Image: Instagram/Kester Rey Celestino (@kester88) via Jocas de Leon (@jocasdeleon)
It was a wedding over 30 years in the making, showing people that although getting married may be done early on in the relationship or much later in life, love arrives precisely when it means to.
Comedian Joey de Leon and his longtime partner, now-wife, Eileen Macapagal had been together since 1982 before finally deciding to tie the knot on Monday, March 19, in an intimate civil ceremony in the Supreme Court of the Philippines, Ermita, Manila.
The small ceremony was a tight-knit affair, attended by de Leon’s closest friends and loved ones; from “Eat Bulaga” co-hosts Tito Sotto and Vic Sotto, and Dabarkads Pia Guanio, Ryan Agoncillo, Wally Bayola, Jose Manalo, and AlDub love team Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza, among others.
Joey’s eldest daughter to Macapagal, Jocas Eightria, took to her Instagram account yesterday to express her sentiments over her parents’ union: “I am still reeling from the events of the last nineteen days: two weddings, three weeks of total of planning and preparation… one great dream that has taken thirty-five years to finally come true!” wrote Jocas. “I love you mommy and daddy!”
Image: Instagram/@angpoetnyo
Jocas shared pictures from the civil wedding captured by photographer Kester Rey Celestino. In one of the pictures, Joey and Eileen can be seen kneeling on the altar during the ceremony. In another, the two embrace each other, with an emotional Joey looking tearful while his son Jio looked on.
Image: Instagram/@kester88 via @jocasdeleon
Image: Instagram/@kester88 via @jocasdeleon
Other pictures show behind-the-scenes moments of Jocas and Eileen, laughing together in their white bathrobes as they get ready for the wedding. They also took a picture together in the staircase of the hotel all glammed up, with Eileen wearing a long flowing wedding gown with intricate lace sleeves created by designer Rosa Clara.
Image: Instagram/@kester88 via @jocasdeleon
Image: Instagram/@kester88 via @jocasdeleon
Joey’s other son Jako, meanwhile, re-tweeted a picture last night, which he took, of his parents during the civil wedding, with a short but sweet caption saying, “HHWW Holding Hands While Wedding).”
Image: Twitter/@jakodeleon
Joey and Eileen’s children may have grown up seeing them stay together, but it seems witnessing them solidify their lifelong companionship through a civil wedding proved to be the cherry on top. Now, they get to hold their hands for the rest of their days as husband and wife. JB
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