The couple’s magical wedding – which could rival any royal wedding – took place in the grandiose St. James the Great Parish Church in way uptown Alabang, dahlings.
The attractive bride, dahlings, is as blue-blooded as blue-blooded can be this side of the globe. Her mother, vibrant civic-oriented socialite Ching de las Alas Montinola belongs to one of the country’s old-wealth society familles. Neny’s father is well-liked magnum businessman Sergio Montinola, whose famille traces its roots to the glory days of the South’s sugar barons. And at risk of sounding corny, dahlings, that ain’t hay!
The groom’s stunningly gorgeous mother, meanwhile, Baby Serrano of the well-respected landed Serrano clan and Bicol’s noted beauties, belongs to Cosmo Manille’s alta cafe sociedad.
Mandy Boy’s father, mega businessman and former international car racer Armando "Mandy" Eduque Jr., comes from the illustrious Ledesma and Eduque familles. Mandy Boy’s paternal grandmother was the late internationally renowned society figure, Elvira Manahan.
The union was a blessed and sentimental occasion for both familles whose ties stretch back to three generations. Neny’s late aunt and namesake and the groom’s late grandfather were gang mates who moved in the same high society circles. Both must have smiled from the heavens with approval, palanggas.
Neny was definitely a sight to behold in an absolutely exquisite Pepito Albert shantung gown as she walked down the aisle to the music of Bernie Pasamba. The masterpiece, which showed off the bride’s bare back, was held together by stretch tulle and strategically sprinkled with Austrian crystals. The 20-ft. long train and floor- length veil had that touch of elegance fit for a queen.
The bride and her father both shed tears as he handed her over to the proud and smiling groom, palanggas, who beamed with pride and was also obviously emotional.
Even the namedroppable sponsors were virtual royalty themselves: former President Fidel Ramos and ultra glamorous patroness of the arts, Imelda Cojuangco; Benito Araneta and former Philippine Ambassador to Spain Isabel Wilson; international businessman Patrick Parsons and socialite Menchu Concepcion; BPI’s hotshot Aurelio Montinola III and concerned citizen and society lady Mercy Tuason; Rustan’s top-of-the-line gent, Bienvenido Tantoco III and Stock Market queen Vivian Yuchengco; and Constantino Manahan Jr. with cyber-smart Ruby Meyer.
The lady sponsors were elegantly attired in shades of green (the color motif), just like the secondary and junior participants who completed the eye-catching entourage.
The gorgeous voice of Erica Concepcion and Ogie Alcasid entranced the invitees. The duo made excellent music together which summed up the newlywed couple’s feelings for one another.
It was crystal clear to everyone, dahlings, how the groom paid endless attention to his bride throughout the ceremony. This was capped by hot kisses he romantically showered on his new wife, which elicited thunderous applause and howls from the chi-chi invitees who agreed that the two definitely made a stunning couple!
The grand reception was held at the extremely impressive residence of the groom’s mother, Baby Araneta and her husband, tycoon Benito "Bomboy" A. The super surprise was the huge 500-square meter air-conditioned tent which was set up to accommodate the over 600 invitees. Some were uninvited but tagged along with some guests while a few gate-crashed this wedding of weddings. Oh, well!
The tent was prepared only the day before the reception in anticipation of the rainy weather by Baby A., would you believe?
Nothing represents the celebratory nature of a wedding better than the decor, dahlings. The flowers for this wedding was exquisitely and tastefully arranged by the groom’s maternal aunt, Toni Serrano-Parsons.
The moment the guests walked into the house, they knew what kind of evening to expect – elegant with a capital "E", palanggas. The beautiful decor was restrained and refined yet intimate and elegant.
It’s a good thing the tent was set up. Besides the sprawling mansion and the enormous landscape garden being drenched by the rain, it would have been hard to squeeze an extra skinny-minnie into the house, since practically everyone had said "Yes!" to attend the wedding.
The excellently prepared dinner was catered by one of my favorite restos, La Tasca. The spread featured varieties of cheeses, finger food, aperitifs and yummy gourmet dishes as only workasonic socialite Marilou Araneta-Senn can serve. She went around endlessly till way past 2 a.m. to see to it that the buffet tables were never empty and the guests were satisfied. We sure were, palanggas!
