Wedding waterworks

NEWLYWEDS waltz the evening away.

“It was a wedding that will be forever remembered—not to mention that it was a great surprise for the bride,” ABS-CBN exec and wedding sponsor Cory Vidanes told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

THE RING. Bride shows off the wedding band on Instagram.instagram photo

“I am one of those who waited so long to see this happen,” another ninang (principal sponsor) Sharon Cuneta said. “I am so happy for Zoren (Legaspi) and Carmina (Villaroel).”

The couple tied the knot Thursday night at Fernbrook Gardens in Las Piñas City.

Cuneta, who co-starred with the bride in the movie “Minsan, Minahal Kita” added: “Carmina is like a sister to me, and I share her happiness! She deserves to be loved and treasured because she is a lovely person inside and out and I am so proud to be her ‘Ate Sis’ and their ninang. I wish them (the couple) all the happiness their hearts can hold.”

Vidanes, who, like Cuneta, was unable to attend the ceremony because of an illness, also conveyed her good wishes to the couple. “I wish them a lifetime of happiness, abundance and love!” she said.

“In a way, it (the wedding) was very personal,” said ninang Grace Poe. “Basically, the guests were people who had worked closely with the couple.”

Totally surprised

THE KISS: Zoren told Carmina she was to be dolled up for a commercial shoot. Courtesy of abs-cbn corp comm

Everybody knows by now that the beaming bride had no idea she was getting married that day.

Poe said Villaroel was initially told that all the preparation had been for a commercial shoot that just happened to feature a fairy-tale wedding scene.

Before she knew it, Villaroel was marching down the aisle with long-time partner Legaspi and their 11-year-old twins Cassandra and Maverick, who conspired with their father to keep their mother in the dark.

According to Poe, the bride looked “beautiful, calm, but initially she was totally surprised.”

She related, “It was touching and, yes, I cried a few times during the ceremony, as many of the guests did. We cried along with Carmina and her daughter Cassandra.”

JOEY Marquez interviews guests Amy Austria, Joel Torre and Tirso Cruz III for his ABS-CBN show. Photo from facebook

Dolor Guevarra, Villaroel’s manager, told the Inquirer that the civil wedding ceremony was officiated by Associate Justice Amy Javier of the Court of Appeals.
Guevarra said that, aside from Poe, Cuneta and Vidanes, the other principal sponsors were Eric Quizon, Kris Aquino, Ben Chan, Felix Ang and John Concepcion.

Paul Cabral did the bride’s gown, the groom’s suit and the twins’ outfits, according to Guevarra.

Celebrity guests

Among the celebrity-guests were: Susan Roces, Lily Monteverde, Amy Austria, Janice and Gelli de Belen, Maricel Soriano, Joel Torre, Joey Marquez, Aiko Melendez, Candy Pangilinan, Boy Abunda, Jerry Lopez Sineneng, Zaijian Jaranilla, Belle Mariano, Raymund Isaac, Tirso Cruz III and Lynn Ynchausti-Cruz.

GROUP hug: Zoren surprised Carmina with the help of twins Cassandra and Maverick.

It is Legaspi’s first and Villaroel’s second marriage. Villaroel was previously married to Rustom Padilla, who reinvented himself as BB Gandanghari.

Asked about the wedding by “24 Oras,” Gandanghari quipped: “I am happy [for Carmina and Zoren]. I am happy for the kids. I wish them all the happiness [in the world].”