Releasing Love Doves in Filipino Weddings

This posting is inspired from a recent inquiry from a neighbor here at THD. She asked me if I have written a blog on this topic. I said no, but I will do a search on it. I told her, yes we have 2 love doves and butterflies released and rice showered on my wedding day, May 8, 1957 in Boac, Marinduque, Philippines. Here's an article on this topic. Enjoy! 

The Symbolic Flight: Releasing Love Doves at Filipino Weddings

Weddings are filled with symbolism,  rituals and traditions that embody hope, love, and the promise of a shared life. One such tradition, particularly cherished in the Philippines, is the release of two white doves,  a moment many couples, families, and guests remember long after the day is over.

A Tradition Rooted in Meaning

At many traditional Filipino weddings, a pair of white doves, typically one male and one female are released by the bride and groom during the reception or at the end of the ceremony. As the couple opens the cage or basket and the doves take flight, they symbolize peace, harmony, love, and the beginning of a new life together. The two birds represent the couple’s journey as partners flying side by side into the unknown future with hope and unity. 

This beautiful moment isn’t just an aesthetic flourish; it reflects deeply held cultural values. In many cultures around the world (including the Philippines), doves have long been symbols of peace and fidelity. Their graceful flight becomes a metaphor for the couple’s aspirations: to live together in harmony and mutual support. 

Some celebrants also see the act of releasing doves as a way of letting go of the past and embarking on a new chapter, an uplifting visual that resonates with guests and creates lasting memories.

Where It Comes From

The tradition likely grew out of a blend of influences:

• Spanish and Catholic heritage: Catholic symbolism in the Philippines often uses the dove to represent peace and the Holy Spirit. While there isn’t a precise historical record pinpointing the exact origin of the wedding dove release, its incorporation into the wedding reception parallels the Philippines’ long Catholic tradition. 

• Universal symbolism: Around the world, doves have been used in ceremonies of union and peace from ancient rituals to modern celebrations. In the Philippines, the image of two birds flying together resonated with the collective cultural yearning for harmony in marriage. 

Then and Now - Is It Still Done Today?

During my wedding day in 1957, the dove release was definitely part of the wedding culture at the time and it continued to be a recognizable tradition for many decades. In weddings throughout the ’80s, ’90s, and early 2000s, releasing doves was fairly common at traditional Filipino receptions. 

However, like many long-standing customs, its popularity has evolved. In more recent weddings:

• Some couples still choose to include a dove release as a meaningful part of their celebration.

• Others opt out either replacing it with symbolic alternatives (like releasing butterflies, lanterns, or balloons, rice showers), or simply skipping it altogether because it’s not practical or meaningful to them.

• In some areas, modern wedding planners may offer dove release services, but they’re sometimes seen as optional rather than expected reflecting shifting tastes and priorities among younger couples. 

Indeed, conversations among people who recently planned weddings in the Philippines suggest that while the tradition still exists, many couples today consider it a more old-fashioned or optional touch, rather than a must-have ritual. 

A Tradition With Lasting Beauty

Whether embraced, adapted, or set aside, the tradition of releasing doves at Filipino weddings continues to capture the imagination of couples and their guests. Its essence, honoring love, peace, and hope for the future, remains timeless.

Just as weddings evolve with each generation, customs like this one remind us of the shared human desire to celebrate love in meaningful ways whether through birds taking flight or through new rituals created by each couple themselves.

Meanwhile, here's the AI Overview on the Above Topic:

Releasing white doves at Filipino weddings is a cherished, symbolic tradition where 

the newlyweds release a pair of doves to signify a long, peaceful, and harmonious life together. Representing purity, fidelity, and the Holy Spirit, the birds symbolize the couple's new journey, commitment, and, because doves mate for life, enduring love. 

