Why Jolina & Mark were married twice

As Funfare reported in a scoop last May, Jolina Magdangal and Mark Escueta were getting married this year and it happened not just once but twice, first last Saturday, Nov. 19, at a very private affair and then yesterday afternoon, Nov. 21, at Splendido in Tagaytay City.

The wedding invitation, sent out to very selected guests (Funfare included), was done in a playful style, befitting the colorful personality of the couple, featuring pictures of Jolina and Mark during their travels together and when they were kids, including those of their respective families, and those of the Principal Sponsors (Arnold Clavio, Alman Bones, Gilbert Teodoro Jr., Perry Lansigan, Carly Divinagracia, Oggie Penabella, Ernie Penabella, Gerry Perez, Ronaldo Puno, Obet Escueta and Sen. Franklin Drilon; and Mel Tiangco, Lilybeth Rasonable, Jaya, Redgie Magno, Beverly Vergel, Celia Rodriguez, Aja Bones, Zsa Zsa Aguilar, Edna Mendoza, Merle Alipon and Leeza Penabella) and the Secondary Sponsors (Miel Magdangal and Carisse Escueta, Maids of Honor; Jed and John Joe Escueta, Best Men; Kyla, Hanabishi, Memen, Ate Hazel, Tricia, She, Juday, Red, Shine and Madam Kat, as they are identified without the surnames in the invitation, Bridesmaids); Ryan, Deej/Budeths/Niño, Norby/Ferdie/Mike/Japs, Jaime, Peter, Jay, Athan, Jepoy, Jerico, Bel/Kiko, Bamboo, Mike, Sherwin and Torch, Groomsmen). Ring Bearer is JT Peralta, Bible Bearer is Toby Garcia, Flower Girls are Sophie Baky and Shasha Vibas. Officiating pastor is identified simply as Pastor Bernard.

Why two weddings?

“We wanted a garden wedding pero hindi puwede sa Catholic Church, so we decided to hold two,” explained Mark.

The first, which the couple described as “intimate,” was held at the Madre de Dios Chapel also in Tagaytay was witnessed by only about 20 people who were mostly the couple’s family members.

“It was a very secret affair,” added Mark. “We wanted to accommodate as many friends as possible, so we decided to have two weddings.”

“I wore only a simple dress last Saturday,” said Jolina. “Gusto ko ibigay ang kabonggahan doon sa big wedding (yesterday). I conceptualized the gown and it was Larry Espinosa who executed it.”

Mark proposed to Jolina last May 20 on the eve of what a cult leader predicted to be the end of the world.

Jolina is 32 and Mark is 35 and it’s about time they sealed their relationship for good, for better or for worse, till…

Anyway, for a bit of nostalgia, here’s how Mark made the proposal as he recounted in that Funfare scoop last May:

For the big event that unfolded near midnight at a park in Tahanan Village, Paranaque City, where Mark lives with his parents (NAPOLCOM vice chairman and commissioner Eduardo U. Escueta and Rockey Pennadilla), the sweethearts looked for a bench in a quiet corner and started the “ceremony” by eating their favorite Classic Burger sandwiches that they bought as baon from the nearby Tropical Hut.

“Mahilig talaga kami mag-picnic at mag-picture sa park,” Mark told Funfare Update in an exclusive interview. I brought my tripod and DSLR camera along,” added Mark who is a photography buff, “and Jolina wasn’t surprised kasi hilig naming pareho ang photography. What she didn’t know was that I was already fixing my camera angling to record our special night for posterity.”

The couple spread out a roll-up cushion on the bench while they ate their baon while listening to romantic songs from the iPod equipped with small speakers.

And then, Mark told Jolina that he had a surprise for her, went to his get the scrapbook that he gave to Jolina during their early days together, with three of the last pages left blank.

“We reviewed the scrapbook again and Jolina was surprised when she got to the last three pages. On the first two pages, I wrote my messages to her and on the third page may picture ng kamay ko na hawak ko ‘yung ring. Then, I closed the scrapbook and underneath it, I had on my hand the ring. By this time, we were already crying. I knelt down and said, ‘Mahal, will you marry me?’”

Jolina laughed. “Even before Mark could finish his question, I said ‘yes’ na right away. We finished crying and started hugging.”

Continued Mark, “I went back to the car to get the bottle of wine that I brought with me, pero sa nerbiyos ko I forgot to bring wine glasses. So we ended up drinking straight from the bottle.”

Jolina added, “Mas masaya, mas romantic!”

The story about the ring actually started a week earlier, on May 12 when Mark formally asked Jolina’s hand in marriage from her parents, Generoso Magdangal Jr. and Paulita Perez.

“I went to their room without Jolina (who didn’t know yet that there was a ring) and told them my intention. Happy naman sila, thankful sila sa akin. Jolina’s mom said, ‘Naku, I guarantee you that Jolina will cry’. Sa side ng family ko, dad ko ang unang nakaalam. He was happy kasi matagal na niya akong kinukulit kung ano ang plano namin ni Jolina. My mom was happy, too. Siya at ang sister ko ang sumama sa akin when I bought the ring. Pinag-ipunan ko talaga ang ring na ‘yan.”

How did Mark know the size of Jolina’s finger?

“’Yung isang ring na palagi niyang sinusuot, isinukat ko sa finger ko. Fit siya sa little finger ko.”

Jolina, who first saw the ring only a week later, said that her family has a soft spot for Mark from the very start of their romance — and vice-versa.

Jolina and Mark are a perfect match. They both come from small, closely-knit families (Jolina has two siblings and Mark has three) and they love to watch movies on DVD while eating. They complement each other; she’s a worrier and he’s a positive thinker.

Asked how many kids they hope to have, Mark said, “Eight. Dapat may isa every year.”

Quipped Jolina, “Kaya ko kaya? Sige na nga, kakayanin ko.” Then they both laughed and laughed.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)