I began writing a society column in 1963 when I was 20, for a Cebu newspaper, the Morning Times. Little did I imagine then that, 52 years later, I would still be at it—and even covering the wedding of my younger son, Luis David.
Louie got married on May 23 to Charmaine Pearl Ardina, only child of Servillo Ardina and Amelia Tudtud Ardina of Talamban, Cebu City.
It was a morning wedding at the San Isidro Labrador parish church of Talamban, with the presence of immediate family, a reduced number of family friends, and a large representation of Louie and Charmaine’s friends.
It was a doubly happy occasion as my wife Cecilia could make it. Last February it was discovered she had a rather large tumor in the brain that turned out to be malignant.
With Louie by our side I pushed her wheelchair all the way to the altar through the central aisle. We looked good in the photos. Cecilia wore a vintage terno by Arcy Gayatin. Louie and I wore vintage barong. There had been no time nor budget to make new ones.
The bride looked ethereal in white gossamer, pacing down the aisle with her beaming parents. It was a hot summer morning, but the breezes blew into the church strong enough to waft the bridal veil.
Sponsors were Artemio and Nenette Tudtud, Alvin and Joy Arcilla, Randy and Riza Intino, Bienvenido Tudtud and Maria Pilar de Escaño (my sister), Ramon and Margie Picornell, who came from Manila expressly for the occasion.
Charmaine had close friend Honey Mae Oporto as maid of honor, while Louie’s best man was Manuel Perez, his best friend in high school.
Bridesmaids were Diane Diez, Victoria Gumba, Senied Ponce and Rianne Intino, while the groomsmen were Arturo Carandang Jr., Jimmy Ismael Picornell (my elder son), Andy Go and Ado Laplana.
Danilo and Nenita Dionson were candle sponsors; Hans and Gilda Lienaw, veil sponsors; Darwin and Choco (nee Escaño) Laplana, cord sponsors.
Flower girls were Marianne del Rio and Alya Laplana. Javi Escaño brought the rings and coins in a nacre casket.
Charmaine’s group from the University of the Philippines Cebu Serenata sang beautiful hymns throughout the nuptial Mass, and rendered two beautiful songs during the reception and brunch that followed at Salon de España of the Casino Español de Cebu.
Charmaine and Louie had chosen the menu themselves, adding the Casino’s special paella, and two huge lechon roasted the Cebuano way by Jed Mantalaba, another classmate of Louie in high school.
There were toasts and brief speeches, as well as a pose with the towering bridal cake made by our relative Marissa Rodriguez Unchuan, and part of the Casino Español’s bridal package.
Practically intact, the cake went to the bride’s home where that evening there was a gathering of the extensive Tudtud clan at the family compound in Talamban.
Next day there was another celebration, the birthday of Charmaine’s father.
Meanwhile, Louie is back at work at the office of Global Star Motors where he is assigned the Mercedes-Benz line of cars. He loves his job and says he needs to save to have his own car.
He has used our Honda Civic for some of his sales calls, or our old Toyota Lite Ace.
Maybe we should think of getting a Mercedes if Louie offers us a good discount.