Key aspects of this tradition include:

• Symbolism: The pair represents the bride and groom joining together, with their flight symbolizing the couple soaring to new heights, harmony, and prosperity.
• Ritual Action: Often held after the ceremony, the bride and groom hold and release the doves, signifying the release of their individual lives to start a new, shared life, trusting that they will always return home to each other.
• Spiritual Significance: In many Filipino ceremonies, the doves represent the presence of the Holy Spirit, blessing the marriage with peace and loyalty.
• Cultural Context: It serves as a popular,, elegant alternative to, or accompaniment to, the traditional rice shower, representing a,, "white dove release". 

• Meanwhile, here's the top five News of the Day:

  Mass Shooting at Canadian High School – Ten people, including the shooter, died after a gunman opened fire at a school in British Columbia, marking one of the deadliest school shootings in Canadian history. 

• No Charges Against Six Democrats – A federal grand jury declined to indict six Democratic political activists who urged military personnel to reject unlawful orders, in a case drawing intense national attention. 

• FBI Documents Reveal Georgia Election Office Raid Rationale – Newly released FBI records provide insight into what led agents to conduct a controversial raid on a Georgia elections office. 

• Trump Issues Warning to Canada Over Bridge Opening – U.S. President Trump has threatened to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge to Canada, escalating bilateral tensions. 

• Samsung Confirms Galaxy Unpacked Event – Samsung officially schedules its Galaxy Unpacked event for February 25 in San Francisco, expected to unveil its flagship Galaxy S26 Ultra smartphone.

  My Photo of the Day:

  
  Parts of My Caps Collection: 
  

  
  

Joys and Pains in Managing a Small Beach Resort in the Philippines

This is my response to the query on the Joys and Pains in Managing a Small Beach Resort in Marinduque for the StoryWorth Book of Memories.This article was written a few years ago. 

The Chateau Du Mer Beach House-After Completion of the Lower Floor
 

 In 2005, three years after my retirement from FDA, Macrine and I started constructing a beach house with no intention of opening it to the public. Two years later we decided building a multi-function Hall by the side of the beach house. (Note: The main house-our retirement home was built in 1999-three years before our retirement).

However, in 2008 after numerous inquiries and encouragements from friends and relatives, we decided to open both the Beach House and Function Hall to the public. I then created a website( www.chateaudumer.com) and a blogsite  (http://chateaudumer.blogspot.com).  I posted a video on YouTube titled Chateau Du Mer- Marinduque with the help of our neighbor, Eli Obligacion. Since then, the hall had hosted more than 40 wedding receptions, seminars, parties, and community prayer meetings and picnics. The beach house on the other hand had less than fifteen guests, mostly from abroad ( US and Europe). Today because of the Pandemic last year, the Hall and Beach House are temporarily closed.

What are the joys of running a Beach Resort and Conference Hall. First of all, Macrine and I enjoyed meeting strangers which afterwards become our friends. 

Second, I love hearing positive comments about the resort, such as: your garden is so beautiful, the landscaping is perfect and I feel like I am in the Garden of Eden in this place.
 

It was indeed a joyous moment, when one day, one of our young guests during a wedding reception informed me, that our retirement house ( which was built earlier) is her dream house and that someday, if God permits she will have a similar one constructed.

One Holy week in the mid 2000, a van load of tourists from Manila stopped by and requested to take pictures of the beach house and conference center area. One of the tourists had seen my website and wanted to see the place in person. She commented the place is as beautiful as the pictures in the Internet.

 

Last, but not least, the conference center is the only Hall in the whole province of Marinduque that can accommodate more than 300 attendees in doors and up to 500 attendees outdoors( I am not sure if this statement is still true today-2021). This resort is also providing permanent employment for two local residents and temporary employment to four local residents, which help the economy of this 3rd class province.

So what are the pains of running Chateau Du Mer Beach Resort and Conference Center?
 

First, there are unique physical maintenance problems, since the compound is exposed to salty air and breezes almost all year round. Most of the fixtures even stainless steel had to be cleaned and rusted almost every year. Repainting and repairing equipment are common. Just recently, the water pump did not work. I had to replace it immediately at the costs of $400. Wood borers and mites attacked most of the wooden and bamboo structures as well as furniture. If you know of a chemical that will kill the wood borers and mites( not termites), please let me know.

