Lavander and green was the color motif at the wedding of Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo and Valenzuela councilor Shalani Soledad last Jan. 22 at the St. Benedict Church in Sta. Rosa Laguna.
But subdued elegance was the theme.
The flowers in the church – white casablancas from Holland – were classy, but not over-the-top.
The kiss
When one of the officiating priests ordered the groom, “Roman, take over,” the groom gave his bride a quick kiss on the lips that sent photographers scrambling all over the place, hoping that the newly-married couple will repeat what they did – and bide their time for all to see.
And they did, right before the recessional, where bride and groom kissed each other on the lips, this time for the sake of photographers begging them to do it, one more time.
Glitterati from business, politics and showbiz witnessed this, and other vows of unending love in the afternoon affair that has been dubbed the “wedding of the year.”
Among the principal sponsors, two of the most familiar faces were Manny V. Pangilinan and Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who sat beside each other.
Standing silently in one corner was Shalani’s uncle, Mon Soledad, the guy who practically raised her like his own daughter.
Value of humility
Mon shared how he taught his niece the value of humility.
“Hindi niya alam na maganda siya,” Mon said. “Pinalaki ko siya sa salitang ‘mas.’ Palaging may mas pulubi, mas mayaman, mas maganda sa `yo.”
He recalls how Shalani told him of her plans to get married.
“It was Dec. 18 (2011). Sabi niya ‘kin, ‘Tito Mon, pwede mo ba akong ihatid?’ Sabi ko, ‘Saan, sa airport?’ Tapos tinanong ko, ‘Bakit, ikakasal ka na ba?’
If he had his way, Mon wanted Shalani to get married in 2013, since he wanted her to run for Congress.
“That’s when I realized kung gaano niya kay kamahal si Roman kasi hindi niya ko sinunod.”
Roman’s mother, Lovely Tecson-Romulo, has her own story to tell about the couple’s engagement.
Diamond ring
“I took this diamond ring – a family heirloom from the bank to have it cleaned,” she recalls.
“Then, I told my eldest daughter, ‘maybe your son will get married.’ Yon pala it’s Roman. He told me that he met someone he fell in love with. So I told him if you’re serious, I can give you an engagement ring.”
Now that the engagement ring has given way to a wedding ring, Shalani is getting some advice from friends on how to keep the marriage strong and solid.
Mariel Rodriguez, her co-host in “Wil Time Big Time,” said, “The wife should adjust to the husband.”
Mariel broke her own rule of staying home on Sundays, which she considers ‘Robin’s (Padilla, her husband) day.
Nicest person
“Shalani is the nicest person I’ve ever met. Kung hindi lang ganyan kabait si Shalani, hindi ako mag-get-up on a Sunday,” she adds.
Others present in the wedding were Richard Gomez and wife Lucy Torres, who read the Responsorial Psalm, Karen Davila, who read the Prayers of the Faithful, Valenzuela mayor Sherwin Gatchalian (for the Second Reading) and Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco (for the Water and Wine).
Reception followed nearby at Nuvali in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
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