A doubly blessed celebration

Western Batangas saw one of its grandest weddings, dahlings, when Rodolfo "Rudy" Umali Lucas and restaurateur Normita "Baby" Limjoco- Lucas’ sons Ronald Joseph "Rannie" Lucas and Rodolfo Jose "Rad" Lucas wed Kristine Leslie "Tin" Rodriguez and Ma. Crisanta "Chi" Calayag, respectively, in the grooms’ hometown of Nasugbu, Batangas.

The double wedding was also doubly fun, palanggas, as the Lucases’ friends and famille pulled out all stops to show the Batangueño brand of bayanihan and hospitality to ensure that the wedding held at the St. Francis Xavier Church and the reception at the family-owned Dalampasigan resto at the Limjoco compound went smoothly and beautifully. They certainly did, dahlings!

Rannie is a San Beda Marketing graduate, palanggas, while Rad finished Human Resource Management at De La Salle’s College of St. Benilde. Tin, the daughter of Ray Emmanuel Rodriguez and Ma. Linda Sison-Rodriguez, is a Letran Marketing graduate who is an MBA student at the Ateneo Graduate School of Business. Chi, the daughter of Cesar Calayag and Elizabeth Tupas-Calayag, finished Nursing at UST.

The officiating priests, palanggas, were led by the Most Rev. Gaudencio Rosales, the Archbishop of Lipa, the Most Rev. Buenaventura Famadico, Auxiliary Bishop of Lipa, and the Most Rev. Salvador Quizon, Auxiliary Bishop-Emeritus of Lipa. Co-celebrants were Msgr. Alberto Boongaling; Msgr. Rafael Oriondo; Fr. Raul Martinez; Fr. Ricardo Adan; Fr. Rogelio Meynardo Beredo; Fr. Greg Landicho; Fr. Luis Manuel Lucero; Fr. Roy Macatangay; Fr. Ernesto Mandanas; Fr. Godofredo Mendoza; Rad and Chi’s spiritual adviser, Fr. Dennis Paez; Fr. Richard Panganiban; Fr. Eugene Peñalosa; Fr. Joseph Rodem Ramos; Fr. Wilfredo Rosales; and Fr. Noel Salanguit. Fr. Aloysius Buensalida breezed in at the reception.

The brides and their entourage, dahlings, turned heads in outfits in varying shades of pink designed and executed by Baby Lucas. Toti and Eva Lagrosa embroidered the brides’ gowns. The heavenly voices of the San Beda Glee Club led by Tonton Africa enthralled guests during Mass. So did the music of renowned violinist, the grooms’ cousin, Joseph Esmilla accompanied by his sister Mayos Esmilla on the piano.

Dr. Dodgie Lucas was the commentator. Precious Palacios read the First Reading; Dr. Marlex Montemar, the Responsorial Psalm; Mae Borado, the Second Reading; and Adrian Grafilo, the Prayers of the Faithful.

Rannie and Tin’s principal sponsors, dahlings, were Percival Evaristo; Roberto Limjoco; Dr. Romeo Lucas; Teodoro Pastor; Rolando Quisumbing; Benigno Ruffy; Mel Verastigue; former Nasugbu Mayor Rosario Apacible; Maryanne Gustilo; Judge Herminia Lucas; Ma. Teresa Palacios; Cory Oliva-Roberto; Elenita Nadres; and Belinda Verastigue.

Rad and Chi’s principal sponsors, meanwhile, were Antonio Borja; Elmer Civil; Raymundo Cuenca; Deo Dagondon; Gaudencio Ferrer; Salvador Lota; Enrico Reyes; Ernesto Urrutia; Gigi Carlos; Belen Cordero; Marialita Gregorio; Corazon Ingeniero; Charito Rodolfo; Carmen Sibayan; Alicia Uson; and Sharon Williams.

