Mar, Korina tie the knot
MANILA, Philippines - It was a people’s wedding for Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II and broadcast journalist Korina Sanchez as thousands shared the simple but elegant affair where the couple vowed to love each other for the rest of their lives.
Loud cheers were heard outside the Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City, first when the couple arrived and later, when they were pronounced husband and wife.
The wedding was really planned to be enjoyed with the people.
The original venue for a grand reception was the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City but this was scrapped to reach out to even more Filipinos as the couple decided to donate their more than P2-million budget for the event to the victims of recent calamities.
Instead, onlookers were provided with food packs while guests had sandwiches, biscuits, native delicacies and drinks inside the premises of the church.
The couple was also blessed with good weather that made it easier for people to come and watch the affair in and arounbd the church.
“Fulfillment of all I’ve waited for”
Mar and Korina, who were engaged for five years before getting married, made their personal vows as the groom kissed the hand and temple of the bride every now and then during the ceremony.
Roxas described his bride as “God’s precious gift” to him and said he would treat her not only as his wife but also as his best friend.
“I love you as you are. You are precious to me. I am happy we are together and truly thank you for taking me and putting up with me. I give myself to you as your best friend, to applaud when you succeed and encourage when you stumble. I offer myself to you as your husband in respect and in trust. Today I take you to be my wife. I promise to be with you and be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love and honor you all the days of my life,” Roxas said.
For her part, Sanchez said her vows in Filipino, saying Roxas was the fulfillment of everything she dreamed of in a husband.
“Minamahal kong Mar, matagal ang panahong lumipas na tayo ay nagsarili ng landas at naghintay ng pagkakataong ito. Tayo ngayon ay pinagpala ng tadhana at ng Panginoon na mahanap ang isa’t isa. Totoo pala na ang pangarap ay nagaganap,” Sanchez said.
“Ikaw ang katuparan ng lahat ng aking hinintay at minimithi ng aking puso na maging kasama, karamay, kaibigan at kakampi. Ikaw ang aking pinili upang alayan ng lahat ng iyong kakailanganin sa isang kasama at katabi sa buhay sa abot ng aking makakaya. Dumaan man ang unos, mga pagsubok, ang sakit, ang kabiguan, ako ay mananatiling dikit sa iyong dibdib kahawak ng mahigpit ng iyong mga kamay. Nguni’t sabay din tayong lalakbay sa landas na itinahak ng Panginoon sa atin. Magkasama tayong ngingiti, tatawa, hahalakhak sa malaki man na tagumpay at sa pinakamababaw na biro,” Sanchez said to her groom.
She promised Roxas that she would be there for him for the rest of their lives.
“Mar, ang pangako ko sa iyo, saksi ang aking mga yumaong magulang na si Celia at Ramon, katuwang ng aking buong pamilya at lahat ng nagmamahal sa ating dalawa, basbas ng langit ang aking pagmamahal sa iyo at kasama ng Panginoon kahapon, ngayon at bukas, ako’y iyong-iyo,” Sanchez said.
Tears of joy
Sanchez became emotional as she walked down the aisle to meet her groom. She did not wear the traditional veil on her Filipiniana-inspired piña wedding gown.
As she stepped out of the bridal car, the crowd screamed her name even as she was covered by a cream-colored cloth on the way to the church door, which was closed after members of the entourage came in to give the bride a dramatic entrance.
Roxas became teary-eyed too as Sanchez walked down the aisle. He came an hour earlier on board his trademark pedicab and shook hands with those waiting outside. He then marched with his mother, Judy Araneta-Roxas, while Sanchez was escorted by her brothers Milano, Miguelito and Emmanuel Ruiz.
Roxas used the pedicab in his infomercials to show he was one with the poor and will help them in uplifting their lives.
The Philippine Madrigal Singers sang “Ave Maria” as the entourage marched toward the altar.
Sanchez shed tears as singer Ray An Fuentes gave his rendition of “Umagang Kay Ganda” as background. The song is a personal favorite of Roxas because the lyrics talked about the happiness of being together and that waking up with each other would always make a beautiful morning.
In his homily, Fr. Carmelo Caluag told the couple that their wedding was an opportunity to begin anew, heal all wounds and correct past mistakes.
“I believe that giving one’s self to love brings blessing to one’s self and to society,” he said.
At the end of the matrimonial ceremony, the couple kissed for 11 seconds as Basil Valdez sang his classic “Ngayon at Kailanman.”
Who’s who
The wedding was attended by the who’s who in the Philippine society. Former President Joseph Estrada and Vice President Noli de Castro led the guests from the political sector while Kris Aquino-Yap, whose son James Jr. was ring bearer, came with other showbiz personalities.
Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, the presidential bet of the Liberal Party and running mate of Roxas, was one of the sponsors. Representatives from various political organizations and non-government organizations were also among the guests.
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