The Notebook

Some things are really meant to be.

It all started 15 years ago when businessman Owen Gan was introduced by his sister Cheryl to her classmate Roselle Cua. They never saw each other again until two years ago and all because of a notebook deal. Owen is in the printing business and Roselle was looking for someone who could do notebooks. The notebook deal never materialized but there was magic that took place between Owen and Roselle. And the rest is history. After almost two years of dating, Owen decided to pop the question. At an art gallery, he attached the engagement ring to a price tag he made at the back of his painting with the question: “Will you marry me?”

So on Dec. 28, Owen married Roselle at the Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Valle Verde. The bride wore an exquisite silk tulle gown with hand-pleated bodice by brilliant designer Cary Santiago. Together with her parents Mr. and Mrs. Mamerto Cua, she walked down the aisle to the tune of Love Moves In Mysterious Ways played by the eight-piece Sonata Strings. The Mass was officiated by Fr. Adolfo Dacanay, S.J., a close friend of the groom, who, like his bride, is also an Atenean. Inspirational songs rendered by the UST Singers left everyone teary-eyed. Owen and Roselle made their recessional to Seasons of Love from the musical Rent. The chapel was stunning in its simplicity with green foliage topiary balls uplighted in green and amber to give the church a serene mood. Guests were received at the Edsa Shangri-La Ballroom which was transformed into a lovely garden with white hydrangeas, lysianthus, cabbage roses, gypsophilias in off white wooden boxes and uplighted coiled topiaries by Zenas Pineda. The wedding cake with sugar-laced cutouts and Swarovski crystals was by Penk Ching. Da Capo played for the guests during dinner, which consisted of smoked salmon, sea bass and chicken. Wines were Australian red and white. And the most fab dessert was San Marco from the kitchen of Katrina Ponce Enrile.

Everyone loved Owen’s surprise video for his bride. Toasts to the couple were proposed by their families and friends. After dinner, the suave and cool Richard Poon entertained the guests and got everyone on the dancefloor with his music.

As guests remembered the bridal rhyme “Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue,” they realized the something blue part was overlooked. But come to think of it, the “something blue” has always been there because Roselle got herself a true blue Atenean.

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