MANILA, Philippines – Television host Cesca Litton claimed her planned wedding at the Balesin Island Club was bumped off to accommodate the wedding of newly engaged couple Heart Evangelista and Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero.
A few days after Escudero proposed to Heart, Facebook user Ria Gamboa criticized the Balesin Island Club for bumping off the wedding of her friend in the said venue to prioritize the wedding of a celebrity-politician couple.
Many netizens believe the said “celebrity-politician couple” was Heart and Chiz, while the bride whose wedding was bumped off was Cesca.
On the Tuesday, September 2 episode of ABS-CBN's late night talk show “Aquino and Abunda Tonight,” Cesca confirmed through a statement that the subject of the viral Facebook post was indeed her planned wedding.
Cesca said in the statement that she and fiance Kyle Kalaw “went to the island in May and inquired if Feb. 14, 2015 was still available and they said yes.” But they were later informed they date is no longer available.
“It came as a surprise when I receive a phone call from my coordinator just last Saturday that Chiz and Heart have been approved for February 14 after they have spoken to the owner Mr. Ongpin to reserve the date," she said.
Her statement read: “My fiancé and I got engaged in April and decided to make Balesin the venue of our wedding. We went to the island in May and inquired if Feb. 14, 2015 was still available and they said yes.
"We did the first round of oculars with two staff members of Balesin, told them we want the ceremony in the chapel, cocktails in Balesin sala and reception at Toscana Village.
"We went back to Balesin just last month along with our coordinator and stylist and did a second round of oculars, food tasting, plan table lay-out and sat down with managers to discuss logistics and rooming and again clarified that February 14 is available. It came as a surprise when I receive a phone call from my coordinator just last Saturday that Chiz and Heart have been approved for February 14 after they have spoken to the owner Mr. Ongpin to reserve the date," she added.
"Had we known that all it took was a phone call to the owner, then perhaps none of these formalities should have been followed. In all our trips to Balesin, and discussions with management, asking to reserve Feb. 14 2015, we were always told it was always available. We would not have invested time and money including flying out our coordinator and stylist had they informed us that the venue was booked from the beginning.”
In an interview with members of the press on Monday, September 1, Heart denied bumping off another wedding in Balesin in favor for her wedding with Chiz.
“Actually, I think it’s really unfair that there are people on Facebook... and the way they say it na parang they know all the details. There’s no truth to it. I think that’s the best way that I could answer. In fact, if they really wanna look into it, go ahead and check Balesin,” she said.
Heart added, “We’re not like that. This is the best day of our lives, I’m a bride-to-be, she’s a bride-to-be, who would do that to any bride-to-be. There’s no truth to it and I hope ma-iron out nila. You wouldn’t want to be sad on the day you’re supposed to be happy.”
Chiz, in an interview with Senate reporters on Tuesday, September 2, also denied involvement. “Sa parte namin, ni wala pa kaming pinal na petsa o lugar. Paano naman kami magiging dahilan at madadamay sa issue na 'yan,” he said.
Roberto Ongpin, owner of the Balesin Island Club, said in a statement on Tuesday, September 2 that he invited Heart and Chiz to hold their wedding at the resort upon checking if there are no confirmed wedding booked on February 14.
"I was therefore very pleased when Chiz and Heart called me a few weeks ago to tell me that they had finally decided on Balesin as their wedding venue. As many of you know, both Chiz and Heart have been friends of mine for some time now. Balesin is one of their favorite places and they go there quite often with their families and friends," Ongpin said in a statement.
"After receiving the confirmation from Chiz and Heart, I immediately checked with our Reservations people who told me that nobody had actually confirmed February 14 as of that time, so I told them to block it off. So, nobody has been "bumped off."
According to reports published Wednesday, Heart and Chiz will hold their wedding at the Balesin Island Club on February 15, 2015.