The Paolo-Samantha wedding: Now they’re one big, happy family

MANILA, Philippines - A lot of people considered Martin Nievera and Gary Valenciano’s AS 1 concert in 2009, which was their very first major concert collaboration, signaled the end of the two iconic singers’ two-decade rivalry. And if it may not be enough for some, the wedding of Paolo Valenciano and Samantha Godinez may very well be the final and definitive conclusion of the magnificent rivalry between Martin and Gary.

Recording artist and one of the resident rockers of ASAP, Paolo is the firstborn of Gary and Angeli Pangilinan while Samantha is the daughter of Jaime Godinez and Gina Tabuena-Godinez, who is the sister of Martin.

Martin and Gary may have merged together as artists in AS 1 but as of today, after the wedding of Paolo and Samantha, they are now officially family.

Paolo and Samantha may have planned and envisioned a simple and quiet wedding but as children of Original Pilipino Music (OPM) royalty (even in the case of Samantha herself as her father Jaime heads SoundCheck, a company that provides professional sound and lighting systems to the hottest local and international artists and her mother Gina used to manage the career of Martin for many years), simple and quiet were the least words that can be used to describe the couple’s Christian wedding at the Manila Polo Club last Feb. 7.

The wedding which trended on Twitter the whole day with the hashtag #PaoSamWedding was officiated by Rev. Agustin Lising. Best man was Gab Valenciano while the maid of honor was Alex Godinez. The groomsmen, bridesmaids and secondary sponsors consisted of Khalil Kaimo, Raffy Garcia, Jericho Rosales, Yael Yuson, Marco Castelo, RJ de la Fuente, Enzo Marcos, Zach Sycip, Mikel Godinez, Iya Villania, Nicole Godinez-Lamming, Karla Mangrobang, Julia Arenas, Kiana Valenciano, Angela de Leon, Karylle and Rinka Sycip.

Paolo and Samantha’s godparents are Piki Lopez, Manny Pangilinan, Iñigo Zobel, Martin Nievera, Butch Jimenez, John Pangilinan, Jojo Lastimosa, Audie Gemora, Inno Sotto, Paolo Punzalan, Maricel Pangilinan-Arenas, Jo Ann Salinas-Sison, Lisa Marcos, Margarita Fores, Josine Elizalde, Liza Valenciano-Maenza, Anj del Rosario, Angelines Padilla, Maricris Bermont-Garcia and Lorna Tabuena. 

Yeng Constantino tendered a beautiful rendition of the Our Father while Martin and Gary sang a medley of I’ll Be There and I Will Be Here. Kiana and Alex sang a favorite song of Samantha, It Could Have Been Anyone. Gary composed a special duet With You and sang it with Tricia Amper-Jimenez. 

Present during the wedding were Zsa Zsa Padilla, Kuh Ledesma, Ogie Alcasid, Regine Velasquez, Sen. Francis Pangilinan and wife Sharon Cuneta, Pops Fernandez, Christian Bautista, Bamboo Mañalac, Kim Jones, Baby Araneta-Fores, Rowell Santiago, Louie Ocampo, Amparito Lhuillier, Tina Maristela-Ocampo, Paul Soriano, Toni Gonzaga, KC Concepcion, Chot and Cherry Reyes, Homer Flores, Jamie Rivera, Ray-An Fuentes, Robin Nievera, Cesca Litton, Zia Quizon, Hannah Flores, Freddie Santos, Renen and Cel de Guia, Bro. Eddie Villanueva, Anton del Rosario, Eric Tai, Jugs Jugueta, Carlo Orosa, Joey and Marissa Concepcion, Mark and Kimmy Cojuangco, Maritess Revilla-Concepcion, Sen. Bongbong Marcos, Sponge Cola, Rivermaya, Salamin, Kjwan, Greyhounds and many others.

During the reception, guests were treated to fabulous musical performances by Sam Concepcion, AJ Rafael, Julianne and Kate Torralba, among others. Touching messages were shared by the families of the couple.