After 50 years

Fifty years of wedded togetherness is a long, long time but not for Alberto “Nene” Miranda and Victoria “Turing” Bernedo de Miranda. When the golden couple was asked what the secret to their marital success was, the affirmative response was a lot of sacrifice, patience, understanding, of course love and most specially having God as the center of their every day family and business life.

The perennial honeymooners are proprietors of a successful trading company in the area: Miranda Copra. Nene is a sportsman at heart, in his ripe years he rides horses, drives a big bike and swims like Johnny Weissmuller; Turing has magical botanical fingers, a green thumb like no other, and landscapes like those seen in Home and Garden. Their home in Sibulan has a garden to die for. They are also in the hierarchy of sorts of the Catholic Charismatic group “Elim” and hold Bible studies in their Cebu and Dumaguete homes. They are blessed with four sons Alberto Jr., Emanol, Jose and Martin and eleven grandchildren: Albertito, Ernie, Sofia, Rafa, Manu, Nika, Liani, Alfie, Paul, Enrique and Daniel.

To celebrate their golden day, family and close friends gathered at the Salon de España of the Casino Español de Cebu with a dinner, entertainment and dance. Flying in from Manila was sole sister, philanthropic Rosemarie Miranda de Prieto, and from Dumaguete came her sister and brother-in-law Franco and Florita Diaz, banker Miguel Diaz Jr., Lito and Chati Garcia, Luis Moras and “moi”.

Cebu famille were her sister Edie and Carlitos Alvarez with son Ato and Gigi Alvarez, Marisol and Martin Montenegro, the Gonzalez clan Hazel, Bruno, Ed and Therese, Piluling Aldanese and son Tico, Mark and Maricita Cancio, Tony and Cristina Moraza, Chucho and Margot Larrañaga, the Bernedos and many more. Close friends spotted were social giants Choy and Rosebud Sala, Tintoy and Maricar Perdices, Dr. Chona Bernad, Jaime and Cecilia Picornell, the Varelas, and Nena Montenegro who all enjoyed the bountiful buffet of Caesar's Salad, Lengua Madrileña, Pastel de Pollo, Pescado a la Vasca, Roast Angus Beef au Juis, Pancit ala Casino, and Lechon. For the sweet toothed there was a grand anniversary cake and fresh fruits.

Entertainment was inspirational songs rendered for the “Abus” by the “nietos”. They sang like angels and drew a few misty eyes in the celebrators and guests. A slide show of their fifty years was fun and drew a few chuckles. Dance music was provided by an incredible one man band from Bacolod .

The festivity was heartwarming and all had a nice evening of remembering, looking forward and most important thanking the good Lord for everything. “It's a wonderful life”………NOUS!*