Jolina, bride in waiting

JOLINA Magdangal

Meet Jolina Magdangal, the working bride-to-be.

Just a day before the big launch of her new GMA 7 prime time series “Iglot,” Jolina was spotted at the Podium mall with fiancé Mark Escueta, meeting with a wedding planner.

Before sitting down with the events organizer, however, the couple did their homework.

Jolina viewed the video of another celebrity wedding and took notes. Mark, for his part, has drafted a pre-nup to-do-list on his laptop.

“He keeps updating the chart [of our assignments],” Jolina related. “I’m open to suggestions, but more or less, I have my own ideas na.”

As of now, everything is still up in the air.

“We’re thinking of Tagaytay as venue,” she said. “A garden wedding would be nice, but the weather is so unpredictable these days.”

Every day, Mark and Jolina talk about – and revise – their plans.

The only definite name on the list is her makeup artist, Mickey See, she said.

“Wala pang pamamanhikan na naganap,” she said, explaining that the Filipino tradition (in which the groom’s parents formally ask for the bride’s hand in marriage from her parents) has yet to take place.

But Mark and Jolina wish to meet with their parents soon.

“Our target date for the wedding is within the year,” Jolina said. “But we want to take our time so we won’t get stressed out.”

Just coming up with a list of ninongs and ninangs (principal sponsors) can be nerve-racking, she admitted.

“We hope to limit it to 12 sponsors. I made a list of people and divided it according to my years in show biz – starting from age 9 when I joined the singing group 14K, then ‘Ang TV,’ at 14, and so on and so forth.”

She has come to terms with the fact that she’s bound to get emotional on the big day.

“I can’t see myself not crying at the altar,” she admitted.

As such, on top of her shopping list is water-proof mascara.

As luck would have it, she is reunited with former screen partner Marvin Agustin in “Iglot.”

There’s no need for Mark to fret, however.

“Marvin and I have reached that point in our relationship where we can look forward to working together,” she said. “We get to catch up on the set.”

She also has a soft spot for young co-star Milkcah Wynne Nacion.

She somehow relates with Milkcah’s experiences. “I started singing at an early age, but Milkcah does drama scenes at age six.”

She makes it a point to remind Milkcah of the simple joys of childhood.

“I always tell her not to forget her studies. We love talking about our pet dogs, too,” she said.

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