REACHING GOLD
50 years of marriage is a milestone that must be celebrated and Maritess and Susing Pineda did theirs by looking back on the memories collected through the years
The granddaughter of the politician Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez, Maritess R. Mendoza, married the banker Jesus “Susing” Pineda on her parents’ silver wedding anniversary 50 years ago. So, on the younger couple’s silver anniversary, their parents were celebrating their golden. On this occasion, the two couples held a grand joint celebration at the Manila Hotel, complete with a cotillon participated in by each other’s set of friends.
4 December 2018 could have been another huge joint celebration, with the Pinedas’ golden and the Mendozas’ diamond anniversaries. But sadly, Maritess’ parents have passed away.
Family and friends, however, made sure this milestone would be as memorable for the well-loved and well-known couple. It was filled with nostalgia as Maritess wore a terno by Patis Tesoro out of a material her mother had saved for an occasion such as this. “It must be at least 50 years old!” said Maritess. Collaborating with Zarah Juan, Tesoro had the beading done by the Bagobo Tagabawa tribe of Davao, a beneficiary of the grant from the Artefino movement of which Maritess is a trustee.
Maritess and Susing met in New York at Christmastime. She took a break from her studies at the Ciudad Ducal Avila; he was in New York for his MBA. Seven years of courtship later, they were married at the Sanctuario de San Jose in Greenhills with a reception at The Plaza restaurant in Makati, with 800 guests. She wore a gown by Ramon Valera.
The 50 years of marriage have given Maritess and Susing four children (Ria, Paolo, Carlo, and Patricia) and two grandchildren, twin girls from Paolo (Maique and Sammy).