By Gladys Serafica
DARAGA, Albay – When 25-year-old Florentino Biron IV made a solemn vow to love and cherish his 19-year-old bride, Ma. Christina, in sickness and in health, in 1992, little did he know that his resolve would be tested nearly two decades later.
With a vehicular accident turning what was supposed to be a happy family outing into a tragedy on April 3, 2010, the couple was faced with a difficult choice: whether to hold on to their marriage or to let go.
“I remember, just days before my Mama’s accident, she and Papa had a big fight and even talked about separating. That’s why, when she had the accident in Irosin, Sorsogon, Papa was not with us,” Cristy Flor, the couple’s eldest daughter, said in Filipino.
Sustaining severe injuries, which rendered her paralyzed from the waist down, Ma. Christina was bedridden for a year. “At that time, I heard people saying Papa might leave us, that he might abandon Mama because of her disability. But he never did that. Instead, he proved his love for Mama even more,” Cristy Flor said.
With a wife to take care of and three children – aged 16, 14, and 5 at that time – Florentino was determined more than ever to get the family back on its feet.
Despite the medical challenges given the loss of his wife’s mobility, as well as the physical exhaustion that comes with juggling work, caregiving, and household responsibilities, this doting husband persevered against the odds.
Cristy Flor recalled how their family struggled financially during that difficult period in their lives since the accident happened at a time when her Mom had just recently gotten a permanent teaching post at a secondary school in Tabaco City, Albay.
Interestingly, it was also around this time that the family became a more devout Christian. In retrospect, Florentino believes that the accident was a blessing in disguise. “I have come to believe that this happened to us so we could grow closer to God and that He has a purpose for our marriage,” he said in Filipino.
Ma. Christina could not agree more.
“Our relationship grew even stronger because of what happened. My husband proved that he truly meant his vow of ‘for better or worse, in sickness and in health, till death do us part,’” she proudly said in a mix of English and Filipino.
For the past 15 years, Florentino has become the arms and legs of his wheelchair-bound wife. “Every day, he wakes up early so he can bathe, dress, and take me to school. While I am at work, he attends to his rice retail business, then returns to pick me up after class dismissal. At 4 p.m., he heads to the Tabaco fish port to work as a collector aide, arriving home at midnight,” Ma. Christina shared.
It is this devotion to his wife that has put him in a league of his own, Cristy Flor said: “I can say that when it comes to men, Papa is my standard. He does not mind if others laugh at him. Even in the middle of the night, you can see him doing the laundry.”
“He also cooks, cleans, and takes us wherever we need to go. He incredibly works hard outside and inside our home,” she added.
Not one to miss out on a special occasion, Florentino always finds a way to surprise his wife with flowers and chocolates, especially on Valentine’s Day.
“I am blessed to have an amazing, loving, caring, and thoughtful husband,” the 52-year-old wife proudly stressed.
With the accident which threatened to consume her whole being, Ma. Christina could have easily surrendered in defeat. Her unshakeable faith, however, was anchored on solid ground. “Despite her condition, she never complained. She was determined to work to send all three of us to school,” Cristy Flor said.
“I remember a time when she only had P500 left in her wallet, and we were struggling financially. To my surprise, she gave all of it as an offering in church. I asked her why she gave everything when she had nothing left for her medicine. She simply said, ‘When has God ever abandoned us?,'” she replied according to Cristy Flor.
Just as gold is refined by fire, Ma. Christina’s seemingly insurmountable trial became a way to strengthen their faith and the family’s bond. Where others saw the pain, the Biron family saw the gain.
“Mama always says that everything happens for a reason, and that if she had not had that accident, maybe we would be a broken family today. Something painful happened, but we believe there was a reason behind it because if it didn’t happen, we would not have found God the way we did,” Cristy Flor noted.
Like other couples, the Birons’ love story is not always rainbows and sunshine.
“Of course, no relationship is perfect. But what I admire about them is that they never let a day end without resolving things. You can really see that they are partners,” their daughter added with pride.
For Ma. Christina, two things have kept their marriage intact: faith in God and their unwavering love and support for each other.
For couples whose relationships have been marred by disability, Florentino has this advise: “Accept the situation so that it feels lighter. Think of it as a test from God and give your spouse your wholehearted love so they won’t feel sad and pity themselves.”
“If your partner experiences a disability, never leave them or replace them with someone else, especially if you are already married. Prove your love for each other because you are meant to be together,” his loving wife added.
In this age where it has become convenient to simply renounce the marriage vows when things get rocky, the Biron couple proves that no matter how cynical the world may become, true love still exists.(PNA)