Mother Lily sings ‘theme song’ to hubby Remy

From the candy store on the corner

To the chapel on the hill

Two young lovers are longing to go there

And they dream someday they will

From the entrance of Gloria Maris (Greenhills), we could hear somebody singing that song by Bob Hilliard (written in 1956) and recorded by Tony Bennett. Turned out that Regal Matriarch Lily Monteverde was rehearsing her and husband Remy Monteverde’s theme song.

Yes, years ago when they were carefree and adventurous, they did climb from their imaginary candy store on the corner to their chapel on the hill, two young lovers who defied parental (hers) wishes and, against the odds, got married and lived happily ever after for more than half a century now.

When Mother Lily sang the song to Father Remy at his 80th birthday dinner last Sunday, Dec. 25, the mostly Chinese guests turned emotional as Mother Lily recalled that Remy is her first and last love, whom she recalled to be simpatico and, at Remy’s prime, a deadringer for James Yap, “a man of few words, so quiet, my exact opposite because you know me, I’m very noisy.”

Somewhat bowed by the years, Remy smiled…yes, quietly and shyly…as Mother Lily related the twice-told tale about how she courted him.

“Yes, it’s true,” Mother Lily told the amused guests, as if she was making a public confession, “I was the one who courted him. He was a basketball star at San Beda, very handsome, at 5’8” considered tall at that time. He played for the team of my father, Domingo Yu Chu, who was from Marinduque. I would swoon as I watched Remy practice every night. Several women were after him. Ayoko maunahan kaya pinakasalan ko kaagad siya.”

Mother Lily’s tribute to Remy was made more poignant by the old love songs that served as the soundtrack of the night. As the music played, the couple’s children Dondon, Meme, Goldwin and Roselle (the eldest, Winnie, was not around) recounted their fond memories with their father, followed by the couple’s grandchildren, one of whom, Keith (Roselle’s son), is a brilliant lawyer.

Served was the lauriat that Gloria Maris (Mother Lily’s favorite, her “second home” because that’s where she holds meetings) is famous for.

True to form, when he was escorted onstage to blow the candles on the cake, Remy flashed a weak and shy smile while From The Candy Store on the Corner to the Chapel on the Hill was played again and again. The song must have brought back beautiful memories of the young sweethearts making their pledge of undying love for each other at the top of their imaginary hill.

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