Jose Lastimosa Jr and Chona Galinato Nuptials
May 13, 2023
Bremerton, State of Washington, U.S.A.
Chona, the bride, said that after she graduated from her
Bachelor of Science in Commerce Course, major in
Management from Holy Name University (Tagbilaran) in 2002,
marriage was very far from her mind.
However, when she was in her early 30s, she went to Birhen
sa Manaoag in Carmen, Cebu and started praying for a good
man to become her partner in life. She believes in prayers and
for one, she believed (during her teenage days), that looking for
a good husband needed sincere prayers. Chona asked for the
help of “Mama Mary to find a husband who does not only love
me but also my parents and our family.”
And Chona said: “Then our love story began. A certain Joey
(Jose Lastimosa Jr.) sent me a friend request on my facebook
(FB) page. That was in June or July of 2011 – immediately after
my visit to our Birhen sa Manaoag. When I checked Joey’s
profile photo, I got attracted to him because he was wearing his
US Navy uniform. Then, I told myself: “Uyyy, artistahin man
ug apelyido – Lastimosa gud. Unya itsuraan ra ba pud.” But
I started to have some questions. He had two (2) kids with him
in the photo, but didn’t have any lady companion to represent a
partner, or a wife. Thinking that I will get answers to my
questions later, I clicked the ‘confirm’ button and we became
FB friends. He immediately sent me a ‘hi, hello’ message but I
did not bother to answer him. Six months passed by and that
was the only communication between him and me – the one
and only ‘hi and hello’. On the next 6 th month, there was another
‘hi and hello’. Indeed, his “hi and hello” was regular – every 6
months.”
Chona continued her story by saying: “My questions were
slowly answered – that there was no woman in the picture with
his 2 children because he was already divorced from his wife;
that he would only message me on the 6 th month of every year
because he was deployed in the navy for 6 months and would
have the chance to send me a message only after every
deployment. I found it rather weird. So I did not really raise my
hand to scribble some notes to him. Little did I know that he
was always praying that I would answer him kay matud pa
niya, iyang gihunghung sa Lord nga ug motubag lang gyud
ko, siya na ang mohimo sa next move. Tuod man, God
answered his prayer. I did reply to his ‘hi and hello’ in January
of 2012. I agreed to become his girlfriend on March 13, 2012.
He came to Cebu, in October of 2012. We were comfortable to
each other. Yes, we were!”
Moving fast forward, Joey and Chona got married during civil
rites on May 23 , 2014 at Santa Clara, California, U.S.A. Nine (9)
years after, both decided to receive the Sacrament of
Matrimony – on May 13, 2023 to be exact – at the Holy Trinity
Parish in Bremerton, State of Washington. Chona said with
tears of joy in her eyes: “Tanan jud butang basta iampo sa
Ginoo inubanan sa intercessions ni Mama Mary ihatag jud
sa atua sa sakto nga panahon… in His time.”
According to Chona and Joey, their weddomg ceremony was a
simple and intimate one, attended by few family members &
closest friends and was officiated by the parish priest, Fr. Ben
Bray. The reception followed at the Best Western Hotel in
Silverdale, Washington. It was a celebration with 3 weeks of
preparation. Joey and Chona wanted to hold the ceremony on
May 23, 2023 – exactly their 9 th year wedding anniversary, but
Fr. Ben couldn’t make it and his free day was on the 13 th of
May. Both were happy with the 2 nd date, too, because Joey and
Chona celebrate their monthsary (if there is such a word as
this) every 13 th . Besides, this date is the Feast of Our Lady of
Fatima which made the celebration more significant especially
that Joey and Chona are Marian devotees.
Chona also said: “We only had 2 witnesses: Ralph from Joey’s
side and Mel Carlos from my side. Both served as sponsors,
too. The members of our entourage were: cord sponsors –
Ralph Lastimosa & wife Sunshine; veil sponsors – Aaron Smith
& Mary Smith; gift bearers – David Bauld Jr. & Emma Ampo (a
fellow Boholana based here in Washington State who is a very
close friend of ours); Gianna Rose Bauld – flower girl; and
Anthony Sison – arrhae & ring bearer; Mr & Mrs Pablo (Irene)
Torrella – wedding singers.”
The groom is Jose “Joey” Lastimosa Jr, He was born in
Agana, Guam, and graduated from his course in the
Philippines – at the Ateneo de Cagayan Center for Industrial
Technology in Electronics. He is a retired member of the the
U.S. Navy and they called him the Senior Chief Petty Officer.
Now, he is the Inventory & Logistics Manager at the Puget
Sound Naval Shipyard, WA., U.S.A.
The bride is from Tagbilaran City. She is Chona V. Galinato
and she is a proud homemaker who runs a small business, also
at Washington, U.S.A.
Congratulations and best wishes, Mr. & Mrs. Jose Lastimosa
Jr. (nee Chona V. Galinato)
The bride at the hotel premises
Joey, the groom (right), in his Navy Dress Whites with brother Ralph Lastimosa
The couple with Fr. Ben Bray
The church wedding ceremony with Fr. BEN BRAY as celebrant
The couple with the groom’s brother, Ralph (extreme right): Ralph’s mother-in-law,
mama Leonila (2nd from left) who represented the groom’s mom; and Sunshine
(extreme left), Ralph’s wife.
Chona, the bride (right) with Cecil Cuadra Jubac , the bride’s cousin from the
mother’s side who flew all the way from LA to attend the wedding day.
The couple with Mama Leonila (extreme left) who stood as the groom’s
mom; Patty Bauld (extreme right), the couple’s closest friend who took the role as
the bride’s mom; (front row, right) the flower girl Gianna Rose who is the grandchild
of Patty Bauld: Anthony (left) the arrhae & ring bearer.
The wedding dance
The cake ceremony
Mr. & Mrs. Jose Lastimosa Jr. (nee Chona V. Galinato).
The groom is a U.S. Navy (retired). Presently, he is the Inventory & Logistics
Manager of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. The bride is a proud homemaker who
runs a small business.