THE MIL-FRAN GASTA-BETITA FAMILY REUNION 2018

by: Norberto Betita

The surviving 8 out of 13

Our family reunion is a tradition that was conceived years ago out of our great love for our dearest parents Millan Guhiting Betita and Francisca Mangle Gasta Betita, of whose greatest sacrifice, all thirteen of us siblings were raised to maturity. We consider these moments of family gatherings as turning back our hearts to them in reciprocation of the great love they have showered upon us during those long years of admonishing and nurturing towards our becoming responsible grownups. It is likewise perceived to pass on the family legacy that our parents bequeathed to us, to the present as well as to the future generations. 

Through the years the roots of our family tree have grown deeper as to generate more and more branches growing in different directions. It has become so many that for us, the original branches, it’s becoming difficult to identify some of the tiny twigs.

The recent reunion scheduled April 7-9, 2018 registered 187 participants, not including those who were not able to participate because of distance. Our family relationships is a circle which is bound by the bonds of love that ever grow stronger through the increasing number of strands added by every marriage and birth of which the circle is likewise enlarged. 

At the beach

Our family is far from being perfect. Like all others, we have our own share of joys and gladness as well as sorrows and pains. We also have family crises as are common since the beginning of the families of Adam, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Lehi and more. Among the many branches are saints and prodigals and personal differences which makes disagreements a common part. Yet when conflicts are faced in the spirit of family love, unity and harmony, there comes peace and the family circle is even strengthened and fortified.

What makes our family reunions different is the fact that it was built upon the principle that, “those who have, give. Those who have less, receive.” There is no counting of contributions, only sincere fulfillment of generous commitments. There is no measure to what each family gives for even the least that each could bring and the mere physical or personal presence is to us already an expression of boundless family love.

The weight of providing meals to 200 participants in the grand reunion was financially a heavy burden to bear. But one young single bough in the family tree volunteered hole-and-corner to shoulder the cost. However, out of unity, harmony and love, family members collectively shared added resources if only to lighten the load. Throughout the three days family event, there was joy and gladness, enjoyment and contentment as resources are immeasurably poured out by those who have the means, in acts of love and generosity. “Sometimes the greatest love is not found in the dramatic scenes that poets and writers immortalize. Often, the greatest manifestations of love are the simple acts of kindness and caring we extend to [our family]” (Joseph B. wirthlin). 

The men-cousins

The women-cousins

Grand children and great-grandchildren

There are still eight of us siblings who are blessed to have an extended life in mortality---Flordeliza, 80; Manolito, 73, Virginia, 70; Janedina, 68; Norberto, 65; Clemente, 63; Millan, Jr., 60; and Arnold, 58. Presiding over us in our family activities is our eldest living brother Manolito. We respect and support him as such. We are deeply grateful that his family leadership has always been a powerful uniting force around the family circle. 

I had been privileged to open our family reunion. My message was one of a reminder of the great love that our forebears have for us and a reassurance that our parents are happy in the other side of the veil for us turning our hearts to them by memorializing and honoring their legacy. I reminded the participants that the spirit of our parents are just around the corner. “They can see us, but we cannot see them unless our eyes were opened” (Brigham Young). I pointed to them of a sign of two birds flying fast into the reunion venue as if to show us that our father and mother were very happy to be in our midst. I bore witness with conviction of the eternal nature of families and that our family relationship is meant to be forever, that is why the adversary is working hard to direct its disintegrating assaults upon us. I encouraged the younger descendants to face their challenges and trials with courage and faith and hold on to their struggles to overcome and eventually attain victory. 

Cousins and spouses

Our eldest living brother Manolito, in his inspirational message, expressed gratitude for the outpouring of love and support to the cause of remembering the legacy of our parents. He thanked everybody for making our family reunion a tremendous success. He reminded us that because of each of our imperfections and personal weaknesses it is common and natural that we argue, we fight and at times even sever our communications with each other. He then delivered a clear patriarchal counsel that we need to lay to rest bitterness, hidden wedges and these common differences and never tolerate them to prevail as a deterrent in our continued efforts to be united as one big family, and instead work in harmony with each other and make sure that love will always be in our hearts. He admonished us to be more patient towards each other and let love be the bonds that will hold the family circle together when storms of life come. His inspired message was clear as to let us remember that our family tree has grown stronger and denser over the years as descendants continue to increase; that it has become like a handmade driftwood art which in time becomes even more precious. He conveyed to us a message of hope for joy and happiness to always be a part of our family relationships.

Women at the beach

The love and family camaraderie and the grand family fellowship we enjoyed together was given a fitting description by a quote: “A family reunion is a time to remember, a time to laugh, a time to celebrate, a time to share old stories and make new memories. A time to see each other in the faces all around us and find reflections of ourselves in hearts both young and old. A reunion is a coming together that strengthens the bond of family and reminds us of the gift of belonging. A chance to share our history. A reason to celebrate our past. A time to welcome our future as a family” (pinterest.com).

In behalf of us siblings, if there are ever words that would best convey the depths of our feelings of gratitude reserved in our hearts for the love and support; camaraderie and fellowship; physical help and most generous contributions; and attendance that each of our families have shared which made the Mil-Fran Gasta-Betita Family Reunion 2018 a success, I would be profoundly constrained to best express. However, there seems to be no better words than to say THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH! I am sure that the eyes of God see from the eternal heavens and He rejoices in our rejoicings for it has been part of His great eternal plan of happiness that families should work together to “…turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers…” (Malachi 4:6). Sure enough, what you have sowed “fell on good ground, and [will] sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold” (Luke 8:8). 

expressions of respect to the elderly

For those who may have been restrained to come for some valid reasons, we likewise express our heartfelt gratitude for your desires to be with us even in thoughts, with hopes and prayers that you will continue to be a participant in our continuing efforts to enliven the family tradition and legacy.

It is our hope and prayer that we will continue to have the desire to help strengthen the welding link that binds us together as a family. We pray in earnestness that we will continue to be united in love, harmony and peace throughout the coming years and even beyond this life for families are, indeed, forever. “Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God. … The family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children” (“The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 102).

“The family is the most important unit in time and eternity and, as such, transcends every other interest in life” (Howard W. Hunter). It is the “link to our past, bridge to our future” (Alex Haley). We, therefore, most sincerely pray that we, together, will keep alive the family tradition towards greater family love, unity, harmony and peace!