Guided by faith, strengthened by love
Kasalan sa SM makes a long-awaited dream wedding come true
SM employee Ruby and her husband Joel Villablanca fulfill their dream wedding through the 10th Kasalan sa SM, a program of the Felicidad T. Sy Foundation.
“For richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health.”
These vows were already a lived reality for SM employee Ruby and her husband Joel Villablanca long before they formally received the Sacrament of Marriage at the 10th Kasalan sa SM of the Felicidad T. Sy Foundation.
She was then working at an old supermarket that is, coincidentally, now SM East Ortigas. That was where she met Joel; she was around 20 years old. A year later, they were blessed with a son.
“At that time, we didn’t think about getting married because we were a bit unready, financially. At the same time, our families were also facing financial challenges, so we had to stand on our own,” she shared.
“Ako rin po ay breadwinner kaya halo-halo po ang worries and doubts ko noon. Looking back, I can truly say that it was faith in the Lord that guided us through it all,” she added.
Despite the responsibilities of young parenthood, Ruby continued building her career. After giving birth, she joined SM Appliance, a step that slowly helped their family gain stable ground. Eventually, after eight years of being together, the couple decided to have a civil wedding.
Now at 43, and with more than a decade of shared life behind them, Ruby said they have truly lived the words “in sickness and in health.”
Through every struggle, she admitted, “Faith lang po talaga.”
The Villablancas exchange ‘I dos’ at the 10th Kasalan sa SM of the Felicidad T. Sy Foundation held at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Jesus, The Way, The Truth and The Life in Pasay City.
Yet even as a legally married couple, she continued to pray for a union blessed by Christ.
“Iba pa rin po kapag nakatanggap po tayo ng Sacrament of Marriage dahil lalo po nitong pinalalapit si Lord sa center ng inyong relationship. Ang SM family, lalo na po ang family ko SM Appliance, sila po ang nag-encourgae sa amin na i-grab po ang opportunity na ito.”
“Isang blessing po talaga,” she said of the Kasalan sa SM, which finally fulfilled her dream of wearing a gown and receiving the Sacrament of Marriage, something she once felt would remain out of reach.
Daily life, she explained, often made planning a church wedding feel impossible. “We are working 8 hours a day; add to that the commute to and from work, and other errands and home responsibilities. With so many competing priorities, mapapaisip ka kung paano mo hahanapan ng time ‘yung wedding preparations.”
This was why Kasalan sa SM felt like a miracle. “Kasalan sa SM was a blessing because they gave us time to attend the needed orientation and seminars. While all the other aspects of the wedding were already taken care of by them, including my gown and husband’s barong,” she said.
“On our own, it seemed impossible to do it all.”
In sickness and in health
Challenges, however, were not new to them. Their relationship, Ruby said, has always been grounded in calm, mutual understanding. “Sometimes, we look at our relationship, and we ask, ‘Bakit hindi tayo nag-aaway?’” she said with a smile. While misunderstandings inevitably arise, she believes nothing has ever been strong enough to shake what they’ve built.
The scriptural principles of communication, unity, and patience have been their compass: “Ang paguunawa sa isa’t isa, communication, and feedback hindi po sya optional for us, it’s essential.”
One of their most difficult moments came when their second child was rushed to the hospital while Ruby was out of town for work.
“Sinabi po sa amin ng doctor na dalin na po namin ang anak namin sa isang hospital na may complete apparatus dahil ‘yung pressure po, umakyat na sa utak niya at ‘di na po siya makakita. Malaking challenge po ‘yun dahil nasa malayo po ako at kailangan ng husband ko ‘yung support ko.”
Through it all, Ruby credits her husband’s unending faith and strength. After giving up his career to care for their family, he became the steady force that held them together.
“Sa aming dalawa po, siya po ang pinaka hands-on. It is my husband who serves as the family's anchor. He is the one who provides advice and guidance to our children. Pati po sa akin, when I feel pressured at work, and it affects my mood, I lean on him,” she said.
“Faith po talaga ang naging foundation ng family namin. That is why intact o buo ‘yung family namin,” she added.
The Villablanca family with FTSFI executive director Mel Elido (second row, fifth from left) and the officiants of the wedding.
