“How long does it have to take for one to fall in love?
Do I have to wait forever to know that love is true?
Do I have to waste a lifetime without you,
When all I need’s a moment.” — These are the first few lines of the customized wedding song “In A Moment”, especially written to tell the love story of Atty. Philip Landicho and Ms. Mae Ann Araneta.
While so much preoccupied in his own law firm specializing in corporate and business law, lawyer Philip Landicho takes time out to perform in some corporate shows. He has done some with no less than the country’s top performers such as Raki Vega and Apple Abarquez and not to mention his first solo concert “Songs From The Heart” sponsored by the different Rotary clubs in Cebu in which he launched a couple of songs he has written. Aside from playing musical instruments, Philip started to become serious in musical theater in 2001.
Meanwhile, Mae Ann Araneta, a teacher by profession, never detached herself from the musical theater. This was a passion which started in 1996 and led her to perform with local, national and even international artists such as Keith Martin, Isabella, Radha, and Guji Lorenzana in “Believe: The Pop Musical.”
The couple first met when Philip portrayed the role of the father of St. Bernadette in the musical play the “Song of Bernadette,” produced by the Archdiocese of Cebu some two years ago and Mae Ann played the role of the mother. Call it fate but for the second time around, the couple were paired in another musical play “Siddhartha: The Musicale.” Philip got the role of the king while Mae Ann was the queen.
Indeed, their love for music and the performing arts became the bridge to a lifetime commitment, not to mention a lot of things that they have in common including their habits and interests, which they discovered as they traveled to different places together.
And so they both decided to tie the knot last December 12, 2009 at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral. It was the very first time the Cathedral celebrated a wedding Mass as early as 5:30 A.M. which was officiated by Parish Priest Monsignor Boy Alesna, concelebrated by San Nicolas’ priests Fr. Raul Go and Fr. Trinidad Silva, and two other priests from the Cathedral.
The bride was radiant in her Jed Sevilla masterpiece while the groom was dashing in a cream tux by Jed, too. Rey Vergara did Mae Anne’s hair and make-up while Philip’s grooming was by Ramil Solis. The whole wedding entourage looked elegant, dressed according to the wedding’s motif of red and champagne gold. Friends of the couple from the CNU Chorale and the theater composed the choir for that very special morning. Nino Banares headed the musical ensemble of violins, keyboards and an organ to accompany the choir.
En route to the Fort San Pedro breakfast reception, the newlyweds were transported by a beautifully-adorned “calesa.” A rondalla headed by Mrs. Auxie Verdida entertained the guests that early and cool December morn.
The wedding celebration didn’t stop there. A formal dinner reception took place in the evening at the Victoria Hall of the Cebu Parklane International Hotel. As the couple entered the venue, an original song, In A Moment, sung and pre-recorded by the groom, was played – a gift for his bride, a surprise he thought of a few months before the wedding. It was a moment that almost everyone got teary-eyed. Then, the bride took the microphone and revealed to everyone that she too prepared something for her groom, another original song, Each And Every Word, which touched Philip so much that made him burst into tears, as well. Awit Awardee Jude Gitamondoc also made two different songs for both the bride and the groom with Jad Bantug as musical arranger. As expected, given that both Philip and Mae Anne are singers and musicians, the night turned out to be a night of music with the help of the Adlib Band and some friends. ABS-CBN’s Kapamilya Winner Ka’s Roy Empleo and ABS-CBN Pinoy Dream Academy’s Apple Abarquez, were the night’s hosts.
Two different souls bonded by one single love. That’s Atty. Philip and Mae Anne.
So, how long does it take for one to fall in love? The answer is…IN A MOMENT.
Congratulations and Best Wishes! Cheers!