Willie Wilson & Maria del Rosario: a hardcourt love story

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William “The Scrapper” Wilson is a professional cager of the PBA playing for Barangay Ginebra Kings. Maria is former Miss PBA, host, and model.

They first met while Willie was watching the opening ceremony of the NCAA games at the stands in his best friend. Maria — then the muse of St. Benilde Blazers — caught his eye. Thus, through his best friend, he found a way to meet her.  They started being friends for a couple of years while running into each other at basketball games since Maria was a court-side reporter at the time.

At that time, it was difficult for Maria to be in a relationship her work entails flying in-an-out the country. But William persisted. He waited and pursued his feelings until one day they fell in love just at the right time.

As they say, waiting matters not for people who are meant to be with each other. Love transcends time and distance.

The groom-to-be puts it in not so many words: “You will have the feeling in your heart knowing she is the one. It’s fate.”

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(The photographs here are from the couple’s e-session with Bobby de los Santos of RedFox Photography. To view the entire set of the couple’s prenups, click here.)

Victor Consunji & Maggie Wilson’s prenup photos & video (in various states of undress)

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(photo by MangoRed)

He is a scion of a construction magnate who heads the design & construction firm V. Consunji Inc., while she is a model/beauty queen turned television personality.  The couple is set to be married on December 18.

Last week, Jason Magbanua shared the prenup video of the soon-to-weds.   But it was not the typical saccharine-sweet video that we’d expect from a wedding videographer.  Here’s what he posted in FB as he shared the said video: “Xeng Zulueta’s (stylist) request was simple – we want people who watch this become transfixed and uncomfortable at the same time.”

Below is an excerpt of the article about the couple’s pre-wedding video which appeared in the Sunday Lifestyle of Inquirer:

“Talk of the week of the whole town and cyberspace has been the video of a couple set to tie the knot soon.

Maggie Wilson and Victor Consunji’s racy prenup video, which has been making the rounds on social network sites last week, makes jaws drop and sends tongues wagging.

The couple will marry Dec. 18 at Misibis Bay Resort in Bicol.

The video, shot by wedding videographer Jason Magbanua, is the raciest prenup video we’ve ever seen. It shows VJ and former Bb. Pilipinas Maggie Wilson and real estate scion Victor Consunji in various states of undress, in bed, in the pool, in the car, kissing, touching, taking more clothes off.

Hot? Sexy? Wild? Tacky? Inappropriate? Practically pornographic? We’re still deciding.

One thing sure—it’s steamy.”

We are sharing with you the video.  You be the judge. 😉


music: “Glorybox” by Portishead

MangoRed posted in Facebook more pictures from the couple’s e-session straight out of their cam. Untouched.  See the album here.

So what do you think?

“Been Waiting” – Ogie & Regine’s prenup photos & save-the-date!

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The new song “Been Waiting” by Regine Velasquez, sure sounds like a wedding song.  Who would think otherwise, especially not when the songbird herself is about to get married to singer/songwriter Ogie Alcasid before Christmas this year — December 22, 2010 to be exact. It says so in the couple’s Save-the-Date card (as described in the quote below which appeared in Inquirer’s Dollywood early this month).


(photo by Nice Print | layout by Print Divas)

The couple’s photo looks like they are at a masquerade ball with Regine’s face partly shown with a mask up her forehead and a shimmering diamond ring on her finger. She is hugging Ogie who’s faced towards her so only his back is shown in the fairy-tale like shot.

Here’s what’s printed at the back of the postcard: We realize that our wedding venue is a long way from home. Here’s our recommendation to help make your whole trip memorable, exciting and extraordinary as possible. We know that everyone wants to be in their best attire so as early as now we are giving you an advice. Gentlemen: Formal suit paired with pastel-colored shirt. Ladies: Formal pastel-colored flowing dress.

