A Dream Wedding in the City of Lights!

     No.  I am not getting married. 

    Later at 12.20am, is our flight for Paris, France.  My first time to be in Paris.  My first time to be in Europe.  This is the first trip that we are complete as a family after many years (I think the last time we're complete in a family trip was either gradeschool or highschool).  When we have a chance to go abroad, it is either Bads who is not around, or me, or mom, or Nick.

    But now, my entire family is going to be in Paris, to celebrate the first wedding in my family on May 17, 2008 (Europe time).  My eldest sister Nina, as the bride(zilla), hehe.

    Well, ahhhmmmmm, ehhhmmmmm (ahem)... it is the first time that my name NAOMI THERESE CORPUZ is printed on a national broadsheet!!!

    It is not on the frontpage though.  I didn't top the bar or anything (na kakaibang greatness).  It is on page g2-g3, Philippine Star today, May 16, 2008. And all because I am the.... BRIDESMAID!!!! Yipeee!!! I am soooooooooooo excited!!!

    From now on, everytime my name is googled, the latest addition to the search results (other than my social networking sites) is Philippine Star's:

    http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Entertainment&p=49&type=2&sec=31

and ABS-CBN's:

    http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=118404

    Anyway, pictures of Chap (a.k.a. Nina Corpuz) and Vince, my future bro-in-law are not on the Web, they are printed in the Philippine Star though which is something like this:

                           

                         
    So Chap... I just want you to know that I am very happy for you (yikes! I can't believe I am saying this).  I've known Vince for quite awhile, though I don't talk to him most of the time .

    And Vince... anyway, I hope to get to talk to you more often.  To tell you frankly, I have a pet-peeve on people who speak the way you do, (with the Atenean accent), at may kinaiinisan kasi ako na kaboses mo noong college (and his name need not be mentioned) because he is haughty and arrogant, and also an Atenean who became my college classmate.  Well, by you, you are able to prove me wrong that not all men (with that kind of voice and accent) are like that.  And actually the exact opposite. Remain down-to-earth, selfless, understanding, chap's pacifier, generous and humble :).  One of the main reasons why I am happy, is that I am certain we are sending her off to a groom who is a good soul.  (duuuuuuuhhhhhhhh Naomi!).

    So here is the article today (with emphasis supplied by me):

 

A dream wedding in the City of Lights

ABS-CBN news reporter Nina Corpuz, daughter of lawyers Nestor Taylan Corpuz and Consuelo Fernando Corpuz, will exchange “I do’s” with Vince Rodriguez, son of the late Edilberto Librea Rodriguez and Maryann O’Connor Rodriguez, in Paris (yes, the City of Lights) on May 20, at the Eglise Saint-Severin Church.

The principal sponsors are: Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay and Mrs. Angelica Banaria, Reynaldo David and Dr. Victoria Belo, Jaime Fernando and Ms. Amelia Cabal, John Franco and Mrs. Elizabeth Chua, Eugenio Lopez III and Mrs. Natividad Corpuz, Atty. Ricardo Puno Jr. and Mrs. Rosabella Corpuz, Danilo Rodriguez and Mrs. Teresa Oben, Wellington Soong and Ms. Veronica O’Connor, Arturo Valdez and Mrs. Consolacion Ramos, and Ricardo Veloso and Mrs. Josefina Soriano.

Best Man: Rafael Carlos Rodriguez.

Matron of Honor: Noelle Bernadette Corpuz-Perez.

Groomsman: Nicomedes Romulo Corpuz.

Bridesmaid: Naomi Therese Corpuz. (Wahooo!!!Common, give me a break. It is my blog, pagbigyan).

Junior Bridesmaid: Claudine Rodriguez.

Secondary Sponsors: Patrick Duran and Divine Banaria-Duran, candle; Denis Wissler and Imelda Delgado-Wissler, veil; and Claro Rodriguez and Nanette Cavada-Rodriguez, cord.

Ring Bearer: Nicolas Andre Wissler.

Coin Bearer: Jacob Polpatpigharn.

Bible Bearer: Vincent Dominic Rodriguez.

Flower Girls: Christiane Patricia Fernando, Angelica Eileen Soong and Elisa Marie Anastacia Wissler.

From faraway Paris, Nina sent Funfare the following account of how it all started:

All I wanted was a private wedding proposal, just the TWO of us. Vince knew that. And knowing Vince, I knew he wanted the same thing. So how in the world did he ever come to proposing, kneeling down and asking me to marry him, in front of all his relatives at a family reunion on Christmas eve?

I wanted to disappear. No, die.

I could see Vince’s brother, Raffy, laughing so hard in the background. His cousins looked happy but we knew for sure none of them wanted to be in our shoes at that moment. I think I covered my face with my two hands the whole time. This isn’t happening!

But it did, I said yes and here’s how.

