At wedding of the year: Glo, Erap friendly but briefly

CEBU, Philippines - It was certainly the wedding of the year — this coming together as man and wife between Christina Esperanza Garcia Codilla and Vincent Franco Frasco — not just in Cebu but perhaps in the entire country as well.

And it was not just because of the veritable Who’s Who guest list that made the ceremony at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral and the reception that followed at the Cebu International Convention Center a huge security nightmare, or the sparing of no expense to ensure its astounding success.

More than anything else, it was the strange and surprising things that happen when you bring lovers and other strangers together that bring out the significance of the moment, and in fact tend to overshadow the vows of love and commitment that bound two young souls together.

Near the end of the Mass, when main celebrant Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, the archbishop of Cebu, asked everyone to show each other the sign of peace, it was Estrada who took the initiative by approaching Arroyo and offering his hand in a gesture of peace.

Arroyo graciously took it as the cameras clicked to the appreciation of the congregation.

Earlier, before the start of the ceremony, the eyes of Arroyo and Estrada met and Estrada gave the president a polite nod, to which Arroyo acknowedged with a polite smile.

The bride, Maria Esperanza Christina, is a young lawyer, the second child of Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia through her marriage to Eufrocinio Codilla Jr. of Ormoc City.

The groom, Vincent Franco Frasco, is the young US-bred mayor of the town of Liloan, and son of that town’s former late mayor Panphil “Dodong Daku” Frasco.

Arroyo and Estrada were sponsors, as were Vice President Noli de Castro and Senator Loren Legarda, who both ran against each other for the vice presidency in 2004, a contest that ended bitterly for the two former broadcasters.

According to some observers, the list of sponsors and guests was so heavy it could virtually cause thunder.

Consider such names, aside from those already mentioned, as Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, former senator Ernesto Maceda, Rep. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, Tourism Undersecretary Phineas Alburo, businessmen Roberto Aboitiz, Michel Lhuillier, Carlos and Mariguita Salimbangon Yeung, Antique Governor Salvacion Perez, GSIS president Winston Garcia, Reps. Pablo Garcia, Pablo John Garcia, Benhur Salimbangon and Antonio Cuenco, to name just a few.

In his homily, Cardinal Vidal said that “no matter what family you come from, whether from a prominent political clan or from an ordinary working class family, all weddings are the same. It is a bond between man and woman, made by God in His own image to sanctify human love and to share His divine power of creating the human person.”

Vidal said that “coming from political families on both sides, you have the added responsibility of living and loving well for the sake of your people. Let no politics get in the way of your love for each other and for your children. Remember, you may be in office for sometime, but you will be married till death do you part.”

The cardinal reminded Christina and Duke that “power may be a heady brew for one who is intoxicated with it, but in the twilight of one’s years, it is the family who stays with you, who will take care of you, long after your constituents have forgotten you.”

Both Arroyo and Estrada went out the church together while De Castro and Legarda followed them after the ceremony.

Spectators saw Estrada hold the left hand of Arroyo as he escorted her to her vehicle. People applauded lustily at the spectacle.

Arroyo however did not join Estrada and the newlyweds at the CICC for the reception.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde told reporters the president was not attending the wedding feast in deference to the 10-day period of mourning she declared at the passing away of former president Corazon Aquino.

Instead, the president went to Canduman, Mandaue City to check the status of a bridge project there.

Governor Garcia thanked both Arroyo and Estrada for their graciousness in accepting the invitation.

“Let’s give them the credit. It’s a chance for us to start again,” Garcia said.

As to the wedding, the governor said she was very happy that her daughter found the right man for her.

The touching of base between Arroyo and Estrada was the third of such magnitude between political foes of consequence in just a matter of one week.

During the wake of former president Corazon Aquino, the two children of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos — Bongbong and Imee — showed up and were civilly received by some members of the Aquino family.

Then Arroyo also paid a visit to the wake and was similarly received by Senator Noynoy Aquino.

It would seem that this year, whether in a wedding or in a funeral, the chance for peace has become very possible. (/JST)(THE FREEMAN)