Since it was her studio who edited the music video for “Been Waiting” (as conceptualized by Regine herself ), we asked Charisse Tinio of Nice Print some questions to get some details about the song. Did Regine write it? When has Ogie first heard it?  Will this be the wedding song?  Which part of the ceremony will Regine sing this?

In response, we got an email from Charisse with the full text of Regine’s actual SMS as reply to our queries.  Here’s what she said:

HI! 😀 no i did not write the song, i dont have that talent eh – hehe! well this song is part of my new album “FANTASY”, OGIE helped me actually with all the songs for this album. Ogie was the one who called the songs writers to give me diff songs. and this song “been waiting” ogie and i both Love. it was also Ogie’s idea to share our prenuptial photos with everybody, specially our fans. we always see our fans, make videos of us, so we thought it would be nice to share this with them. atleast even if we cannot invite everyone to the wedding, we get to share even part of our wedding to them 😀 thats actually the reason why we came up with this MTV video featuring our prenup photos. This is not the wedding song, but we will show the mtv during the reception 😀 we are still undecided about which will be our wedding song as there are a lot to choose from 😀

How cool is that?!!  Thanks Charisse! 🙂

Anyway, here’s the music video of the song “Been Waiting”.  Aside from OgRe engagement shoot, it also showed the sketch of the bridal gown by Monique Lhuillier. Full lyrics is also pasted below.

BEEN WAITING
(composer: Francis Salazar)

I have been waiting, for such a long time
For you to hear this song
The joy you bringing, no words could take place
You made may darkness bright
I feel so lonely until you owned me
Im lost in cold here but you have found me

I have been waiting to share a lifetime with you
Ive been so lonely until you own me
Im lost in cold here until you have found me
I have been waiting for such a long time
For you to hear this song

The love we once shared is all that matters
Until this life is through
Ive been so lonely until you own me
Im lost in cold here but you have found me

I have been waiting, for such a long time
For you to hear this song
The joy you bringing, no words could take place
You made my darkness bright
I feel so lonely until you owned me
Im lost in cold here but you have found me
I have been waiting, for such a long time

I have been waiting to share a lifetime with you

Robin Padilla weds Mariel Rodriguez in tribal wedding at Baguio City

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(via abs-cbnnews.com) Actor Robin Padilla, 42 and TV host Mariel Rodriguez, 26, tied the knot in Baguio City in a simple and very private ceremony officiated by a native priest, locally known as mambunong, from the Ibaloi tribe.

The Ibaloi people live mostly in the southern part of Benguet.

Jimmy Ong, who performed the one-and-a-half-hour ceremony, confirmed to ABS-CBN News in an exclusive interview that the ceremony took place on Monday (September 13) , at around 3 p.m. in a compound owned by Padilla’s relatives in Barangay Camp 7.

The bride wore a woven ethnic clothing while the groom wore bahag during the native ceremony.  Robin’s youngest son Ali was present to witness the event.

Ong said he initially thought he was just attending a shooting, but was caught by surprise when he found the couple wearing traditional clothes of the Ibaloi.

“Tinanong ko si Robin kung kasal talaga ito. Sabi niya, ‘Oo, kasal talaga.’ Kaya sinimulan ko na,” he said.

During the ceremony, he said the couple drank tapuy (rice wine) to symbolize their love for each other.

They also danced Tayao, a native dance, to show that they are officially married, he said.

According to him, Padilla, a Muslim and whose mother is an Igorot, and Rodriguez, included the requisite native pig sacrifice, after which the animal’s blood was brushed on the couple’s cheeks to seal the bond.  This sacred ritual known as cañao which means “the whole world testifies that a person has wed.”

“Ang kasal na ito ay legal sa kultura ng mga Igorot… binasbasan ko sila na hanggang kamatayan magsasama sila,” he said.

After the traditional ceremony, the celebrity couple again got married in a ceremony officiated by a pastor and was held in a private home.

It was a whirlwind romance for Padilla and Rodriguez.

The 2 met on the set of the now defunct ABS-CBN noontime show “Wowowee” when Padilla subbed for Willie Revillame early this year.

