Van Gogh’s Flowers Were There

Guests at the formal wedding of New York-based Liezl Hidalgo Jacinto to New York resident Yukimura Sato, son of Masaharu Sato and Masako Gibeault, may have been expecting cherry blossoms and sampaguitas to decorate Pen’s Rigodon Ballroom to which everyone hied after the rites at Santuario de San Antonio.

But floral designer Tony Padilla and stylist Albert Avellana transformed the ballroom into a Van Gogh painting, the distinctive flower arrangements for the tables calling to mind the Dutch artists’s style.

Indeed, all details had been meticulously planned months ahead, not the least of these the understated elegance of Pitoy Moreno’s gown for the bride. Swarovski beads and jewel stones were highlighted by the diamond tiara headpiece from Bulgari, which headpiece put the illusion veil in place, with the bow at the back cleverly ending in a long train. How the sheath gown showed off Liezl’s wisp-like figure!

It must have taken months to finalize the list of 20 sponsors. The women were in glittering finery; their escorts, in tuxedos. Count them: President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo/Executive Secretary Bert Romulo; Loren Legarda/Manuel Villar; Josie Lichauco/Ramon Magsaysay, Jr.; Chito Madrigal Collantes/Alfonso Yuchengco (proxied by Rizalino Navarro); Meldy Cojuangco/Bienvenido Tantoco; Nenita Floirendo/Mayor Jejomar Binay; Menchu Concepcion/Cesar Virata; Doris M. Ho/Lor Calma; Cynthia Pastor/Ramon Antonio; Ethel Timbol/Mario Katigbak; Evangeline Pascual (representing Aida Cancio)/David Lim; Sandie Poblador/Ramon Hidalgo.

Members of the bridal entourage–all had to fly from New York–were Jacqueline Jacinto, maid of honor; Kenho Osawa, best man; bridesmaids Justina Antonio Jacinto, Ayaka Sato, Melinda Tait and Victoria Cuesta. Also groomsmen Jeremy Jacinto, Jeff Tait, Jeff Castañeda, Peter Zuratynsky, Jody Jacinto and David Snyder.

As Mrs. Tina Jacinto walked along the church aisle, a guest murmured aloud: "She could well pass for the young and pretty bride herself."

Seated with me at the Pen ballroom were Cesar and Mila Magsaysay Valenzuela, Ado Escudero, Arturo and Tessie Luz and Beth Day Romulo. Table hopping to greet us were Tita Trillo whom we congratulated for the excellent French wines which complemented the epicurean menu, and poet-guru-charmer George Sison who himself serves gourmet cuisine at Giorgio’s. As marvelous fillip, international concertist Raul Sunico dazzled us with Gershwin’s "Rhapsody in Blue", remaining unperturbed even as three lensmen were taking pictures of him at close range. What concentration! And what a wedding!