Moi zoomed in on some of the hottest uppity-up Cosmo Manille personas: Finance Secretary Lito Camacho and his wife Kim C.; former Sen. Sotero Laurel and his elegant lady Lorna L.; Trade Secretary Mar Roxas, who had to dash off for a meeting apres the church ceremonies; dashing Jaime Augusto Zobel and his adorable wife, Lizzie E.; Ambassador Jesus Tambunting and his wife Marge Ansaldo-T.; former Ambassador Johnny Rocha and his lady Pilina Berenger-R.; Ambassador and taipan Alfonso Yuchengco; Ambassador Manny Yan and Eloy T.; mega Justice Bernardo Pardo; former Sen. Leticia Shahani; old-wealth couple, tycoon Frank Elizalde and his tall, elegant wife, head turner Pamen Roxas-E.; Ernest with Josie Rufino; moi pal Johnny Litton and one-of-a-kind lady of ladies, Tere Rufino-L.; jetsetter Nene Quimson; Ernie and Marivic Aboitiz; Oxie and Ruby Roxas; vibrant and brilliant Josie Lichauco; Jose Cuisia and his wife Vicky C.; our favorite Southern Sen. Franklin Drilon and wife, feminine-beauty Mila D.; beautiful couple Sofia and Patxi Elizalde; Secretary Renato Corona and Tina C.; one of the loveliest of the guests, Lovely Romulo; serene Lourdes Montinola; el simpatico Paco Delgado and his vivacious and fun wife, Vicky Quirino-D.; Roy Navarro; beautiful couple, respected and popular Bukidnon Gov. Joe Zubiri and his ultra-glam eye-catching wife, Vicky Fernandez-Z., a knock-out in an original Lacroix gown; Mundi Feliciano and always a regal lady Zita F.; handsome Cesar Buenaventura and attractive Bambina B.; Benny and Bettina de Leon; OV and Marilen Espiritu; Peter and Helen Dee; tycoon Jun Tambunting and danceable Nancy Carlos T.; Andy Liboro and vibrant, adorable Tereret L.; Nando Vasquez Prada; Gov. Rodolfo and Inday del Rosario; millionaire Rep. Renato Dragon and his wife, socialite Yaying D.; Equitable Card Network chairman Bobby Romulo with his wife, Southern lady Olivia Martinez-R.; beautiful couple Linggoy Araneta and Connie A.; eye-catcher Lucille Raymond V. and tycoon Bert Villanueva; Offie Recto; Conchitina and Lanni Bernardo; lady of all seasons Menchu Katigbak; looking like a million dollars, Gina Bernasconi-Tuason and her husband, popular businessman and golfer Jay T.; Tony and Ruth Carpio; Teddy and Luz Benigno; restaurateur Conrad Calalang and attractive Jocelyn C.; energetic socialite Girlie Araneta-D. and hubby Lito Dayrit; Maripaz Godinez; Carol Masibay, stunning in a Pepito Albert gown; Triccie and Louie Sison; plus others like them too rich, famous and beautiful to mention, dahlings.
Having a ball were the young flashy set who drank champagne, Tequila and wine, among other party drinks. Among them were Joe and Rosanna Fores; the groom’s only sister, stunningly beautiful Samantha Eduque who looked delicious in an Inno Sotto; shipping magnate Sabin Aboitiz and Malacañang Social Secretary Bettina Araneta-A.; Rica and Jimmyton Araneta; the adorable life of any gathering, businessman Bernie Concepcion; and palanggas Melissa Aboitiz-Elizalde and Carlos E.
One of the gorgeous, eye-catching beauties of the night was Mandy de la Rama-S. in a wow (!) peek-a-boo Inno S. gown. She came with her handsome hubby, Duane Santos. Also seen were mega organizer and Dish’s popular restaurateur EJ Litton and looking great, princess of pastry Tess Aguado-Litton; super fun couple, Bobby and Joanna Dizon; stunningly beautiful Wendy Puyat; Sandy and Robert Velhagen; handsome Juan Elizalde; Maria Parsons and Goothen Patrick; Bernice Arcenas; Ana and Paolo Tuason; Luigi Sison and sister Monique; ladies’ man, good-looking Marco Eduque; adorably vibrant Tinette Ozamis-Puyat, owner of the popular Tinette and Co. Salon in Pasong Tamo Ext. and her husband Joey Puyat; Claudia Wilson-T. and hubby Miguel Tambunting; plus, plus and more pluses like them belonging to the creamiest of the cream pack. Now, that’s as creamy as one can get, dahlings.
Needless to say, the favorite mega couturier that night was definitely Pepito A. Among those who donned his creations were the groom’s mother Baby S. (a celadon serpentine gown with light embroidered vine creeping up from the hem); moi palangga, sultry Marilen Santos-C., who was a sight to behold in a pale, pale, printed green chiffon gown; head turner Maricris Vasquez-Prada, who wore a fire engine red chiffon gown; eye-catching Carolyn Masibay in an emerald green one; Linda Lagdameo who looked elegant in a play of chocolate brown chiffon; ChuChu Madrigal Eduque who looked soft as a baby in pink blush mousseline; Tinette O.-P. in a brown and orange mix-match of chiffon; Menchu Concepcion who looked feminine in piña lined in green; and glamorous Gina de Venecia in a strapless cocktail outfit. You would have loved seeing them!
The all formally attired chosen invitees, dahlings, were mostly from the country’s old-society famille or were intimate relatives and close pals who clearly shared the joy with people they cared about and who braved the foul weather and distance just to join in the celebration.
The nicest sight moi saw was that of the groom’s father (now married to hardworking fashionably slim heiress, ChuChu Madrigal) and his mom, Baby S. (now married to tycoon Bomboy Araneta), holding hands as they went to the patio. Baby explained to Mandy how she wanted the reception to be held in the well-manicured garden had it not rained. How beautiful it was to see personas so civil with each other after a failed marriage! If only other former couples could follow their0 example. Oh well!
Apres the traditional toasts and touching speeches, the floor was opened for rock and rolling till you dropped or wobbled out. The social pack then succumbed to dance fever, dahlings. Moi fave personas Bibot Nolan, Inno S. and Pepito A. cut loose on the dance floor. Dancing was such fun many guests were still at it until apres 4 a.m.
This momentous event was clearly just a preview of Mandy and Neny Eduque’s love, happiness and togetherness for the years to come.
Cheers, palanggas!