🏝️ JAI BA' LAI PRIVATE RESORT

Marcelina "Celing" and Cecilio "Berto" grew up in the same neighborhood in a small town in the Philippines, called Santa Maria. Celing's friend Charing was being pursued by Berto's friend Pedro. The four became barkada (best friends) at age 16, as our story begins. Soon, one friendship developed into something more special, as Berto began to see the radiant beauty of the blossoming Celing. He became protective of her and wouldn't let other boys get close or allow them to dance with her at social dances.

The transition from friends to lovers should have been easy, except for the strong disapproval of Celing's father, Juan. Still, our "Romeo" was determined to win his "Juliet" and came up with creative ways to profess his undying love. With the help of their friends Charing and Pedro, Celing and Berto pursued their romantic relationship unbeknownst to Juan. Sometimes, Berto would send pandesal (bread rolls) from their bakery to his friends, pointing out to Pedro the special pandesal for Celing — the one with a love letter inside! Other times, he would throw love letters at her while she was sweeping leaves in her front yard.

There was a time when Celing broke up with him, and Berto became ill soon after. He was delirious — mumbling and singing "Celing, biag ko" (Celing, my life) — and the albularyo (herbal doctor) could not make him better. Was Berto crazy from a psychotic breakdown? Or maybe just crazy in love? The albularyo suggested that his parents bring the girl Berto had been calling out for. As soon as Celing was brought to his bedside, Berto would not stop kissing her and wouldn't let her go. He was healed through the wonder of love. And their story continued.

After 3 years, they decided to tell Juan about their relationship. Berto asked Juan for his daughter's hand in marriage, but Juan refused to give him his blessing. There was another man from a different town that he wanted his daughter to marry. In desperation, Celing and Berto planned to elope. However, Juan found out about their plan on the day they were to leave town, and the tanan (elopement) failed. Berto went to the movies that day in Dagupan City, while Celing went shopping with a friend in Rosales. That evening, as Celing was boarding the bus for home, serendipity struck: Berto saw her as he, too, was leaving for home. Together, they took the bus — not for home, but to Manila, and stayed with Berto's sister, Reming. Two days later, they came home and persuaded their parents to set their wedding date.

On September 28, 1955, Marcelina and Cecilio (Celing and Berto) took their solemn vows in a Catholic church. No matter what obstacles they had to overcome, they were bonded by their love and faith. Through the years that followed, they struggled to raise 8 children, making many sacrifices to make ends meet. Berto worked as a farmer and construction worker overseas (Iraq and Saudi Arabia), and Celing managed the household. In 1984, Berto immigrated to the U.S. sponsored by his sister, Reming. In later years, Berto was able to bring Celing and all of his children to the U.S. because of his sister's love and support. His family was given an opportunity to strive for the American dream.

Fifty years later, Celing and Berto now have 19 grandchildren, and their love for each other is still going strong as their family tree continues to grow.