Rodriguez was one of the female hosts of “Wowowee.”

Many people began to tease them, but they denied having a relationship. Weeks later, they finally admitted that they were dating.

On August 7, Padilla gave Rodriguez a diamond ring on “Entertainment Live” after declaring his love for her.

Ten days after the interview, Rodriguez took an “indefinite leave” from her new game-variety show, “Pilipinas, Win na Win!” to be with her new sweetheart.

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related links:

LJ Moreno marries PBA player Jimmy Alapag in Laguna Beach, California

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(photo by Oly Ruiz of MetroPhoto)

(via ABS-CBNnews.com) Young actress LJ Moreno is now married.

LJ Moreno, niece of actress Alma Moreno, tied the knot with star cager Jimmy Alapag on Thursday, August 19.

The private and simple wedding was held at the Laguna Beach in California, USA.

The ceremony was attended by the couple’s families and closest friends.

One of Moreno’s closest friends who attended the wedding was sultry actress Ruffa Mae Quinto.

Moreno and Alapag were sweethearts for more than 4 years but in 2008, a serious problem rocked their relationship. They broke up but reconciled after a year.

“I’m glad that I waited this long, I know it’s right and this is just meant to be. Baby this is it, finally we are here. I’m gonna make our home a happy place to come home so you will always gonna want to come home and I promise to be a great mom to our kids, I love you,” Moreno said in an interview with The Buzz’s correspondents Monet Lu.

“I think in any relationship there are always challenges but it made us stronger. I’m honored to have all our families and friends here to share the day with LJ and I,” Alapag added.

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Watch below the onsite SDE made by Jason Magbanua for the couple.

More snapshots from the wedding by Oly Ruiz may be viewed here.

P-Noy prefers being ‘abay’ than ‘ninong’ in Ogie-Regine wedding

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Here’s an excerpt from an article which appeared in Ricky Lo’s FUNFARE column in The Phil. Star:

Three weeks ago, the new set of officers of the OPM (Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mangaawit) of which Ogie Alcasid is president, took their oath of office before Pres. Noynoy for whom Ogie wrote two songs, one for the campaign plug and another (in collaboration with Noel Cabangon) for P-Noy’s inauguration as the 15th President of the Philippines last June 30 at the Quirino Grandstand. That was when Ogie invited P-Noy to be a member of the wedding entourage.

“I asked P-Noy to be one of our ninongs but he said mas bagay kung isa na lang siya sa mga abay.”

Reminded about a Filipino superstition (pamahiin) that an unmarried man or a woman who acts as principal sponsor runs the risk of delaying his/her own marriage or not marrying at all, Ogie was surprised. “I didn’t know that.”

The singer/songwriter cannot be entirely faulted for the faux pas. Afterall,  our country’s first bachelor President, back when he was still a presidential candidate, stood as a Principal Sponsor (replacing his mother Cory who was the original choice before she passed away) during the wedding of his running-mate Mar Roxas to broadcaster Korina Sanchez. Noynoy reportedly felt awkward for the role, being single and younger than Roxas.[1] Prior to his inauguration, the President-elect (partnered with his sister, Pinky Aquino-Abellada) served as wedding sponsor to an LP partymate’s wedding.[2]

To avoid such sticky situations, Filipinos should be aware of  the various superstitions we have to avoid offending the sensibilities of the people who may still believe them.  We have listed some Pinoy wedding superstitions so that soon-to-weds will have a general idea.

Going back to the above quoted article: Ricky Lo further asked if the soon-to-weds would also invite P-Noy’s girlfriend, Valenzuela City Councilor Shalani Soledad, to be P-Noy’s partner. Ogie said, “We haven’t decided yet. It’s up to Regine to choose the lady secondary sponsors.” [read full article]

Although a Malacañang wedding is not a part of P-Noy’s priorities[3], he definitely doesn’t want to jinx it either.

