By Telly G. Ocampo
Sharing the joy of celebration
Meet Gregg Ligaray, a steelman, cantero, plumber and carpenter rolled into one. At times, he is a house painter. Meet his wife, Lolita Alo of Guiwanon, Baclayon, Bohol. She is employed at Alta Bohol and together, they have 2 children.
Gregg was given a surprise by his family on his 60th birthday, last July 30, with another surprise of their renewal of marriage vows in church. This was a surprise given by her sister who currently resideds in in Australia. You see, the siblings were orphaned at an early age. Though their roots are in southern Cebu, they lived in Colambugan in Misamis 0cc. The father used to work for a logging company there, when logging was at its peak in the ’60s. After the death of the mother, the family moved out of Colambugan to find their future elsewhere: two stayed in Mindanao, a sister became an RVM nun and Gregg found his destiny in Bohol. Their father also married a Boholana and recently passed away.
Gregg works in precision. He loves his work and work Is his joy. He is now part now of my support group in the house for building and repairs. The group is composed of Josef Gamutin, Danilo Tamse, and Romeo Daing. He and Josef are the maestro, tutoring Danilo and Romeo. They have been together since the Covid years; and more together now after Odette.
Their projects started in my own pagatpat house, then my mother’s house and now at the ancestral house. It’s still a long way to go as the whole wall (of the ancestral house) facing the sea, collapsed. In between, they work on the needed repairs of Ramvil.
The family is grateful to this group. We are also thankful that Its members are always there when we need them.
It was last Saturday, July 30, 2022, when the couple shared with us an important event in their lives. And what a joyful feeling to see both in their purple best as their color motif. Nakakataba ng puso that you are made to feel you are important. It
is elating to feel that you are making a difference in the lives of other people, especially in the lives of Gregg and Lolita.
Last Saturday, we were treated at the poolside of the hill resort as we wanted to avoid staying in an enclosed airconditioned room. Covid is one of the reasons. Anyway, during the celebration, the boys – Gregg’s comrades in work – stayed late in the evening entrenched in a karaoke session, with wine overflowing.
Though life is not perfect for Gregg and Lollie, they work on that beautiful rhythm of life. There’s no such thing as “they live happily ever after” for life is what we make it.
The couple Gregg and Lolie
Seated from left are: Michael Micutuan, Mel Micutuan, Telly Ocampo ( the author), Estela Ocampo-Fernandez; standing from left are: Romeo Daing, Danilo Tamse, the couple Lollie and Gregg, Raymund Fernandez, Elias Fernandez and Josef Gamutin