Dec. 24,  2007. I had work, as usual. The story I worked on was how 400 families, who lost their houses and all their belongings in a big fire just before Christmas, were going to celebrate the happiest time of the year. For the children, the coloring books, crayons and stickers that I brought for a few of them elicited the happiest faces that I’ve seen in a long time. But the adults are more realistic. They realized they are now left with nothing so there is no reason to celebrate, not when your family is sleeping on cartons in the sidewalk. There is no such thing as Christmas when you have an empty stomach. At least one single mother with six children was more hopeful, she said they could always celebrate Christmas next year.

Another day at work.

When I finished writing and voicing my report for TV Patrol World, Vince and I went to Valenzuela to visit my beloved grandmother, Nanay, who happens to have cancer. My family was in Ilocos but most of my relatives on my mother’s side were there, including my mom’s identical twin who came from New Jersey. We had a great time. I played poker for the first time with my cousins and lost P500. Vince won a thousand bucks. Ha, ha, ha!

At 11 o’clock, I wanted to go home because I was getting sleepy and still had work the next day. Vince insisted we go to his side of the family naman and, of course, how could I say no.

From Valenzuela, we drove to his uncle’s house all the way to Valle Verde. We got there at around 11:30  p.m.

I think. Before entering the house, I saw his cousin who congratulated me on our engagement which caught me by surprise. As we entered the house, more and more of his relatives were congratulating us on our “engagement.” I felt more uncomfortable by the minute and when I couldn’t take it anymore, I pulled Vince to one side almost shouting at him in my frustration, saying, “I’m not engaged! I’m not engaged!” I wanted to go home.

We were about to “escape” when Vince’s uncle started calling everyone to gather in the sala because “Vince and Nina have an announcement.” Oh no, Vince and I looked helplessly at each other. What are we supposed to say?

Vince and I found ourselves surrounded by everyone who were all excited to hear “the news.” There was no escaping but Vince managed to disappear “to get something from his car” as he wasn’t prepared.

When he got back, everyone was cheering, I heard someone say, “He’s gonna propose!” Vince was so nervous and embarrassed, he just put the box on the table. Just like that. Then someone said, “Open it!” So I did and sure enough it contained a beautiful diamond engagement ring. Okay, did he think I’m going to put the ring on my finger? So I gave the box back to him!

At this point everyone got more excited. I could hear all sorts of voices. Then someone said, “Vince, kneel...kneel!” So poor Vince got down on his knees. I kept covering my face with my two hands out of embarrassment. Then Vince gave a short speech; I don’t really remember much of what he said as I couldn’t concentrate. I just remember him saying something like, “I guess this is the time to ask you in front of my family…chu chu chu…Will you marry me?” And everyone looked at me.

It was surreal. I couldn’t answer right away because, I don’t know, I guess I was trying to think of a magic spell for me to disappear at that moment until someone said, “Nina, what’s your answer?” I realized I’m only human and it’s not a dream so, of course, I said “Yes!” Everyone started clapping, etc. Whew! It’s done!

Oh no, it’s not. His relatives asked me to give a speech. I couldn’t speak! I don’t really remember what I said. I think I said something like, “Thank you, I love you and your family, thanks…” Ha, ha, ha! It sounded so lousy but I meant it. Vince’s family is the best, everyone who was there, his mom, brother, titos and titas, cousins, they tried to make me feel comfortable from Day 1. I really, really appreciate them all.

Then his relatives asked Vince’s mom, Tita Mary Ann, to give a speech and it was so touching because she said that Vince’s dad, Tito Ed who passed away three years ago, was fond of me and loved me and wanted Vince and I to end up together. Some of Vince’s aunts couldn’t help but get teary-eyed. What would Tito Ed say? No one knew exactly what he would have said but he was in our hearts and minds and it was as if he was also there. I could imagine his laughter. Tito Ed was always laughing or smiling everytime I saw him. We miss him terribly.

I found out later on our way home that Vince had planned to propose in my house, no fireworks, nothing fancy, just the two of us, just how we both wanted it to be.

I realized that sometimes things don’t work out as planned because God has planned something better. It was a happy occasion and it is true, happiness is always better when shared.

(Postscript: Two days later, Vince was on a bus to Ilocos. I was talking to Vince the night before and asked him, “How’s that? My family doesn’t know.” Vince had scheduled to talk to them a week before Christmas but they suddenly went home to Ilocos.

On the morning of Dec. 26, I called Vince’s house and was looking for him but his mom said he went to the bus station. Okay, I didn’t know. Anyway, so Vince took the 9 a.m.bus so he would arrive at 7 p.m.

Yes, the trip took 10 hours. Unfortunately, the bus encountered some engine problems and had to stop for repairs. Then, to make matters worse, the aircon also got busted. So Vince arrived in our house in Batac at 10:30 p.m., soaked in sweat!

Fine, it’s not that funny. Anyway, he finally got to talk to my parents. And now,
Paris, here we are!)

(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph or at entphilstar@yahoo.com)