A father's message to her daughter

A Past Revisited, Connecting the Dots part 7

( A father's message to her daughter, May 5,2025, La Grande Estate, Oakley California)

The wedding of my eldest daughter Angel to Cholo Santos is very momentous.

The event is very momentous not only to the newlywed couple but to our family members as well.

My family drove seven hours from Southern California in a 12-seater van, and my sibling and wife flew in to be here today. Thank you for celebrating this special event with Angel and Cholo.

I wonder if anyone of you knows the full name of the bride?

My name is MC, the father of the bride, Angel.

My full name is MAMERTO CALALANG CANLAS JR. I was named after my father.

Growing up in the Philippines, as a child, I preferred not to be called Jun, Jojo, or Junior. Instead, I used the initials of my full name and became known as MC. The initials are spelled MC, not emcee as in Master Ceremony.

Angel’s full name is EMCY ANGEL SY CANLAS.

However, Angel was not named after me.

Angel was born under different circumstances. When I married her mother, Emily, in 1995, she already had three daughters: Cielo, Maan, and Desiree Joyce. Despite her doctor's advice against having another child due to her physical condition, Emily wished to become pregnant as a gesture of her love to me. Angel's birth was a testament to our relationship and a significant milestone.

Eventually, she became pregnant. Her doctor warned that during delivery, either she or the baby might survive. As the birth approached, there were mixed emotions; both joy and concern prevailed. Emily was in San Francisco Del Monte, in the Philippines, while I was in Daly City, in California. Because of our distance, I could not provide the necessary emotional support leading up to the day.

On the day of delivery, I was informed that Emily survived but was unconscious. The newborn was unresponsive initially and placed in an incubator. Shortly after, the nurses expressed joy and announced, "an Angel is here!" Thus, we named our child Angel.

The original name was EMSY, derived from her mother’s full name, Emily Sy.

When the newborn baby's name was registered, it was listed as EMCY ANGEL SY CANLAS. Emcy was spelled with a "C" instead of an "S", aligning more closely with my nickname, MC.

Angel mentioned to me that when people hear her full name, they frequently inquire if she is related to me, MC Canlas, the historian and community strategist in San Francisco.

As a proud father, I am pleased to see that Angel has embraced her role as the elder sister to Sophia and Sean with great responsibility. Emily now has six children, five Marias and one Sean.

I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Angel and Cholo on these significant events in their lives. You are now a couple, embarking on a new chapter, building your own family and continuing your family lineage. Welcome to our family.

As previously stated, this is a highly significant event for our family, including our extended intergenerational family—my siblings, your uncles and aunts, their children, your cousins and their spouses, as well as their grandchildren who are delighted to be here with you and Cholo. Your wedding offers our family a valuable opportunity to come together, foster stronger relationships, and importantly, to recognize our family's history and heritage. It allows us to gain a deeper understanding of our identity, our origins, and our future aspirations. Of who we are and where we came from.

Since we share the same initials, it carries a profound meaning. MC stands for "Moment Counts". Live your life together as a couple and as a family to the fullest. As in every moment counts.

Allow me to share with you my philosophy: Living life Open, Sincere, and True. The initials spell LOST. If you get lost or feel uncertain, remember LOST will always guide you to find your way.

Always communicate with openness, sincerity, and truth. Maintain mutual trust.

Congrats and best wishes.

May 26,2025 FB