Belarmino family relatives (from Cebu), some faculty and staff of the University of Bohol (where Atty. Tirol is president) and friends were present to witness the affair.

The church was beautifully decorated with fresh flowers (liliums, gerberas, Malaysian mums, carnations, dendrubiums) which were flown in from Manila. Ms. Melita Jala Andoy who is a member of the World Flower Council International (Philippines) meticulously did the pretty flower arrangements both in Ubay and Tagbilaran affairs.

Dinner reception followed at the residences of Atty. and Mrs. David B. Tirol and Capt. and Dr. Marlon Macuno (nee Dr. Mutya Kismet Tirol-Macuno). Sumptuous foods, served in four buffet tables, for at least 500 guests were prepared by Jj’s Seafood Village. A roasted calf was also made available.

Thirty one (31) wedding cakes (representing the number of grandchildren) were also specially made by Inday Ramirez of Ramirez Cakes and Pastries. The design of the specially made individual cakes was chosen by Dr. Macuno herself, after searching in the Internet for the appropriate cake design. The cakes in assorted flavors: ube, orange, mocha, strawberry, pineapple, chocomarble, vanilla and special chiffon were decorated with almond slivers (specially flown in from Australia and the US) and slices of fresh mangoes. Everyone also got their slice of the cake as each table was served with a layer of cake.

The guests were entertained by the cultural dances performed by the University of Bohol Dance Troupe. The forty five (45) very talented members of the Loboc Ambassador Youth Band, awed Atty. and Mrs. David B. Tirol and guests with their spectacular musical performance during the program emceed by Atty. Adri Anne T. Montes.

Guests at the next-door residence of Dr. Macuno saw what transpired at the main house through a video feed. Video and photograph coverage was done by Ed Cañuto of Exquisite Photography and David ‘Cocoy’ Tirol, III.

For the wedding attire, Atty. David B. Tirol wore a pure piña hand-embroidered barong and Dr. Amalia R. Tirol looked so elegant in her hand-embroidered Filipiniana dress which was beaded by EJ Relampagos.

The entourage also wore specially ordered from Manila, barongs for the gentlemen and embroidered modern kimona and pañolitos, for the ladies, which were worn over a base gown made by EJ Relampagos.


The Family

Atty. David B. Tirol and Dr. Amalia R. Tirol are so happy that they are celebrating this very special moment of their lives with the presence of all their eleven children and thirty grandchildren and soon to come great-grand-child.

The children with their respective families, were also dressed in Filipinana motif:

The eldest, Dr. Mutya Kismet Tirol-Macuno, married to Capt. Marlon Macuno with their son Miguel Carlos;

David Rey R. Tirol, based in Tagbilaran City with daughter Hannah, and wife Josephine Jabinez and other children Ryan Josuah, Joseph Rey, Raja flew in from Brisbane, Australia , for the occasion;

Australia based Engr. Carpo R. Tirol with wife Nicole and children Kristoffer Jon, Kieren James Carpo, Samuel William David flew also flew in from Brisbane, Australia for a month-long vacation and to be with the family for this occasion;

Dr. Ammon Denis Tirol, CPA and wife Luaren Ramiro-Tirol with their children Laurence Elliot, David Ammiel, Ammon Johnvic, Luther Dean, Ilia Ursula;

Honor Tirol and wife Manuela Inting-Tirol and children: Frances Uma, Mikel David Andre, Lemuel Moses, Leam Andrew ;

Dalia Melda ‘Leah’ Tirol-Magno with husband Arturo Carlos G. Magno and children Amalia Karla Loise, Arthur David and Arturo Jose.

Apolo Tirol and wife Cindrella Fe Gingoyon-Tirol with Shirley Loi Angeli and Shine Ella May

Homer Ariston Tirol and wife Cheryl Marie Yap-Tirol with children Arizza Nancy Jule Y. Tirol and Marthe Justin Illu;

Reyna Catherine Tirol-Clavano (nurse) and husband Richard Clavano (chef) with children Katrina, Saul David, Preston Isaac came home from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA;

Youngest son David R. Tirol, III (respiratory therapist) with wife Melotte Uy-Tirol (nurse) and children David Val, David Matthew and David Allen also flew in from California, USA;

And youngest daughter, who is a nurse, Cindy Tirol.