The wedding of Chris and Carla

CEBU, Philippines - Christopher McKowen and Carla Marie S. Yeung had THE most beautiful wedding that ever happened in Cebu.  It was truly a fabulous wedding like no other!

Carla is the daughter of Hong Kong business magnate Carlos K.H. Yeung and philanthropist Mariquita Salimbangon Yeung while Chris is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Graham McKowen of England.

So pretty was the bride Carla in her Monique Lhuillier bridal gown as she gracefully walked down the marvelously decorated aisle of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral in the arms of her Dad Carlos. The good-looking benedict Chris was dapper in his dark suit as he waited for his bride to arrive at the chancel of the altar with his best man Oliver Browne. As Mom Mariquita, escorted by only son Martin Philip, marched towards the altar, unbelievably but true, all the invited guests and foreign visitors gave a thunderous applause and standing ovation to the beautiful and bejeweled  mother of the bride, an act that never ever happened in any wedding before.

An A-List of principal sponsors was headed by former Phil. President Joseph Ejercito Estrada paired with Congresswoman Imelda R. Marcos. The rest of the principal sponsors were:  Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Governor Gwendolyn F. Garcia; Senator Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and Mrs. Edna D. Lhuillier; Ambassador Philippe J. Lhuillier and Mrs. Susan D. Casden; Congressman Benhur L. Salimbangon and Mrs. Amparito L. Lhuillier; Mayor Jejomar Erwin “JunJun” C. Binay and Miss Laarni E. Enriquez; Mayor Michael L. Rama and Mrs. Elizabeth R. Quisumbing;  Honorary Consul Michel J. Lhuillier and Mrs. Reno Sondhi; Dr. William P. Magee Jr. and Miss Marguerite J. Lhuillier; Mr. Pratapp Sondhi and Mrs. Janice Z. Salimbangon; Mr. Francis Chan and Mrs. Felicia A. Salimbangon; and Mr. Cesar L. Salimbangon and Dr. Vivina C. Yrastorza.

In the entourage were: Oliver Browne- best man and Jewelle Marlie Yeung – maid of honor; Groomsmen – Martin Philip Yeung, Amandeep Mann, Ross Baron, Mark Haley, David Fairly,  Cyrus Cookson, Richard Poulson, Go Matsusaki, Karam Sondhi,  Toto Chan, Max Epple; Bridesmaids: Lilly Cookson, Noor Al Harri, Jerika Ejercito, Vivian Wong, Claudia Desouza, Gisela Salimbangon, Lauren Salimbangon, Marian Grace Quitevis, Susan Wong, Chichi Sasaki, Dhannise Salimbangon.

The secondary sponsors were: Mr. John Henri Lhuillier and Mrs. Bea Lhuillier – candle; Mr. Jonathan Gazi and Mrs. Shelley Gazi –cord; Mayor Duke Frasco and Atty. Christina Garcia Frasco – veil. Martin Salimbangon – ring bearer; Zachy Salimbangon – coin bearer, Sebastian Lhuillier- Bible bearer. Flower girls were: Mimi and Audrey Salimbangon, and Dominique Lhuillier.

Immediately after the wedding rites officiated by His Eminence Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal, cocktails followed at the Mediterranean Room of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino. After which, dinner was held at the Pacific Grand Ballroom of the same hotel. The grand ballroom was bedecked with flowers flown in from Hong Kong and Holland, and Teresin Mendezona, art designer par excellence, outdid herself with the gorgeous decoration and extraordinary and exquisite flower arrangement she designed,  making the hall look like paradise on earth.

Two days after the grand wedding celebration, friends of the Yeungs from Hong Kong, London and India  were given a get-to-know-you dinner at their well-manicured lawn at Villa Mariquita. It was also a sort-of party for the newlyweds Chris and Carla, who were to have their extended honeymoon in Europe and other parts of the globe.

To dear Chris and Carla, congratulations and best wishes, and may the good Lord  bless you with His love, harmony and happiness always! (FREEMAN)