Charlie Velasco & Isabel Celdran Jarque: Love affair in Madrid leads to a wedding in Cebu

My parents started it all almost 66 years ago. My married siblings, myself included, gladly followed suit when we decided there was no other way to go — but to have a small and family-centered wedding. During the recent holidays, my Madrid-based niece, Isabel Celdran Jarque, who married Charlie Velasco, happily joined in the family’s tradition.

 We all had intimate wedding rites, with only the immediate family in attendance. There were a few exceptions, like in my parent’s case, when a warden, together with his only prisoner in tow, was requested to be present or else the count of guests would have been the not-so-lucky number 13. And in Isabel’s case, the exception was Amaya Aboitiz, her maid of honor also her best friend since childhood in Cebu. Both are now residents of Spain’s capital city.

 True admirers of promptness and sincere believers of punctuality, everyone arrived before the designated time, filled up the pews of the cozy little chapel of the Archbishop’s Palace of Cebu, where we have a cardinal in residence, the well-respected, much-loved Ricardo Cardinal Vidal.

 When the bridal procession was about to begin and the family members stood at their assigned places, only then did we realize that the capilla was almost completely empty, except for the two grandmothers, my mom Adela  Jarque and Tita Viling Celdran, and the grooms mom Artemia Velasco  beaming. Believe it or not, almost all the guests were part of the entourage. 

 Leading the way was the groom Charlie and his brother and best man, Juan Paolo Velasco. They were immediately followed by the secondary sponsors, Joyce and George Chiongbian for the candle; Paco and Monique Jarque for the veil; the author Honey Jarque Loop and her son Eduard Loop for the cord. The flower girl was five-month-old Tamara Alaina Jarque while the ring bearer and coin bearer were Alonzo Chiongbian and Sebastian   Head.

 The bridesmaids were sisters of the bride Chaveli Head and Miren Jarque and cousin Mariana Chiongbian. The principal sponsors included the bride’s godfather Eduardo Jarque and her  Tita Lehn Jarque, uncle Ramon Jarque and aunt Lourdes Ansaldo. The officiating priest was a dear family friend, Fr. Vicente Tupas Jr.

 Isabel beautiful as a bride, walked down the aisle with proud parents Francisco and Marilen Jarque. She wore an off-white lace short dress while Charlie opted for a piña barong Pilipino. After the meaningful wedding, we all proceeded to Marco Polo Plaza Hotel for an intimate lunch.

 Two weeks later, a reception, muy familiar with only close relatives and dear friends in attendance, was held at the Granada Room of the family’s favorite venue the Casino Español de Cebu, where the paternal great grandfather of the bride was one of the founders in 1920.

 The sumptuous dinner buffet included the club’s specialties such as lengua, bacalao, roasted Angus beef, lasagña and paella.  

 Guests danced the marvelous night away to music from the ’70s to the present. The couple surprised the invitees with home made mango jam my mom is known for as their giveaways.

 Charlie and Isabel gave short speeches and thanked their parents, relatives and friends for all their love and support.