Rannie and Tin’s entourage, dahlings, included Best Men Jose Antonio Aguas, Carlos Palacios and Lester Rodriguez; Maids of Honor, Racquel Rodriguez, Dooanne Lucas and Yvette Marie de Guzman; Groomsmen, Fritz Arota, Eric Misola, Alfred Delfin, Bobby Limjoco, Ariel Santos, Zoilo Tampadong, Stephen Quisumbing and Nasugbu Mayor Raymund Apacible; Bridesmaids, Melody Grace Bayani, Ma. Virginia Yanina Torres, Jazmine Sangalang, Jocelyn Cuenca, Rhodora Manlapaz, Heidi Limjoco, Bettina Garcia and Trina Montemar; Secondary Sponsors, Jose Antonio Cabochan and Machez Aguas (candle), John Co and Rose Marbil (veil) and Barrion Saludares and Martie Valmores (cord). Ring bearers were Lawrence Miguel; Coin Bearer, Seth Delfin; Bible Bearer, Lance Miguel; Flower Girls, Micole Picornell, Sophie Apacible, Kaye Saldaña, Illeana Nicole Capps, Chiara Kathleen Lim, Robyn Marbil and Felicia Medalla.

Rad and Chi’s secondary sponsors were Edmundo Villadolid and Ma. Christiana Calayag (candle); Enroe Villadolid and Ma. Kristina Calayag (veil); Rolando Rodolfo and Ma. Isabel Roces (cord); Groomsmen, Patrick Jay Lota, Mark Julius Uson, Vincent Dizon, Mark Edwin Tupas, Ace Reyes, Christian Grace Bayot, John Carlos Sevilla and Andres Reyes III; Bridesmaids, Ma. Prisca Perez, Arpie Mariano, Mary Grace Therese David, Jeanne Ysabel Santos, Christine Ingeniero, Ma. Kathrina Calayag, Aileen Rose Kho and Suzette Manalansan; Best Men, Earvin Calayag and Jon Lucas; Maids of Honor, Erika Calayag and Maan Lucas; Ring Bearer, Joseph Montemar; Coin Bearer, Jeremy David Civil; Bible Bearer, Bryce Montemar; Flower Girls, Mikhaela Ann Victoria, Jahn Zylke Ong, Dang Montemar, Catherine Anne Alviar, Janella Erika Urrutia, Danielle Angelique Ferrer and Ma. Trinidad Ursula Sanchez

Weeks before the event, palanggas, a working committee of close friends and relatives attended to the details of the double wedding. Over-all coordinator was engineer Rebecca Civil assisted by her hubby, Elmer. White Cove GM Bobby Montemar supervised the banquet arrangements and co-emceed the reception program with sister Ann Montemar-Oriondo. Other workasonic committee members were Leah Civil; Cynthia Lejano; CADP’s SVP for operations Ramon Picornell and his wife Margie; Helen Saldaña who took care of the gorgeous flowers; Dr. Ruel Villafria; Chito Puatu who, with Maan Lucas, conceptualized the design of the reception venue; Nora and Jun Figueroa; Amor Ilao; Zosi Evasco; Fely Morales; Tita Wonchai; Bong Samonte; Bucana Barangay Capt. Leon Esguerra; the PNP’s Gaudencio Masangkay; engineer Tom Mulingbayan; PAL’s Capt. Godofredo and Ody Vasquez; Dr. Ino Wonchai; Dr. Mely Wonchai-Lim; Dr. Apol Bitas; Omar Ferrer who took care of the sound system; Lina Alix; everybody’s pal, the grooms’ sister, Dooanne Lucas; and Rannie’s good friend, Mayor Raymund Apacible. The grooms’ well-loved Lola Doray Limjoco, resto manager Ida Alipio and the reliable Dalampasigan staff prepared the sumptuous buffet.

Sorely missed at the reception were the grooms’ late maternal grandfather Apolonio Limjoco who doted on all his grandchildren when he was alive.

The grooms lent the double wedding their own brand of playful funkiness, dahlings. When they were introduced at the reception, they emerged donning black shades while grooving to the ’70s smash hit Play That Funky Music which elicited tons of laughter.

John Co set up two giant screens inside the resto and in the garden, dahlings, allowing guests to watch the program. Genrose Bakeshop baked the delicious cakes. Jon Lucas prepared the AV presentation. Seen here, there and everywhere attending to guests were usherettes Maricel Ramos-Alviar, Rida Cuenca, Judy Palacios, Menchie Morales, Alona Reyes and Tetet Lucas.

