The bride was my daughter, Gisella Olmedo, and the groom was Rev Araneta. Were the two matched by Divine Providence? The courtship must have been orchestrated by somebody up there, the couple’s lives having been intertwined with spiritual events such as Bible study meetings and religious services.
It was a wedding made in heaven – rather, the sky. The wedding followed a travelogue motif, in keeping with the airline careers of both bride and groom – my daughter Gisella who is with Asiana Airlines and my son-in-law Rev who is with Lufthansa. The wedding program was printed at the back of postcards showing the world’s cities like Paris, Los Angeles and Munich – the site of my daughter’s memorable trips.
The venue was the Rizal Ballroom of the Makati Shangri-La Hotel which provided a romantic setting for the wedding. Little touches lent an intimate flavor to the wedding.
The paper for the wedding invitation was flown in all the way from the States, the gift of the bride’s good friend, Joanna Mallari, from their high school days at St. Scholastica’s College, Manila. It featured the letter "Love" which made up the entire front page of the invitation. The wording of the invitation was also warm and personalized, revolving around the theme, "a celebration of love."
Instead of the usual wedding march music, the bridal entourage walked to the tune of The Way You Look Tonight and the bride walked down the aisle to the tune of her favorite song, When I Fall in Love.
As I saw my daughter walking down the aisle, looking so radiant and lovely in her bridal gown, I felt a little lump in my throat as I recalled how my husband Onib would scoop her up in his arms even when she was already seven years old, because he had somehow never gotten over the wonder of being a father.
The bride and my younger daughter, Francesca Joanna, who was the maid of honor, walked by themselves unescorted, and so did I as the bride’s mother, to emphasize that my husband Onib had already joined his Creator. And yet, somehow, all of us felt that Onib was still very much with us during that wondrous event. His presence was almost palpable, he seemed to be looking down with benign approval at all the proceedings.
Principal sponsors were Tonypet Araneta, looking handsome and dapper in his signature barong, and Judy Araneta Roxas, a picture of classic elegance; Horacio Boy Morales, former Secretary of Agrarian Reform who now manages his own consultancy firm; Fe Arriola, the award-winning author who is currently writing a book on Onib Olmedo; Philip Remollo, the former mayor of Dumaguete; Silvana Diaz, the owner of Galeria Duemila; Pastor Joel Magpantay, Ramona Konzelmann, Mariano Araneta, Marcia Araneta, Lincoln Drilon, Remedios Dy, Antonio Olizon, Lourdes Sangalang, Pershing Golez, Celia Olmedo, Cornelio Ye, Betty Bayona, Lerjun Salvador, Mary Ann Orosa, Enrique Gabriel and Ma. Virginia Duque.
Close family friends came to give their best wishes to the newlyweds – the well-known STAR columnist Teddy Benigno and wife Luz; Chelo Borromeo, who was Gisella’s ballet teacher; my classmates from St. Theresa’s College, Manila – Chit Roces, Marilen Sidri, Susie Rueda and Marichie Francisco; and Onib’s buddies – Manny Arriola, Raul and Thelma Dizon and Ramon Diaz. Gisella’s boss from Asiana Airlines, Rene Banzon, came with his lovely wife.
Gracing the event were representatives from the Araneta clan on the groom’s side and the Olmedo and Rodriguez clans from the bride’s side. Rev’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Pablito Araneta, flew in from Iloilo to attend the wedding, Dr. Estrella V. Araneta, Rev’s beloved grandma, also came to town to witness a milestone in the life of her favorite grandson. Rev’s grandfather, Mariano Araneta Sr., who was the mayor of Barotac Nuevo in Iloilo for over 20 years, simply sent his best wishes, because he couldn’t make it for health reasons. The groom’s siblings were there in full force: Paolo and Rubio who stood as junior groomsmen; Sean, Ayla, Megan and Illich; and Frankie, one of the flower girls. Rev’s uncles and aunts came with their kids: Nonong and Eileen; Beboy and Cheng; Becks and Nestor; and Corazon and Lito.
On the bride’s side, Gisella’s aunt Nora Nieva; cousins Marichi Donohue and husband John; Lalie Maglaya and husband Ed; nieces Tin-tin and Michelle and nephew Edmond flew in all the way from the States to attend the wedding which was also a reunion for the Rodriguez clan. Gisella’s cousin, Mona Konzelmann, flew in from Paris and stood as one of the ninangs. Her aunt Lulu Arespacochaga with daughter Barbara and husband Ne Salanguit were also there; her other aunt Gloria Aligada and daughters Wendy and Betty; her uncle Toto Rodriguez, wife Carina and daughter Leah also graced the occasion.
The brothers and sisters of Onib Olmedo and their spouses likewise witnessed the event: Lito and Carmen, Polong and Fred Sangalan, Ceci and Jimmy Jali-jali, Joby and Jun Jacinto, Papoose and Tony Olizon, Ramon and Agnes, Jack and Yay and Chibu Olmedo.
The best man was Rev’s best friend, Edison Tan. The bridesmaids were Ruth Ruiz, Myra Althea Castillo, Yael de Guia and Carmela Lucia Olmedo. The junior bridesmaids were Marie Christine Maglaya and Carissa Agnes Olmedo.
Pastor Alvin Supan from the Victory Christian Fellowship in Pasay officiated at the wedding ceremony. A string ensemble from the renowned Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra created a romantic ambience with instrumental music during the dinner. Professional singers, all good friends of the couple, sang the couple’s favorite love songs; there were Icko Gonzalez, a singer from the Trumpets theater group of Freddie Santos, and Aubrey Bea from the Counterflow group.
The well-organized event may be attributed to professional wedding planners Joji Crisostomo, Antonette Balais and Joyce Pasion – who offered their services as a labor of love.
The articulate emcee was Ardy Abello, a senior consultant of Businessworks events, a management and training consultancy firm of Anthony Pangilinan.
The program during the wedding reception was highlighted by few speeches. My younger daughter Francesca related details of the courtship of her sister which started with Rev requesting her to give him the ring-finger size of Gisella in preparation for his proposal. She also narrated the fun experiences and the naughty pranks that Gisella had master-minded during their growing-up years. Maean Araneta said that Gisella was "super-lucky" to have gotten somebody like Rev who is so generous and kind-hearted. And I, as the bride’s mother, related heartwarming anecdotes from Gisella’s childhood, which recalled happy memories of my well-loved husband Onib who regarded his children as his most cherished treasures during his lifetime.
The groom’s father, Pablito Araneta, sang All the Things You Are as a tribute to my late husband.
Rev and Gisella’s storybook wedding truly had touches of creativity which my late husband Onib would surely have relished.