In his keynote speech at the oathtaking, P-Noy’s took the chance to respond to Ogie’s wedding invitation, “Sa Disyembre, ako ang magiging abay nyo. Pagdating naman ng panahon, kayo ang magiging ninong at ninang ko.” [4]

December 22, 2010 is the rumored altar date for Ogie Alcasid & Regine Velasquez. The couple has not officially confirmed it.

postscript: Mar & Korina’s wedding photos

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(photo by Pat Dy)

It’s been over five months since the October 27, 2009 Filipinana wedding of senator Mar Roxas and broadcaster Korina Sanchez, but we haven’t really seen much of the official photographs taken during the event.

Earlier today, photographer Pat Dy posted several shots from the wedding in his blog.  Aside from the couple’s, included in the set are photos of the entourage, the who’s who among the wedding guests, and even the massive crowd gathered outside the church.

(It would be recalled the couple cut back on their wedding expenses in observance of austere times due to flooding and devastation in the aftermath of ‘Ondoy’ and ‘Pepeng.’ Had original plans pushed through, this was how their wedding reception in Araneta Coliseum would have looked like.)

Aside from Pat Dy, here’s a list of Mar & Korina’s wedding suppliers:

bridal gown: Pepito Albert | shoes: Cesar Gaupo | make-up : Robbie Pinera | hair: Raymond Santiago | barong tagalog (groom & male entorage): Randy Ortiz | gowns (female entourage): Patrice Ramos-Diaz | flowers: Margarita Fores | wedding planner: Bridesmaids & Co. | catering: Cibo | music: Manila Philharmonic Orchestra | choir: Philippine Madrigal Singers

Celebrity Groom: Ryan Eigenmann marries longtime girlfriend

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(via inquirer.net) Ryan Eigenmann, scion of Philippine show biz royalty, wed Cathy Bordalba (his girlfriend of five years – PEP) last Feb. 28 at the Coconut Palace in Manila.  Ryan’s parents, Michael de Mesa and Gina Alajar, attended the ceremony.  Michael flew in from the United States, as did his own parents Eddie Mesa and Rosemarie Gil, scoring a perfect attendance for the talented Eigenmann family.

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(photo courtesy of Cherryblocks Photography)

Celebrity Bride: Camille Prats said “I do…again.”

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Yesterday, March 5, Camille Prats finally walked down the aisle at Sanctuario De San Antonio in Forbes Park to exchange ‘I dos’ once again with husband Anthony Linsangan.  Their reception was held in the Rizal Ballroom of Shangri-La Makati.

The couple first tied the knot on January 5, 2008 in a civil ceremony at Los Angeles, California witnessed by their immediate family members. A few weeks after, Camille gave birth to their first child, Nathaniel. The toddler was supposed to be his parent’s ring bearer, but he was asleep during the march. 🙂

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(photo by Dino Lara)

Among the principal sponsors are Senator Miguel Zubiri, GMA-7 executive Wilma Galvante, ABS-CBN executive Cory Vidanes, GMA Films president Annette Gozon-Abrogar, Aga Muhlach, Mayor Ramon Ylagan, director Edgar Mortiz, Dr. Manny Calayan, and Camille’s manager Arnold Vegafria.

Actor John Prats, the bride’s eldest brother, and Angelica Panganiban, stood as cord sponsors. Marvin Agustin and Marco Alcaraz were among the groomsmen, while Diana Zubiri and Iya Villania stood as bridesmaids.

Kyla sang “I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing” as the bride walked towards the altar.

The bride’s gown was a Rajo Laruel creation.  The designer said “the dress is a little bit extraordinary because it’s not your traditional white. It’s a combination of different tones of gold, ivory and champagne…the whole bodice is actually quite intricate and took a long time to make, almost about three and half months. The crystals are all Austrian Swarovski, and they form a certain pattern. We wanted something almost fantasy in its inspiration. You know, befitting somebody like Camille who is princess-like.”

Watch this ‘star-studded’ onsite video below edited by Jason Magbanua.  For more photographs taken during the wedding, head on to Dino Lara’s blog.