Among the over 1,200 guests, dahlings, were Batangas Gov. Hermilando Mandanas; former Manila Rep. Leonardo Fugoso and his wife Linda; former Las Piñas Vice Mayor Liling Castillo; former Balayan Mayor Benjie Martinez and his wife Gigi-Berberabe-M. with young lawyer Dickson Berberabe; renowned architect Jun Palafox, his wife Wilma and daughter Karima; Miladay’s Christine Dayrit-Soliven and Benny Soliven; Tessie Pastor and daughter Charisse; Josie Gutierrez; Dicky Angeles; Peewee and Mila Varona; Oscar and Lally Medalla; Joy and Nanding Balatbat; Charito Legarda and her children; Limjoco gentlemen Boy, Gino and Alex; pediatrician Dr. Imelda Jaucian; Lita-Villaviray Cruz; and Baby’s St. Bridget’s and St. Theresa’s gangmates.

Also seen were the Porciuncula clan led by matriarch Rosario Umali vda. de Porciuncula; businessman Irmelo David, his wife Nadia, daughters Grace and Wowie and nephew Michael Sarmiento; Dr. Marieta Yturalde; Dr. Lulu David; the Kamantigue, Dizon, Diño, Alaras, Sanchez, Roldan and Monasterio familles; the Limjoco brothers and Villadolids of Lian, the Ramoses of Balayan; Anita Cauntay and the Quizons of Batangas City; Efren and Susan Bacit; Johnny and Sabina Ilagan; Ining Bayot; Aure Mulingbayan; Mr. and Mrs. Ap Lejano; Anita Villacrusis; Choy Zabarte and company; balikbayan Ladylyn Cordero; Minia and Mark Cortez; and many more tres interesting personas like them, dahlings. Chi’s grandfather Ernesto Tupaz flew in from California while Tin’s grandmother Nita Rodriguez flew in from Canada especially for the event.

Michelle Victoria, Lolot Torres, Mark Mulingbayan (who also played the piano), Mara Picornell, Larry Isidro, Misty Nioko, Wally Maigue, Sheryl Maala and Chito P. regaled the guests with song numbers. Tin’s family pulled the surprise of the night by showing how musically-inclined they are by providing the dance music with a band of family friends until the wee hours of the morning. Rad and Chi’s cutie pie baby Gabby also grabbed attention simply by being his impish, red-cheeked, smiling self.

So overwhelmed were the Lucases by the outpouring of warmth and love, dahlings, that Baby and Rudy in their heartfelt speeches profusely thanked all present.

To Rannie and Tin and Rad and Chi, here’s to doubly love-filled years ahead! Cheers, palanggas!

Anne Frank, A History for Today

As part of the cultural program of one of the most popular embassies in Cosmo Manille, the Royal Netherlands Embassy, dahlings, in cooperation with P&O Nedlloyd, the international traveling exhibition, has brought to the Philippines the exhibit Anne Frank, a History for Today for the first time. The exhibit recounts the Holocaust through Anne Frank’s life story. It completes Anne’s life through accounts of other World War II eyewitnesses.

Anne was a Jewish girl born in Germany. When she was four, her famille moved to Amsterdam where they spent seven wonderful years of freedom. After two years of constant fear of being arrested for being Jews, Anne’s father Otto hid the famille in a secret annex in Otto’s former office.

Anne received a diary on her 13th birthday where she wrote about her experiences while in hiding. Their hiding place was discovered near war’s end. The family was arrested and sent to concentration camps. Among those who lived in the secret annex, only Otto survived. Luckily, one of the helpers, Miep Gies, kept Anne’s diary which was published after the war. It has been translated into 67 languages and has sold 25 million copies.

The exhibit is the highlight of the international work undertaken at the Anne Frank House. It was first shown publicly in Vienna last Oct. 3 and has been seen by 6.3 million people worldwide.

The exhibit is not only historical; its theme challenges Filipinos to think about tolerance, democracy, human rights and peace. The exhibit is ongoing at the fourth floor of the Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Ortigas until March 31 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. For inquiries, call tel. no. 636-1225 or visit http://www.dutchembassy.ph.

Smile and see you!