Second we have problems with the recruitment of reliable and honest personnel. Since 2008, we had already two managers. One we caught stealing. The current one is honest but super sensitive.

Lastly, the resort income is only enough to pay for the taxes. Hopefully as the economy improved more tourists will visit Marinduque and more young people will hold big wedding receptions; the resort will then earn enough to pay for both maintenance expenses and taxes and might even earn a little profit. But I am not depending my livelihood on this project. We build the place for our personal enjoyment. Our relatives called the place "Macrine's and David's Follies" in their old age.

Below are some pictures that I took of the main house, the conference Hall and the Beach House. Hopefully you visit one of my sites, in case this is the first time you have heard of Chateau Du Mer.  

 
Center Stage of the Conference Hall-Ready for a Wedding Reception

A closer view of the Conference Hall

Entrance to the Conference Hall

The Conference Hall

The third Bedroom with Two Double Deck Beds-The Room is Air Conditioned

The Second Bedroom with Two Single Beds

The Master Bedroom with the Queen Size Bed

The Beach House after Completion of the Bottom Floor as the 3rd Bedroom

Early Evening in the Main House-so Quiet and Calm

The front yard of the Main House

The landscaping in the front yard of the Main House

The driveway from the main house to the national road

My Recurrent Dream and Its Interpretation

photo from briancollins.ca

Several years ago, I remember the following recurrent dream. The dream was so vivid and clear. I would have the same dream once every week so I was inspired to do some internet search of its meaning. But before I gave you my interpretation, here's my dream as I remembered it.

I was a teenager then and we lived in a farm house at the outskirts of my hometown in a 3rd class municipality in Barotac Viejo, Iloilo, Philippines ( the place where I grow up and went to high school). The farm house is a two-story house with a basement, 6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms,and a banquet room (formal dining room). The decor were all antiques that my grandparents (my grandfather was a Spanish soldier and my grandmother was a Filipina) had collected during the Spanish colonization of the Philippines.

There was a grand piano in the living room with huge crystal chandelier that was imported from Spain. There is an underground passage in the basement that leads to the storage and Tool House. The house had a 10 acres of land with several outbuildings and a conference hall at the back, where my family held gatherings and parties for the community.

One day, we had a party for the community and my parents had invited about 300 guests. The farm house has a formal dining room that could accommodate around 20 guests in a sit down dinner, but since the number of guests will not fit inside the house, the party was held in the conference hall at the back of the property.

I was in the main house sleeping during this party and was awakened when one of the guest informed us that the conference hall was burning and told us to call the fire department. The fire department was late and we lost the whole conference Hall to the fire. Luckily all the guests were able to escape..

That's it, and I woke up angry that the hall was destroyed. (nothing sexy in this dream, although I have dreamed of many sexy things in the past). But my recurrent dream of this farm house that my parents and grandparents had resided and where I grew up always give me the chill. This dream is always clear and vivid in my mind. Sometimes it bothers me so I kept asking myself of the meaning of this dream.


Seven Common Dreams Theme

The following seven items appears to be the most common dreams theme.

1. Being chased– it may be interpreted as running away from problems. Interpretations would depend on who is chasing the dreamer which could give an idea of what the problem is.

2. Being naked as a jay bird– it apparently means you are trying to hide something; being naked without anyone noticing could signify that one is comfortable with himself.

3. Jumping or Falling from a building – it is interpreted that the dreamer has insecurities and anxieties. A dream where you are falling could mean that something is out of control in your life and you can’t stop it.

4. Flying or Parachuting– it could mean losing control or facing challenges you don’t feel you’re ready for.

5. Going to the Dentist and Teeth being pulled– It could mean that you feel your power being lessened or that you are not speaking your mind. It can also be related to one’s insecurities about his physical appearance and appeal to others.

6. Taking an examination or other tests – Taking an examination, not remembering that you have an exam, not being able to find your room for an exam, or a pen not working during an exam are interpreted as you feeling like you are being scrutinized for something.

