Guess who cried at the wedding
It’s not unusual for parents (especially of the bride as they are giving her away) and guests to cry at weddings. Sometimes, the bride does cry, too, never mind if her tears can ruin her make-up.
Guess who cried at the wedding of Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas, 37, and Yasmine Espiritu, 29, last Sunday afternoon, July 23, at the Manila Cathedral — first the groom, followed by the bride. The wedding was officiated by Fr. Adolfo Dacanay, SJ, Alfred’s Theology teacher at Ateneo where Alfred graduated with a B.S. Management-Economics degree.
“Fr. Adolfo delivered a moving homily,” confessed Alfred, “and I was so touched. He is my spiritual adviser and he was the one who baptized our daughters.”
Yasmine wore a gown by Cary Santiago and Alfred was in a suit given to him as a gift by Francis Libiran.
“We waited for seven years for the church wedding because I had to save for it,” said Alfred.
The couple was married in civil rites on Aug. 16, 2010, at the Supreme Court officiated by then Chief Justice Renato Corona. The affair was kept under wraps, with only a handful as witnesses. Alfred proposed for the second time at the darkened garden of a Quezon City restaurant, lit up as soon as the couple entered the venue and walked on roses-covered red carpet toward a table for two. Like the first time, Alfred fell on his knees to ask Yasmine’s hand in marriage, this time in Catholic rites.
It was Yasmine (half-Filipino/ half-Italian who was born and raised in Italy) who chose the venue for last Sunday’s wedding. She recalled that during one of her vacations here, she was brought by a relative to a wedding at the Manila Cathedral.
“I don’t know why I cried and cried even if I didn’t know who were being married personally,” recalled Yasmine. “I told myself, ‘This is where I want to get married.’”
The couple has two daughters, Alexandra and Aryana, who served as Flower Girls at the star-studded wedding.
Before proceeding to the reception at the Rigodon Ballroom of Manila Peninsula, Alfred first went to Congress for the joint session for the request of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte to extend the Martial Law in Mindanao (which was approved without much ado).
Incidentally, Kris Aquino, one of the Principal Sponsors, arrived at the Manila Cathderal a few minutes before the ceremony so she didn’t bump into rumored boyfriend Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista (a Secondary Sponsor with Q.C. Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte) who stayed on the sidelines obviously to avoid Kris. After the ceremony,
Kris didn’t attend the reception and went straight home, submerged herself still in her Michael Leyva gown in the swimming pool, cheered on by her son Bimby. It was a variation of what Halle Berry did after she attended the Academy Awards; she took off her Versace gown and dived naked into the pool.
Since he’s busy, Alfred said that he and Yasmine will first have a “minimoon” this weekend at El Nido, Palawan.
“We will have another honeymoon abroad next year, just the two of us,” added Alfred.
Asked if he and Yasmine would start on their third child at El Nido, Alfred laughed.
“We will try.”
(E-mail reactions at entphilstar@yahoo.com. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www. philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @ therealrickylo.)