Saint Valentine’s Day this year is on a leap year. So, gals, stop being coy, take a leap and go for it!
For Valentine’s week, I’m writing about wedding vows and love memorials, as well as Cupid’s many hits and few misses.
I’ll start off with the renewal of their marriage vows after 18 years of bliss of vivacious Cris Abad Santos and businessman Butch Albert, Fila International Corp.’s first couple.
Theirs was a romantic sunset ceremony at the beachside of the gorgeous Shangri-La Boracay, dahlings.
Only 15 chosen famille members and close pals were invited to the romantic happening. Dressed in dreamy creams and whites were Cris’ mother, Wanda Louwallien, and sister Ana Abad Santos. Cris A. was in a cool floaty white beach chic dress by Betsey Johnson, with a crown of white flowers.
The happening was in the private Villa 13—one of the two über-luxurious “specialty villas,” which has direct access to a private beach—the perfect backdrop and setting for a truly romantic affair, dahlings.
An excellent divine dinner menu was prepared by the hotel’s renowned chef Phil Birmingham, and the bash went on till almost sunrise with Cris’ favorite drink, chilled bubbly Moët et Chandon Rose, flowing like forever.
Next was the super-fun wedding of tall Juan Rodrigo Castañer Ponce Enrile and headturner Danielle Anne Lopez Tabuena last January 5 at the sprawling garden of the Ponce Enrile residence. The wedding gown of the bride and the barong of the groom were by Randy Ortiz.
Next was the superb wedding of the well-liked Christopher Paris Warns and eye-catching businesswoman Bianca Cardenas Zobel last January 6 at Hacienda Bigáa, Calatagan, Batangas.
The couple’s wedding outfits were both made by visionary designer Pepito Albert.
Cupid hit another bull’s eye when popular Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo gave up his bachelorhood and exchanged “I do’s” with Valenzuela Councilor and television personality Shalani Soledad.
Shalani, wearing a super-chic wedding gown by Inno Sotto, looked like a princess during the wedding ceremony last January 22 at St. Benedict Church in Westgrove, Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
Reception followed at the Evoliving Center Dockside, Nuvali, also in Sta. Rosa.
In love
That cutie and sometimes naughty little angel is aiming his love arrow, sometimes missing his aim and many times hitting a bull’s eye.
One of my favorite pals, young achiever GP Reyes, told moi: “You Maurice of all people know that I’ve been in a few relationships. Some have been amazing. Some not so amazing. But January of last year, I met TV’s gorgeous Andi Manzano and she’s absolute infinity. Hopefully in two years, I will bequeath my bachelorhood to the next generation. I’ve found this wonderful woman who I have been praying for all these years during the ups and downs of my love life.”
Meanwhile, beauty Cristalle Henares broke off with Moussa Abdayem last year, but she surely didn’t sit home and reminisce the past. She moved forward and fast.
“So whose the man in your life now?” I asked her.
“Well, I have two in line,” she said. “One is a popular athlete and the other another athlete, would you believe?”
“Who are they?” I asked.
She did give me their names but I promised her that my lips would be sealed…till I get the go signal, dahlings.
Another favorite palangga, southern beauty Trish Raymond Villanueva, is going out with nice young businessman Anton Palanca. They’re the newest twosome around town.
But Cupid apparently made a major mistake with Celine Lopez and executive Enrique Gonzalez.
Their engagement was announced at a grand dinner affair in February 2011. I then asked when the big day was, and Celine answered, “11/11/11.”
Well, dahlings faster than you could bat an eyelash, Celine shocked her pals, including me, when she said, “It’s all over between Enrique and I. Better now than later if we got married.”
But she has moved on. She had left the country and was planning to get her masters in London, when bang! Cupid worked fast and aimed his arrow that zoomed straight to the heart of tall, dashing and absolutely charmant Danish businessman Paul Ostelgaard.
Happier than ever, Celine and Paul look like they both have found true love at last. I for one surely hope so. They totally deserve each other, dahlings.