Asian pop star married in Boracay!

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Malaysian-born singer Fish Leong got married to Taiwanese businessman Tony Chao in a beach wedding at Discovery Shores last Monday. The bride is well-known in the Mandarin pop scene and has had much success in Taiwan, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Japan. Jasmine Leong (Fish’s stage name) is known as “the Queen of Love Songs” and famous for her love-themed ballads, many of which have become popular KTV hits.

Talks about her planned island wedding came out as early as October last year. Channel News Asia reported that the Fish originally wanted to hold her wedding on the island of Boracay where around 50 relatives and friends were to be invited. The bridegroom was also prepared to bear all expenses including accommodation and flights estimated to be worth S$100,000. But due to the recent storms and floods in the Philippines, the couple is now considering either Okinawa or Guam as an alternative. The following month, Fish laid down guidelines for upcoming wedding.

Luckily, their original plans to hold here wedding here pushed through. The couple flew in their own hair & makeup artist and photographer from Taiwan. A few photos from the wedding can be viewed here.

The Philippines’ very own, Mayad Studios covered the wedding and did the SDE (same-day-edit) video which can be seen below. Amanda Tirol of Boracay Weddings was the couple’s wedding planner, and April & Karen Yu did the bouquets.

The Philippines has hosted the weddings of other big names in world of Chinese entertainment. In 2006, Hong Kong actors Nicholas Tse & Cecilia Cheung got married in a private wedding organized by their Filipina maid. Early last year, another HK celebrity couple (Dickie Cheung & Zhang Qian), had their wedding held in San Agustin Church in Manila.

Below is an article about Tony & Fish’s wedding as reported by Singapore’s Strait Times.

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BORACAY (Philippines) Malaysian singer Fish Leong married Taiwanese businessman Tony Chao in a beach wedding on Monday, said reports.

At the ceremony at Discovery Shores resort, she was led down the aisle by her mentor, singer-songwriter Jonathan Lee, and was in tears before she took her vows. Her bridesmaid, singer Penny Tai, yelled at her not to cry and mess up her make-up.

After the 31-year-old bride and 34-year-old groom exchanged rings in front of more than 50 guests, she choked as she told him: ‘Thank you for loving me.’

Her bridal dress was by Vera Wang and her diamond wedding band was by Cartier, said the report.

Lee, who was a chief witness to the nuptials, said: “I’m the first man who brought her into the music industry when she was 17. Today, I entrust her to the second man in her life.”

The couple, who dated for about two years, will live in Taipei.

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related news item:

Photos from Allen & Roselle’s wedding

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It’s Dino Lara‘s turn to showcase his photographs of his celebrity bride, Roselle Nava when she tied the knot with Allen Tan.  The gown donned by the bride was a Cecilio Abad creation.

And yes ladies, there’s also that photo when Piolo Pascual sang in the church. A montage of the performers who rendered song numbers during the reception is also part of the set. Simply click the photo below to view the gallery.

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(photo by Dino Lara)

An adventure to last forever

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(below is an excerpt from Lea Salonga‘s column “BACKSTORY” for today’s edition of the Inquirer.)

lea_salonga_wedding.jpgMANILA, Philippines—My husband Rob and I just celebrated our sixth wedding anniversary on Sunday. We spent it in Cebu working—he as president of AmbientMedia, overseeing my concert “Your Songs,” and I as the artist singing at the Waterfront Hotel.

However, when the concert ended, he took a few minutes for a little old-fashioned romance and gave me a bouquet of roses as the curtain call music was playing. What he didn’t know was that my brother Gerard and I were told that he would be making that sweet presentation (thanks to our production manager, Liza Camus), so we prepared a surprise of our own.

I kept Rob onstage, and then signaled Gerard to end the chaser music and start “Two Words.” I sang it to my husband, pretty much the same way I rendered it on our wedding day six years ago. And yes, it got the same reaction, but without the body-wracking sobs.

