“WHAT, therefore, hath God joined together let no man put asunder.” – Mark 10:9
This same sacred biblical line became a stern reminder about the seriousness of the union a couple entered, one that has aptly guided them throughout their married life.
Taking the sanctity of the bond with resolute inflexibility and adapted their life to the earnestness of their vow, Celso “Nilo” Concepcion and Rosario “Rose” Concepcion nee Javier have since lived their daily grind full of aspirations while constantly steered by mutual trust and dependability on each other’s strength.
In retrospect, their’s was a serendipitous rendezvous. Although both hailed from the same province of Nueva Ecija, Rose hails from San Juan, Aliaga (a second class municipality) while Nilo came from Cabanatuan City (a highly urbanized metropolis in the northern Tagalog region), fate had it the two should meet.
Rose’s brother’s truck helper, who had lived with the family for years, acted as the couple’s matchmaker when the former moved out and transferred to Nilo’s brother with the same job position. The self-appointed “Cupid” initiated the match by introducing Nilo to Aba (as Rose’s was fondly addressed) during Aliaga’s town fiesta…and instantly, fireworks glowingly sparked and “Cupid’s” bow hit both hearts bull’s eye.
Suffice it to conclude that not-a-so-distant courtship opened a much broader possibility for a serious affair. She with intelligence, dependability, trustworthiness, and being loyal as defining characteristics while he has that innate intuition, selflessness, and being supportive as traits, the zodiac compatibility chart showed a fairly suitable match between the two. Her Libra sign has a lesser strength to his Pisces symbol but the intensity of each other’s unconditional feelings mightily spurned the universal law of harmonious existence.
But just like in the movies or in fairytale romance, an antagonist inevitably exists especially during a nearly climactic phase ‘though it wasn’t a third party. In Nilo & Rose’s case, her departure for the US was the culprit, having been petitioned by her parents.
Nilo couldn’t stand in between to hamper her leaving for that would be tantamount to nullifying Rose’s opportunity for a life-change which could also affect whatever was in store for their future…if they would definitely end up as a couple.
And that offered a resolute decision—to get married to guarantee their relationship. But a change of status would spoil her legal travel documents that could expunge original records.
Two hearts enslaved by genuine passion and devotedly pledged undying love for each other will always find a way to triumph over all adversities and trials for the sake of keeping their bond intact. They successfully pulled off a clever scheme via an unregistered ceremony just so to be officially pronounced man and wife and be socially accepted as a couple.
Rose made Whippany, New Jersey, an unincorporated community located within Hanover Township in Morris County, her new home. New adjustment wasn’t much to consider for earning a living was her priority. Easily employed in Hudson Bank, being a BS Commerce degree holder with Accounting major, Rose transferred to a Nursing facility later and found a new job in a dialysis center more rewarding.
In 1997 Nilo’s chance to join his wife came. Just like Rose, his being armed with a BSCE degree (Bachelor of Science in Civil ko l,Engineering) immediately got him employed (although not in line with his course) at the International Vitamin Company in Freehold and worked part time as a property maintenance. With innate skills in carpentry and building, Nilo ably mastered construction and renovation.
The couple officially sealed their ties on October 18, 2000 in a traditional ceremony in Lakewood, New Jersey with a paramount vow not only to be joined by a law that solemnized their matrimonial relationship but to live a wedded life of blissful togetherness.
Undoubtedly, when Nilo took Rose to be his lawfully wedded wife, he didn’t only swear to have and to hold her from that day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health…, but also meant to be in a lifetime partnership with her in business and in pleasure… to prosper or to fail…until death do them part.
And true enough, their already bountiful partnership grew even more comfortable and flourishing in each other’s abilities and strengths where business can thrive. Some untapped and hidden personality traits started to manifest and each other’s ability to handle varied situations were obviously magnified that contributed to the escalating intensity of their conjugal relationship.
They may have notable indifferences and personal weaknesses but that only made them realize the value of mutual adjustment and each other’s capability in bridging the gap. After all, the basic foundations of trust, open communication, and putting God in the center of their life proved to be functionally effective.
