Keeping promises

With you every moment is magical, you bring out the best in me. You are my best friend and my forever.” These words etched on the wedding invitation of David Angelo “Gelo” Vargas and Charisse Marie Abalos clearly summarized the newlyweds’ love story.  The couple met two years ago at a Halloween party hosted by a few members from the National Movement of Young Legislators.  While on a trip to Japan last year, Gelo proposed to Charisse on top of Mt. Fuji, and to show his sincerity, Gelo gave Charisse his mother’s own engagement ring.  He proposed to her again a couple of months later, on her birthday at Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila, surprising her with 1,000 long-stemmed roses — this time with a ring that he designed himself. The happy couple exchanged marriage vows at San Felipe Neri Parish in Mandaluyong City followed by an elegant dinner reception at La Isla Ballroom of the Edsa Shangri-La Manila.  The ceremony was witnessed by Charisse’s parents, former Mayor Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. and current Mayor Carmelita ‘Menchie’ Abalos of Mandaluyong City and Gelo’s parents, former Mayors Marcial and Elizabeth Vargas of Nueva Ecija, together with family and friends.  Both David Angelo Vargas and Charisse Marie Abalos have just been voted as the no. 1 councilors in their given local districts — the former in Aliaga, Nueva Ecija and the latter in the 1st district of Mandaluyong City.