After nearly nine years together, four of them in a long-distance relationship, high school sweethearts Oscar Javier Lopez Puno and Maria Victoria Catherine Orosa Concepcion exchanged “I dos” June 10 at the Santuario de San Antonio Parish Church in Makati City.
Stunning in a bridal gown from Hong Kong, the bride, daughter of RFM chair and CEO Joey Concepcion and wife Marissa, greeted her grandparents Jose “Joecon” Concepcion Jr. and Marivic before walking to the altar, and her groom, son of lawyer Eric Puno and his wife Bea Lopez.
At the reception held at the Shangri-La at The Fort, some 800 family and friends were all smiles as a video showed images of the newlyweds from their childhood years leading up to the engagement.
The proposal happened during Javier’s birthday hike. He got down on one knee and popped the question amid picturesque scenery of waterfalls and a rainbow.
At the reception, Javier and Catherine took to the floor for their first dance as husband and wife, and the bride’s cousin John Uy serenading them with Coldplay’s “Yellow.”
A sentimental father-daughter dance soon followed, with Catherine and her dad dancing to “You’ll be in My Heart,” as pictures of the two flashed on an LED screen. But the big surprise came when Catherine did away with traditional welcome remarks by breaking into song!
Heartfelt toasts from those near and dear to the couple brought cheers and tears. From the couple’s fathers, to their best friends Kat Sumayao and Paolo Tambunting, best man (and brother of the groom) Rocco Puno, and maids of honor Magsy Concepcion, Monica Concepcion and Isabella Concepcion (the bride’s sisters, who were resplendent in Vania Romoff gowns)—everyone had nothing but good things to say about the newlyweds.
Catherine worked for French personal care company L’Oreal, while Javier is a manager at Equis Pte. Ltd., a private equity fund that invests in renewable energy. —LIZA OROSA, CONTRIBUTED
