Andeng says yes after Jun’s third try

She is the last girl among the Revilla children to get married. So when Andrea Bautista (fondly known as Andeng in showbiz circles and among friends and members of her family) told her father, former senator and now head of the PRA (Philippine Reclamation Authority) Ramon Revilla that she was tying the knot with Casimiro "Jun" Ynares III, assistant secterary to DENR Secretary Mike Defensor, the Revilla patriarch felt a lump in his throat and turned misty-eyed, but gave the couple his blessing anyway.

That was last January, when Jun succeeded in getting Andrea’s "yes" after the third try. The first time he proposed to Andeng was in December 2003 and then in July last year but, even if they’ve been going steady off-and-on for 10 years, Andeng wanted to be very sure of herself.

"There were certain things that we had to sort out," Andeng told Funfare without elaborating. "Nang maayos ‘yon, that was when I said ‘yes’ na."

Last Saturday night (April 23), the Ynareses (Jun with his parents, Rizal Gov. Casimiro "Ito" Ynares and Nene Alcantara Ynares, former Rizal governor, and his three sisters) made the traditional pamanhikan at the Revillas’ sprawling residence in Imus, Cavite. The Revillas were all accounted for, led by the former senator, Andeng’s brothers, Sen. Bong Revilla (with wife Lani Mercado), director Marlon Bautista (with wife Gigi dela Riva) and Strike (unmarried, former provincial board member of Cavite and Sen. Bong’s chief of staff); and Andeng’s sisters Princess, Rowena and Diane, along with brother-in-law former senator Bobby Jaworski.

There was no formal "asking for the hand" in marriage. The two families and close friends simply sat down for buffet dinner at the wide, cozy receiving room (where the Revillas have their family gathering every Sunday without fail) and discussed details of the wedding set for Nov. 19 at the Manila Cathedral and the reception at the Shangri-La Makati. Andeng’s bosom buddy, designer Paul Cabral, created a romantic ambience in the venue which he decked with beautiful flowers. A band played love songs throughout the evening.

"Si Paul ang may gawa ng lahat na ‘to," said the blushing bride-to-be. "And it’s Paul who’s doing my gown. The motif is shades of pink."

Andeng is Catholic and Jun is a Christian (that’s how they call members of the non-Catholic sect). Funfare readers will probably remember Andeng (once linked to Diether Ocampo, a rumor Andeng vehemently denies to death) as the child actress who played the dual title role in Dang/Dong back in the early ’80s. She didn’t pursue her acting career, leaving the field to her father and Bong.

It was Bong who relayed to their father Andeng’s decision to get married.

"But before Kuya Bong did," recalled Andeng, "I sort of conditioned my Dad about it. I told him that the guy I’d be introducing to him as my boyfriend is the guy I’m gonna marry." Jun is the only guy Andeng has ever introduced to her dad.

Andeng and Jun met at La Salle where they were both taking up Medicine. Jun went on to become a doctor while Andeng quit and took up another course. They started as friends before they became lovers, going steady "off and on" for 10 years before they agreed to settle down as man and wife.

How did Jun propose to Andeng?

"He did it in the church," said Andeng. "That was his third time to propose."

Although they belong to different religions, Jun and Andeng have one thing in common.

"We are both God-centered," said Andeng.

After their wedding, the couple plans to spend their honeymoon in Europe, preferably Italy – "That is," added Andeng, "if we have extra money."

And then they’ll start their life together in the house being lent to them by Jun’s parents.

In the Revilla home, Andeng stays close to their dad, who has fast recovered from a stroke more than three years ago. The other Revilla children check on their dad every once too often but it’s Andeng who prepares their dad’s medicines (about 10 at a time) even if a private nurse attends to him round the clock. In fact, during the pamanhikan, Andeng excused herself from the guests to remind her dad that it was time to take the medicines Andeng was holding on her palm, with the other hand holding a glass of water.

Her dad will really miss her.

"He need not worry," assured Andeng. "He’s not losing a daughter but gaining a son. Even when Jun and I move to our own home, I’ll go on taking care of my dad."

What a sweet daughter! No wonder Ramon Sr. nearly cried when Andeng told him that she was getting married.

Asked what he told Andeng, Ramon Sr. said, "Sabi ko sa kanya, ‘Be a good wife; love your husband.’ Just that."