‘A best friend makes an ideal partner’

When they first met while working for a British life insurance company, Michael "Mike" Mendoza and Karen Manzo didn’t really get along. In fact, they started out not liking each other in the workplace. This was rather odd considering they worked in the same division. He was in the Training Department and she in the Business Development and Market Research Unit, both under Marketing Division.

"I really found her too brash and a bit too vain," confesses Mike. "That got to me."

On the other hand, Karen says, "Mike came across as being too arrogant and teeming with overconfidence. We really didn’t get along at all. We hated each other."

Things started to change when they were asked to emcee the company’s annual Christmas party. "We started to warm up to each other." After that, they were part of the team that organized the company’s sales convention in Boracay. At that point, they were becoming good friends, confiding in one another.

But they were seeing other people. They never thought they would end up together, so they thought. But destiny had other plans. In September 1999, both of them were unattached again. "I wouldn’t let the opportunity pass, she was already a good, close friend. Best friends make the ideal partners in life," adds Mike.

They started going out. They even tried to keep it a secret from the rest of the office. They became a couple in January 2000 and got engaged in May 2002.

Just a month ago, the couple sealed their love for each other. The wedding was a gathering of relatives as well as close friends. The venue for the church ceremony was the Saint James Church in Ayala Alabang where Mike has been a parishioner since 1988. Amidst a periwinkle blue and white motif, radiant and blooming in a beautiful white beaded-gown by famed couturier, Renee Salud, and hairstyling and makeup by the famous Kei Pagtakhan, Karen walked down the aisle.

A reception with a butterfly-inspired theme immediately followed at the Main Ballroom of the newly-opened Palms Country Club in Laguna Heights, Filinvest, Alabang. Elegant and brimming with love, the couple was greeted by a standing ovation. Real bubbles floated and confetti filled the venue as the couple walked towards their ornately designed canopy. The Bernie Pasamba Strings provided the music for the night.

The release of over 150 butterflies highlighted the night. But before the guests released each butterfly, they were first asked to make a wish for the couple.

Later, laughter filled the air as the groom’s best man and brother, Milty Mendoza made a hilarious but revealing speech about his brother. Song numbers followed from Karen’s niece, Georgene Sales and two of the groom’s good friends, Meynard Peñalosa and Poppet Morta who sang the couple’s favorite love songs. Guests became teary-eyed as the bride’s mother, Linda Manzo and the groom’s mother, SAVP of Philippine Airlines Marilou Mendoza delivered emotional speeches.

Capping the evening, Karen rendered a surprise song number upon the request of the groom’s mother.S he dedicated the song to Mike and his family.

Among the principal sponsors were Cayetano Paderanga Jr., Philippine director of the ADB; PAL president Avelino Zapanta; investment banker Rolando Gapud, who flew in just for the wedding; businessman James Ong; Ayala Life Group of Companies marketing director Anthony Parungao; PRU Life U.K. branch manager Henry Gocuan; engineer George Sales, owner and president of Digital Telecommunications System (DTS); Banco Filipino VP Rosie Tacolod; and former head of PAL’s customer relations, Sonia Batucan.

The other sponsors who flew in from as far as Vancouver and New York to celebrate with the couple were grand aunt Gloria Torralballa, Nila Tomayao, Dolly Manzo and Amelia Rasalan.

It was indeed a night worth remembering. The ambience, the gathering of true friends and relatives, the genuine love that filled the air made Mike and Karen’s union truly meaningful and memorable.

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