A fairy-tale wedding for Inma and Paolo Manguerra

Picture an elaborately ornate altar of the grand Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral that dates back to the tiempos de los españoles, artistically dotted with huge lush palmeras and several tall hedges of the darkest green ferns with cascading white dendrobiums and mums. And on the center aisle, dozens upon dozens of dramatic white majestic candles gently flickering!

Such was the elegant romantic setting when Inmaculada, lovely daughter of Myra Osmeña Gonzalez and Manuel Lozada de la Cova, exchanged marriage vows with Juan Paolo, exemplary son of Teresita Escaño Manguerra and the late Mariano Jesus Manguerra. The Auxiliary Bishop Isabelo Abarquez and Fr. John of the Cenacle officiated the solemn rites.

The bride was demurely beautiful in her sabrina overlay white silk gazar gown with alaskin lining, daintily accented with minimal beadwork, a classic masterpiece by Cebu’s foremost designer Philip Rodriguez. The handsome groom was equally dashing in a piña barong done by the same couturier.

The principal sponsors were mostly parientes de ambos familias, led by Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña with university president Rafaelita Pelaez Golez, former Cebu Governor Emilio Osmeña and his unassuming wife Anette, the honorary consul of Sweden Jose Sala and world traveler with global business tie-ups Minnie Osmeña, the bride’s uncle gentleman-farmer Manuel Larrañaga with Vilma Ouano, Spain’s honorary consul in Cebu Jaime Picornell with the groom’s maternal aunt Agustina Escaño Unchuan, and close family friends Jose Maria Miranda with Ma. Teresa Moraza de Rotaeche.

Inma’s childhood friend Tomoe Hino was maid of honor, while Paolo’s younger brother Greggy stood as best man.

Secondary sponsors Paolo Soler and Christy Manguerra lit the candles, Paolo Celso and Kirsten Cuenco Larrañaga pinned the veil, and Giandino Pages and Pia Mercado were cord sponsors. Pretty flower girls were Margarita Aberasturi, Ynes Manguerra and Zoe Larrañaga. Jesus Miguel Sala carried the rings and Miguel Manguerra the arrhae.

The angelic voices of the Guadalupe Children’s Choir and the strings of the Peace Philharmonic Orchestra, who incidentally played all-favorite romantic ballads and classic pieces at the reception, provided the music at the church.

Flower arrangements at the ballroom of the Cebu Country Club, where the dinner reception was held, carried the dominantly white color motif complementing the peach coral roses at the centerpiece of the elegantly laid tables. Five 20-foot columns, covered with a profusion of greens and orchids, stood at the center of the ballroom creating an awesome magical setting that had every guest congratulating the well-respected and much-loved interior designer Rosebud Rivilla Sala.

The club’s highly knowledgeable food consultant Purita Arda meticulously organized the menu, which consisted mainly of Spanish fiesta fare, with Spanish wines from the bodegas de Gabriel Palmer’s Bona Viña flowing freely. Popular was the jamon serrano brought in from Sevilla by Inma’s father and savored con mucho gusto by familias y invitados.

Inma and Paolo met at a gathering six years ago. After graduation, Inma left for Spain to study fine arts, but eventually came home to her Prince Charming-in-waiting. It was a fairy-tale romance that naturally ended in a fairy-tale wedding.