7. Running – it may be a symbolism for having too much on your plate or that you’re trying to do a lot at the same time and can’t get ahead of anything.
Most of these dreams are related to the stress you are experiencing in your daily living and routine.

The following is an excerpt from the website, meaning of dreams.org in how to understand our dreams.

"Dreaming and sleeping are not mutually exclusive, so to embark on the journey of understanding why you dream and dream interpretation you must also explore the science or phenomena of sleep.

Everyone needs sleep and dreams, even if they're not always remembered, to function properly and successfully carry out daily tasks. When we do not sleep properly we become physically rundown and mentally incapable of coping with situations and problems favorably, lacking the means to flourish as a Human Being. If you go without sleep, depriving yourself of dreams, it soon becomes apparent that sleeping and dreaming are an essential part of being human.

It is widely believed that dreams are the mind's way of sorting through our waking thoughts, dealing with some of the harder to face issues in an abstract way that is less stressful and time-consuming than facing them while we are awake. After all, we would never get anything done if we spent all day worrying about our thoughts, relationships and childhood traumas. With this in mind, it is easy to see why we can breakdown mentally and physically without sleeping and dreaming",


My Own Interpretation of My Recurrent Dream

Using the three steps of interpreting my own dream as outlined in the article above, Here's my interpretation of my recurrent dream.

The old and big farm house of my dreams filled with antique furniture including a crystal chandelier in a big lot represent my dreams of building our own retirement home in the Philippines. The big party that was hosted by may late parents, represents all the wedding receptions and parties at our Conference Hall built after the construction of the main house.

Lastly, my dream of the burning building represent my fear of losing money in the small beach resort that we own in the compound of the Chateau Du Mer Resort in Boac, Marinduque, Philippines. I feel good analyzing my dream and its interpretation, thus for the last past ten years this recurrent dream had not happened.

How about you? Do you remember your dreams? Do you have recurring dreams? Could recurring dreams be linked to past lives?

Meanwhile, enjoy these photos, harvested from my garden

First Pineapple Harvest-Small but super Sweet

Romantic Wedding Ceremonies at Chateau Du Mer

Are you ready for another four years of abusive reign ( King Trump) and lies of Potus #45? I am not and thinking about it, put my blood pressure on high levels. In order to calm down, I search for old photos and videos in my FB page. 

Here's one of the several videos showing a most romantic wedding ceremony and reception highlighting the Beach House and Gardens of Chateau Du Mer. This was held last May 6, 2019 at CDM.

https://www.facebook.com/sixpmstudio/videos/2322644764691231/

Here are a few others wedding receptions held at Chateau Du Mer

https://davidbkatague.blogspot.com/search?q=wedding+Receptions

The Hall Decorated for the Wedding Reception

Recent Photos from a Wedding Reception at Chateau Du Mer

Chateau Du Mer has hosted a number of wedding receptions since it was opened to the public several years ago. The following is a typical example of a romantic and lovely wedding reception both in the beach house and Hall. The photos were taken by Toby Jamilla during the Luzares-Montalban wedding reception at Chateau Du Mer Beach House and Conference Hall just recently.

I have the permission of the bride and groom as well as the photographer to put the following photos in my blogs. Congratulations to the Bride and Groom! What a Romantic and Lovely Wedding Reception.

The Beautiful Bride the Night Before the Wedding in the Bedroom of the Beach House

The Groom's Party in front of the Stairs of the Beach House(Conference Hall in the background)

The Bride's Family in front of the Beach House( Amoingon Beach in the background)

The bride inside the Beach House. Notice the Capiz shells Door.

The next four photos were taken in the Conference Hall during the Wedding Reception Ceremonies

Chateau Du Mer is opened all year round. For more information and rates call:

SIONY JAMBALOS –(Boac) 042-332-1754

DAVID B KATAGUE (US)-916-961-3365

E-mail: tagaboac@comcast.net

Photo Memories of the Chateau Du Mer Hall for Wedding Receptions

The month of June reminds me of weddings and wedding receptions. Here in the US June is the most popular month of the year to get married because of the hot weather as well as June is the month in honor of JUNO-Goddess of Love and Marriage. However, in the Philippines, June is not the most popular time of the year to get married because it is the start of the rainy season.

