Wedding bells ring at Christmastime

Let us cap the end of 2006 with romance and welcome the new year with positive energy and love in our hearts. For one brief, shining moment, let us forget the harsh realities and problems of the world we live in and allow ourselves to sink into a reverie.

In the make-believe world of Camelot, a prince charming, Victor, took a lovely princess, Lisa, as his lawfully wedded wife.

Weddings put me in this kind of mood, especially when the setting is as romantic as the Coconut Palace, with a view of the majestic Manila Bay during sunset. One could almost feel the presence of God in all His glory, pouring abundant blessings on Victor Bernardo and his bride, Lisa Gallaga, who are about to start a life together. The numerous guests enjoying the moment with Victor and Lisa felt the same way while they toasted the couple, wishing them all the happiness ahead of them.

The Archbishop of Tuguegarao, Diosdado Talamayan (a longtime friend of Victor’s parents, Ambassador to Spain Joseph Bernardo, and his wife, Conchitina Sevilla Bernardo), officiated the high mass at the historical Malate Church, where the couple exchanged their vows. The ceremony was very significant as the Archbishop knew the groom since infancy.

The church was very elegant but simple in its décor. Florist Jun Hen crafted lilliums, orchids and cymbidiums to decorate the aisle. On the altar, he put huge green planters wrapped with tulle. The bridal entourage had bouquets made of the same flowers and wore gowns of chocolate brown with baby blue accents. The bride was radiant in a Pitoy Moreno Chantilly lace gown with a long, sweeping train. Her headdress was the same diamond heirloom that her mother-in-law wore at her wedding some 40 years ago.

The principal female sponsors included President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Nene Quimson, Vicky Zubiri, Marybeth de Leon, Sylvia Ibazeta, Ma. Isabel Michilakis and Vida Estrella. Male sponsors were Speaker Jose de Venezia, Carlos Araneta, Ambassadors Roberto Romulo and Albert del Rosario, Renato de Castro and Federico Galang. Marichelle Ligon of Bride’s Maids and Company organized the wedding reception.

As in all weddings, the moment of truth arrived when friends and family shared their nostalgic, often funny anecdotes about the couple. Best man Juan Carlos Bernardo and maids of honor San—J Valenton and Nicole Guidoti gave heartwarming speeches that touched everybody’s hearts. The bride and groom were teary-eyed but beaming with happiness all throughout.

Victor is the youngest child of Joseph and Conchitina, and is a young executive in the insurance company Mercer’s. Lisa is a schoolteacher for young children in a school aptly named Toddler’s. She is the daughter of Aru Gallaga and the late Nena Ibazeta. The couple flew to Bangkok and El Nido for their honeymoon.

To Victor and Lisa, we raise our glasses and wish you a happy married life filled with joy and peace.