Will the celebrity couple Dingdong Dantes and his fiancée Marian Rivera spend their honeymoon in Pangalusian island, El Nido, Palawan province after their “open for all” wedding on Dec. 30 at Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral in Cubao, Quezon City?
A free vacation to this idyllic resort island of Pangalusian was one of the special gifts given to actress Marian Rivera during her surprise second bridal shower held on the afternoon of Sept. 27 at Metro Department Store in Alabang.
The couple has already been traveling every year during their vacations, and their desired honeymoon destinations abroad will be too cold in the winter months, so both had reportedly earlier considered Hawaii or Australia before this gift was presented to Marian.
First bridal shower in Hong Kong Disneyland, stag party in Germany
Right after enjoying her first bridal shower at “the happiest place on earth” in Hong Kong Disneyland with kin and friends, GMA-7’s Primetime Queen and Summit Media’s FHM “Sexiest Woman of the Year” Marian Rivera was given her surprise second bridal shower by Cebu’s prominent Gaisano family. While Marian was in Hong Kong, her fiancé Dingdong Dantes celebrated his stag party halfway around the globe away from local paparazzi in Germany in the company of his cousins and business partners.
When I asked about the invitation, Metro executives said: “Marian Rivera is the Bride of the Year, we also admire her beauty.”
Their wedding is shaping up to be the Philippines’ biggest in 2014, with details gradually being revealed, such as the wedding gown designer Michael Cinco.
Dingdong is handling a lot of preparation details and he is set to sing a song for his bride. Every time they discuss the wedding preparations, they become overwhelmed with emotions and often cry out of happiness.
Among the 20 principal sponsors or godparents of this wedding are GMA-7 bosses chairman Felipe Gozon and president Gilberto Duavit, Eat Bulaga show boss, Marian’s talent manager Antonio “Tony” Tuviera, Batangas Governor Vilma Santos Recto, talent manager, Startalk host and Pilipino Start Ngayon columnist Lolit Solis, TV5 executive Wilma Galvante, singer Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, singer/actor Ogie Alcasid, TV host German Moreno, fashion designer Randy Ortiz, Dingdong’s talent manager Perry Lansigan, and President Noynoy Aquino.
“Pamamanhikan” & Second Bridal Shower at Metro Alabang
The couple had their traditional Filipino “pamamanhikan” ceremony for Dingdong and family, seeking permission from Marian’s family to marry her at the future bride’s home in Bacoor, Cavite last Sept. 17. Home-cooked dishes were prepared to mark the pamamanhikan ceremony. The famous bride-to-be is expected to celebrate with a series of bridal showers.
Marian’s second bridal shower marked the grand launch of the “Metro Gift Registry” for couples about to get married, a service to be made available at Metro Alabang Zapote Road in Muntinlupa City, Metro Market! Market! in Bonifacio Global in Taguig City, Metro Angeles at Marquee Mall in Angeles City and Metro Ayala Center in Cebu City.
The event was hosted by Metro Retail Stores Group officials led by chairman and CEO Frank Gaisano, with former congresswoman and now Metro vice president for corporate affairs Anna Marie Periquet as emcee, and Marian as the guest of honor.
After leading the gift ribbon untying ceremony at Metro Alabang’s Metro Gift Registry Lounge (also the first-ever electronic-based registry wherein clients can opt to choose diverse products through an exclusively programmed Tablet or an LCD Pedestal located in the lounge), Marian received gifts from 23 different companies which included Hana Shampoo and Champion detergent maker Peerless Lion Corp. of the Tiu family gifting her a free trip to Pangalusian island.
Hana Shampoo was represented by Peerless Lion vice president Jasper Tiu. Among the other gift givers with top executives present were Kopiko distributor Tridharma Marketing Corp. chief operating officer Francis Moral, and Samsung Philippines business unit director for digital appliances D. J. Kim.
At the festive event — where no media interviews were allowed except for a short one with Lhar Santiago for her home network GMA-7 — the bride-to-be was greeted by well-wishers, Metro officers and staff, and others.
Social media chronicling events and details leading to this wedding
During the event, Marian asked Anna Periquet if the latter has an Instagram account, Periquet laughed and replied that she doesn’t have any social media account but uses only Viber on her mobile phone. Marian said that she’d share that experience on her Instragram account and said that she hopes to someday invite Anna for dinner at her Makati condominium.
After that event, Marian indeed posted on Instagram her gratitude to all those who surprised her with that happy celebration at Metro Alabang. She posted: “Hanggang ngayon e naka smile ako sa surprise ninyo sa akin... ang sarap sa pakiramdam ng pag papahalaga na pinaramdam ninyo kanina. (Up to now I’m still smiling due to your surprise for me… The feeling is so wonderful, this importance you have made me feel). To Anna Marie Periquet, thank you for your sweetness, my friend… Whaaaa Ang dami nyo regalo sa akin! Walang gangggang pasasalamat sa pagmamahal ninyo. (Eternal gratitude for your love… She then posted three heart images.) God bless all of you! Muah (She then posted an image of a red lips kiss mark) #2ndBridalShowerNiYan.”
Advance congratulations to “Bride of the Year” actress Marian Rivera and her “Groom of the Year” actor Dingdong Dantes for their much-awaited forthcoming “Wedding of the Year”!
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