Speaking of weddings, I just read in FB that my niece ( Stephanie-daughter of my brother Efren from Sydney)got married to her long time boy friend, Jay Barretto in Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Italy. The photo below is from the FB page of Marie Barretto, mother of the groom.

Chateau DU Mer had hosted more than 100 wedding receptions since it opened for the public in 2002. The following photos are mostly from the album of Rosette Pitero Sotta

Do you Dislike Filipino Food?

Lechon-Roasted Whole Pig-A Fiesta Dish Prepared for Special Occasions.( Birthdays, Receptions, Holiday, etc..)

Have you meet people who hates( maybe dislike is a better word) Philippine cuisine and would not even try it. Some of them are just turn off at the sight of the dish such as the Dinugu-an ( blood pudding) or pigs feet and hocks (Kare-kare) or the smell of the dish (fishy) such as the shrimp paste(bagoong) or dried fish. However, most Pinoy dishes have no fishy smell. I am an Ilonggo and do not like Patis, but most Filipinos from Luzon loves it. My wife loves Patis.

Patis (Fish Sauce) is a pungent-flavored flavoring sauce and condiment made from salted, fermented fish. Patis is frequently used in the Philippines and in other Southeast Asian cooking to add saltiness to dishes. In Southeast Asian cuisines, it is also used as a dip for fish, shrimp, pork, and chicken. I prefer soy sauce, picante sauce or vinegar with garlic instead of Patis.

My encounter of the first person who dislike Filipino food was about 20 years ago while I was attending the wedding of my niece in Iloilo City. This person was from Australia and at that time was married to my niece. At the wedding banquet more than 20 Fiesta Dishes of Ilonggo origin were served. I was observing him not touching any of the dishes except the steam rice and the lechon( roasted pig). Later after the dinner I asked my niece if her husband hated Filipino food and she said yes. She told me he would not even try the dishes she prepared at home. She is now used to it and let him cook his own food at home. My niece said he is an adult and if he starved here in the Philippines, it is no longer her fault. The last time I heard, my niece and this ignoramus Aussie had divorced or separated.

The second person I have meet who does not eat Pinoy dishes was the American husband of my first cousin. This American was born in Missouri but went to college in Illinois. His parents still live in Missouri and I also heard they also dislike Pinoy dishes except for the roasted pig and the desserts. My encounter with my first cousin's husband was during their wedding reception in a Manila Hotel. There were more than a dozen Filipino dishes as well as American and International Dishes. I did not see him eat any Filipino dishes. Later on I asked my first cousin why he does not eat Pinoy dishes. My cousin said he was turned off by the smell of bagoong, the first time he was in the Philippines. From then on he would not even try any Pinoy dish serve to him.

The third person that I know that dislike Filipino dishes is the American husband of Macrine's closed relative. I will not discuss the detail here, because I do not want to be in the dog house with Macrine's relatives. My only regret is that his wife is a good cook and they have a Nanny who also is an expert in cooking Filipino dishes. This is all what I am going to say about this person who does not like Pinoy dishes except for the lechon and some desserts.

However, I have also meet a number of Americans who are married to Macrine's relatives and friends ( both Caucasian and Negro) who loves Pinoy dishes. These persons will try anything even if it is the first time they have seen the dish. These persons normally have other Filipino friends and have travelled to other countries.

So what is Philippine cuisine? Here's what Wikipedia says:

Philippine cuisine (Filipino: Lutuing Pilipino or Pagkaing Pilipino) consists of the food, preparation methods, and eating customs found in the Philippines. The style of cooking and the food associated with it have evolved over many centuries from their Austronesian origins to a mixed cuisine of Malay-Indonesian, Indian, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, Mexican and American, in line with the major waves of influence that had enriched the cultures of the archipelago, as well as others adapted to indigenous ingredients and the local palate.