In 2007, with sufficient savings, the couple decided to venture into their own business instead of working for others and making others richer at their expense. It was something about food, man’s basic necessity that they opted to have for this is something one cannot live without.
Toms River, New Jersey, specifically at 1561 Lakewood Rd., became home to RJ Sariling Atin Fast Food & Oriental Grocery. The “R” stands for Rocel (fused first syllables of Rosario and Celso’s names), the couple’s first born and “J” for Julia, their 13-year old youngest daughter.
With the fullest measure of dedication, perseverance and hard work, success couldn’t be far from being attained. In just merely a span of six years, the couple’s dream of putting up a business in the Big Apple started to show signs in the offing.
“I fervently prayed for this elusive opportunity for years.” Nilo turned serious while speaking in a much lower tone but with precise words. “I pleaded for His enlightenment and guidance to lead me to where in NY I should set up my business. I was prayerful I know but never this solemn as I did for the realization of this dream. There were early signs but only left me in a quandary.”
And as if the heavens heard what he implored, three days later, Nilo received a call from a relative who lives in Elmhurst, Queens and related to him about a vacant space somewhere in Queens Boulevard, a former furniture showroom adjacent to Queens Macy’s Mall and a stone’s throw away from Macy’s Center Mall.
After a thorough vicinity inspection and feasibility study, enthusiasm built even more when he got the lease of the property in an instant.
But his enthusiastic spirit nearly succumbed to the unceasing demands and prolonged challenge of mounting paper works and the snail-paced process he encountered in securing permits and completing legal matters. The completing construction of the store was the only consolation that mattered.
“We incurred an almost mind-boggling process but giving up was never an option,” he shared.
He vividly recounted the patience-consuming wait for the final approval of their business permit that tested his remaining tenacity and tolerance to the fullest. Their remaining fund was getting slimmer with the passing of time. Even the building owner supported them and offered financial assistance.
Indeed, all that’s well ends well! After waiting for 6 months, all papers were signed. RJ Sariling Atin has finally found a new home in Queens along 89-12 Queens Boulevard, Elmhurst, NY (11373).
The much-awaited opening posted an even much unforeseen challenge after witnessing the heavy turnout of anxious customers that totaled to a little over seven hundred. The modest size space they thought would just be perfect to accommodate their customers became too small. But they just have to bear with it…at the moment.
Since day one a great number of customers, old and new, have passed through the portals of Sariling Atin and left with a great food experience laced with the typical Filipino hospitality. Their satisfaction reflects nothing but only the heightened level of home-cooking style and high standard food quality they were served.
As if the daily growing clientele wasn’t enough for Nilo and Rose to be completely fulfilled, just recently, after only five months in operations, RJ Sariling Atin was deservingly recognized by food blogger Jessica Allen of We Heart New York on Fox 5 as one among NYC’s 5 Best Restaurants For Filipino Food.
To quote: “From the name alone you can tell that Sariling Atin means business. You won’t find any fusion or high-falutin’ combinations here. Instead, this Elmhurst restaurant / grocery store serves straight up homestyle Filipino food. It’s a family-run establishment with a sister joint in New Jersey. Try the fried pork knuckles, broiled milkfish, pancit canton (similar to lo mein), or pancit malabon (distinctive yellow-orange noodles heavy on the seafood). And make sure to end your meal with the shaved ice treat known as halo-halo.”
Currently, RJ Sariling Atin is under the personal management of Rocel who reports to work from 9 AM to closing time at 9:30 PM. A young BS Biology graduate who could be mistaken for a highschooler, Rocel plans to pursue a Dentistry course when she finds her next of kin already capable of managing and supervising their business.
Indeed, it takes two to enter a successful partnership although this doesn’t hold true in some cases where the tandem ends up in court and separation. Nilo and Rose’s tested joint venture, either in marriage or in business, was basically founded on a blissful conjugal relationship and they vowed to remain into the bonded affiliation as long as they live.
“Actually, after working so diligently Nilo plans to retire back home where he wants to farm and raise livestock while I, on the contrary, love to stay here for good.” Rose stated trying to insinuate a bit of conflicting decision between them. “But if he insists, I have to go with him…after all at the end, there will be only the two of us together while our children might have settled down and started to raise a family of their own.”
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