The bride wore red

Here’s a fairy tale for senior citizens, and a conundrum:

When they celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary in Paris, they had two daughters, two sons, and three grandchildren. Yet none of their children were born out of wedlock. And, what’s more... the bride wore red.

On the eve of a 10th (?) wedding anniversary and renewal of vows, the Philippine Embassy ladies did a naughty act —  they gave the “bride,” Mme. Victoria “Meng” Zaide, a despedida de soltera! Behind closed doors of “ladies only” babble, they asked about Victoria’s secret, (while gifting her with a Valentine-colored namesake underpinning). 

Applying strict protocol, the “groom,” Ambassador José Abeto “Toto” Zaide, was sequestered by Armed Forces Attaché Col. Caesar Ronnie Ordoyo and the embassy boys.  There was plenty to drink for beer belly, (but no belly dancer).  And as promised, they got him in time to St. Joseph’s church next day for the repeat nuptials. 

Taking a leaf from the quiet reserve of the Elysée wedding of French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Carla Bruni, the Zaide affair was kept to family members, the Philippine Embassy extended family and intimate friends.

As guests took their seats, the organ played Johann Sebastian Bach’s Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring. With son José Jamil Zaide as his Groomsman, the envoy stood in morning frock, grey Windsor knot, red Deutsches Verdienstkreuz sash streaked over a grey waistcoat which hid a Jean Goulbourn Silk Cocoon barong dress-shirt. 

Mendelsson’s Maestoso de la 3e Sonate heralded the procession. First in line was grandson Massimo Zaide-Ossola, coin-and-ring bearer in Nehru jacket; followed by his mother Luisa Kochel Ma. Zaide-Ossola, the Bridesmaid, with scarlet pashmina over her beige Grecian tunic gown by Flora Zaide-Valencia of Thataway. (There was no flower girl because two-year-old Carla Lotta, her baby brother Hugo Olivier and parents Beata Luningning Ma. Zaide and Martin Hilpert could not fly out of San Francisco). 

To give the bride away, younger son Renato Paolo Zaide skipped his Friday lectures to his London architecture class and took the Eurostar. Meng walked down the aisle like she stepped out of Vogue —  demure bouquet of white roses in contretemps with, (throwing caution to the wind), her burning flamenco red bridal! There was no denying from the signature whorls the haute couture touch of Suzanne Ermann. 

Wedding mass was celebrated by St. Joseph’s Irish parish priest Fr. Efrem Blake, the Irish-American Fr. Francis Finnegan and the Filipino chaplain Fr. Gil Apuli. Without breaking the secret of the confessional, Fr. Efrem unraveled the conundrum.  He invited all to pray for the twice-betrothed couple who wed 40 years ago on the extra 29th day of February, (which comes only once in four years), and are therefore celebrating only their “10th wedding anniversary!”

The gospel was read by First Secretary Maria Josefina Ceballos, the responsorial psalm by Ambassador’s secretary Anika Fernandez and the prayers of the faithful by Consul Angela Ponce.

Hymns were by Maria and Yves Thomas Mathieu of Lapin Agile Montemarte cabaret  —  her angelic voice interpreted Ave Maria and Panis Angelicus, and he sang Notre Père (Our Father). Yves was bosom friend of the artist Vicente Manasala; and a portrait of Maria’s father by the Filipino master is piece de resistance of their collection.

Fr. Guieseppe “Jepoy” Arciwals of the “Inggô 1587” (a.k.a. “Singing Dominicans”) sang Silayan, which made the bride’s mascara run.

Reception followed at Avenue Foch Embassy Residence.  Also present were Ambassador Renée Veyret, former French envoy to the Philippines, and next-door neighbors Jean François and Jacqueline Rischard of the World Bank.  (Meng and Jacqueline are conspiring a church wedding on Jean Francois). 

Tetta Agustin, former supermodel and a potential honorary consul, linked up with old chum and posh Matignon neighbor, Victoria “Babet” Aquino.

Transiting pilgrims from Lourdes were Brussels Minister-Counsellor Angie Sta. Catalina and Ben, her husband and AIM consultant. Arcing Borero, the Zaides’ former cook, also arrived from Belgium with her beau Jean de Bock.  But it was Meng, playing her real-life Cinderella fairy tale, who had bent over kitchen pots and pans. 

The bride’s bouquet was handily won by overreaching Consul General Rosalida Prospero, while the thimble remained safely buried in the cake.

Gloria Gaganera, ex-UNESCO and parish do-gooder, was Martha that evening to the priests who were also joined by Fr. Patrick Fitzgerald. With ample Tattinger champagne and La Tondeña Manila Rum  to souse, she did not need to ask for another miracle at Cana.

Fr. Jepoy played more kundimans on the piano; and Consul Igor Bailen sang L’Habitude (original French chanson translated to My Way).  As the night wore and drinks piled on, courage swelled, and William Garcia improvised an embassy chorale which warbled to the wee hours.

When Meng and Toto first wed on Feb. 29. 1968 at the Church of the Thirteen Martyrs of Gorkem in The Hague, they were madly in love. But they would discover that matrimony swings between being mad and being in love with each other. So, 40 years thereafter, they know now that their marriage is Made in Heaven but must continue to be Tested on Earth.

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