Dishes range from the very simple, like a meal of fried salted fish and rice, to the complex paellas and cocidos created for fiestas of Spanish origin. Popular dishes include: lechón (whole roasted pig), longganisa (Philippine sausage), tapa (cured beef), torta (omelette), adobo (chicken and/or pork braised in garlic, vinegar, oil and soy sauce, or cooked until dry), kaldereta (meat in tomato sauce stew), mechado (larded beef in soy and tomato sauce), puchero (beef in bananas and tomato sauce), afritada (chicken and/or pork simmered in tomato sauce with vegetables), kare-kare (oxtail and vegetables cooked in peanut sauce), pinakbet (kabocha squash, eggplant, beans, okra, and tomato stew flavored with shrimp paste), crispy pata (deep-fried pig's leg), hamonado (pork sweetened in pineapple sauce), sinigang (meat or seafood in sour broth), pancit (noodles), and lumpia (fresh or fried spring rolls).

For details and Recipes of my Favorite Philippine and American dishes read: http://myfavoritepinoydishes.blogspot.com/

Personal Note: I am writing this blog not to embarrass the three men described above, but to at least give the Pinoy dishes a chance by at least tasting it before declaring to the whole world you do not like it or recommending to others not to taste it.

Some of the Memorable Events and Guests at Chateau Du Mer

The front view of the Chateau Du Mer Beach House

The Conference Hall Decorated and ready for the Wedding Reception Party

As of today, we have hosted more than 45 clients for the beach house from United States, Canada, Australia, Europe and in the Philippines. The Hall have hosted more than 25 wedding receptions, birthday parties, meetings, seminars and family reunions. We have hosted three garden weddings and two Beach (seaside) weddings as of today.

Our first guests at Chateau Du Mer (CDM) were two couples from Southern France in 2010. The two men were physicians and their wives were educators. They have heard of CDM via my site and blogs.

This picture was taken at Hidden Valley Paradise Resort in Cabugao, Gasan where we took our Guests for a visit and a Picnic for the Day with the Dutch-Filipino Couple who Owns the Resort

Another group of guests we had fun hosting was during the visit of Veronica (Ronie ) Nieva Ettinger and family, Pepi Nieva and husband John Brown and their mother, Tia Teresa Feria Nieva widow of Tony Nieva, first cousin of Macrine's mother in January, 2013. They stayed for a week enjoying the sights and sounds of Marinduque and visiting relatives. Ronie and Pepi are grand daughters of Gregorio Nieva, younger brother of Juan Nieva, Macrine's grand father(http://davidbkatague.blogspot.com/2014/12/very-informative-article-on-achievement.html).

Photo taken in the front Porch of the Main House

Pepi Nieva and Ronie Nieva & Family with Macrine and I at the restaurant in the Boac Hotel bonding with their second cousin Luisito Reyes, owner of the Hotel.

Our first garden wedding was held in 2013.

The handsome Groom and his beautiful Bride

Our first beach( seaside) wedding was held in 2014:

For details visit the site as follows: http://davidbkatague.blogspot.com/search?q=garden+wedding

After my retirement from the Food and Drug Administration in 2002, my wife and I decided that we should divide our year between the US and in the Philippines. Our goal was to stay in the Philippines in the island of Marinduque ( my wife's ancestral province) when it starts to get chilly and cold here in Northern California. When the hot and humid summer starts in the Philippines we will fly back to US. We have achieved this goal since 2002 and to the present. Our friends and relatives call us snowbirds because of this lifestyle. We know a lot of our friends, relatives and contemporaries are jealous of our lifestyle.

We have planned this lifestyle two years before my retirement. We started construction of our main house in 1998. It was a 3-bedroom French Style Ranch house in a 5-acre lot formerly a coconut plantation. The lot was inherited by my wife and about 7 miles from the downtown Boac. It has a beach at the back and the national road in the front.

Two years later at the urging of our kids, we build a two story beach house. We named it Chateau Du Mer.. The next year we built a conference hall big enough to accommodate 300 attendees. In 2005, we decided to open the Beach House and Hall for rent to the public. With this development, I decided to advertise the Beach house and Conference Hall via the Internet.