21 flower girls, 22 sponsors for Shalani

MANILA, Philippines - Twenty-two principal sponsors and 21 flower girls will make up the bulk of the wedding entourage when Valenzuela City councilor Shalani Soledad meets her groom, Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo, by the altar of St. Benedict Church in Ayala Westgrove Heights in Santa Rosa City on Jan. 22.

The STAR erroneously reported yesterday that the wedding was to be held last night. What Soledad and Romulo had last night was a pre-wedding celebration for 500 people at the main lounge of Manila Polo Club in Makati City.

The party was thrown for local government officials and public school principals and teachers from Pasig City and Valenzuela City.

At the sunset wedding that will commence at 5 p.m., Soledad will be given away by her parents Adolfo Aguirre and Evelyn Soledad-Yumol.

“But that is still subject to change,” a source told The STAR.

In lieu of gifts, Soledad and Romulo asked their guests to donate to the victims of tropical storm “Sendong.”

A powerhouse of 22 principal sponsors from business, political and social circles will witness the union of Soledad and Romulo on Sunday. The 11 pairs of sponsors are: Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Gretchen del Rosario; PLDT-Smart-TV 5 chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan and Norma Ona; Sen. Panfilo Lacson and Corazon Ong; Emilio Yap and former Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar; Ambassador Antonio Cabangon-Chua and Betty Chua; San Miguel president Ramon Ang and Bettina Aboitiz; Roberto del Rosario and Elizabeth Gan-Go; James Sy Gaisano and Lily Lee; Felix Tuikinhoy Jr. and Maria Jessica Bautista; Manuel Dy and Natividad Cheng; and Bench founder Ben Chan and Janet Napoles.

Some 700 guests are expected to attend the wedding of Soledad and Romulo on Sunday. Reception will be held at the Evoliving Center Dockside in Nuvali, Santa Rosa City.

Romulo’s best friend, J. Antonio Cabangon, is the best man while Soledad’s best friend, Joy Marie Castellvi, is the matron of honor.

Romulo’s groomsmen include the groom’s brother Erwin, Davao del Norte Rep. Antonio Lagdameo, Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas, George Rafael Lorenzana and Dante Soliven.

Soledad’s bridesmaids are Catherine May Hervas, Annaliza Jacinto, Ma. Lourdes Romero, Monica Garcia and Diamond Villar.

Romulo’s sisters Guadalupe, Montserrat and Bernadette will be secondary sponsors. Guadalupe and Carlo Fernando Soledad are candle sponsors; Montserrat and Martel Francisco Soledad are veil sponsors; and Bernadette and Ramonell Soledad are cord sponsors.

The wedding invitations, done by Prinsonalities, were only distributed last Monday. Wedding coordination is done by The Bride’s Maids & Co.