|
 When
the Kotla/Cabesa/Torres clan get together there is
always a promise of excitement and surprise. This
month when the family gathered on Guam, Senator
Rory Respicio and Joleen Flores announced their
engagement.
As
Chamorro tradition dictates, the father of the
groom is to assist in the Mamaisen Sina (asking
the bride's parents for her hand in marriage). The
Respicio men brought additional firepower to the
mamaisen sina meeting, they were armed with his
mother Rose.
The
Senator's parents Robert Rivera and Rose Manley
Respicio joined their excited son at a buffet
dinner with the future bride's family. It was
awkward since the senator's numerous attempts to
bring up the proposal was interrupted by one of
his guests leaving the table to get more soup or
something else to eat at the buffet line. It's
comical in a sense, but who’s to say it wasn't by
design.
The
senator's patience was tested that evening but
eventually afforded a half hour before the  restaurant
closed to bring up his concern. He recognized the
apparent good time everyone was having, but
finally announced that he had something to discuss
and said, “Don’t anybody move.” He
nervously informed Joleen's parents that he
had asked her to marry him but she qualified her
acceptance as "unofficial" until he ask her
parents.
How did
Joleen's parents respond to the proposal? Her
mother Jackie Torres Flores was emotional. As the
former First Lady Geri Gutierrez's first cousin,
she has been familiar with Rory because he was the
First Lady's assistant. Jackie recounted the many
times Rory called to say, “Auntie Jackie we’re
leaving, where are you?” She told the Respicios
that Rory already seems a part of the family so
she was glad he would finally be an official part
of the family.
Joleen's
father, Jimmy Dee had only one question to ask the
Senator. "Are you sure you want to marry
Joleen?" That eased the tension and everyone
laughed, even Joleen. It's a similar question
Joleen’s only sibling; Dr. James H. P. Flores Jr
asked Respicio when they met. “Are you sure you
want to marry my sister?
Taking
it all in stride, the Senator respond. “I’ve never
met anybody that can push my buttons the way
Joleen does; getting me to be the happiest person,
the angriest person and the saddest person you’ve
ever known. These feelings are very real, so I
asked Joleen to marry me but she said it’s
unofficial until I talk to her parents. This is
the purpose of tonight’s dinner and I am here to
ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage.”
Not to
be left out, the Senator's father, Robert Respicio
said of his associate role in presenting his son's
intention to Joleen's parents, "I didn't do this
for his brother Bobby, nor did I do this for Rory
his first time around." The elder Respicio was
requested to do so in this instance.
A 2005
wedding is
planned. | 