Wow, it’s been quite a while since that beautiful wedding ceremony. I remember that day very well (and since there are numerous videos posted on YouTube, it’s easy to relive it). However, that’s not how our story began.

It started on Nov. 5, 2001—the night of our very first date. [READ MORE….]

Mar & Korina say their vows before thousands of guests

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(photo by Rudy Liwanag)

Dubbed by local media as the “wedding of the year,” senator and vice-presidential hopeful Mar Roxas (52) married broadcast journalist Korina Sanchez (45) in a well-attended ceremony at the Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City.

Their theme was appropriately Flipiniana.  The bride wore a serpentina-style piña gown by Pepito Albert sans the traditional bridal veil.  She walked down the aisle teary-eyed with her three brothers taking turns escorting her to the altar, as the groom awaited her.

The exchange of rings, the giving of the arrhae, and the exchange of vows were completely documented in this 10-minute video clip from ABS-CBN:

After the wedding ceremony, the newlyweds greeted hundreds of well-wishers who stayed and witnessed the entire proceedings on giant screens setup outside the church.  Afterwhich, the couple headed at the courtyard to partake of the simple merienda cena of local delicacies (pan de sal, puto, polvoron, etc) and refreshments.  Also seen was a white, flower-decked pedicab bearing the couple’s picture with the words “Bagong Kasal.”

The couple decided to call-off their grand reception banquet to be held at the Araneta Coliseum, and instead donated part of the P3-million budget to various charities and organizations which assist victims of the recent calamities that hit the country.

Here’s a visual narrative of what Mar-Korina’s reception would have been.

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Related Photos & Videos:

Mar & Korina trim wedding expenses for storm victims

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WaW Mar Roxas Korina Sanchez Wedding

(via inquirer.net) It will be a scaled down wedding for Liberal Party vice presidential candidate Sen. Mar Roxas and his fiancee, broadcast journalist Korina Sanchez on Oct.27.

On radio and in a statement, Sanchez said on Tuesday that she and Roxas have decided to cancel the reception for the wedding and instead donate the money to charities and helping victims of Tropical Storm “Ondoy” and Typhoon “Pepeng.”

Sanchez and Roxas are set to wed at the Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City two weeks from now and had planned to hold the wedding reception at the Araneta Coliseum — which is owned by the Roxas and Araneta clan.

“We are hoping that our guests will understand why we are doing this,” Sanchez said in a statement. “It really does not feel right to be celebrating—no matter how important this date is for Mar and I — at a time of calamity and difficulty for a large number of our kababayans.”

In the same statement, Roxas said: “Matagal nga naming pinlano ni Korina at pinaghandaan ang espesyal na araw na ito. Gusto sana namin na marami ang kasalo sa saya. Pero parang hindi tama na malaki ang gagastusin sa selebrasyon sa panahon ng kalamidad. Napakarami nating kababayan ang naghihirap ngayon – lubog sa tubig baha. Pakikiramay at pagtulong na rin namin ito sa kanila.”

Sanchez, meantime, played down a wedding superstition that warns engaged couples against making too many changes in their wedding plans. The superstition considers it a bad omen.  She maintained that it is more inappropriate if she and her fiancé push through with the reception at the Araneta Coliseum in the midst of massive devastation wrought by the two tropical storms.

Speaking at dzMM radio, Sanchez said she and Roxas had set aside about P2 million for the reception.

She said the money will be donated to Caritas Manila, the Philippine National Red Cross, Sagip Kapamilya of ABS-CBN and Kapuso Foundation of GMA 7.

The two storms hit the country in a span of a week, bringing floods which devastated a large of swath of Metro Manila and parts of Northern Luzon.

“I Have Fallen in Love with the Same Woman Thrice”

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The year was 1973.  Ninoy wrote an ode for Cory from within his prison cell in Fort Bonifacio as a political detainee during the Marcos Regime.  The original poem is composed of 19 stanzas symbolic of the years of their marriage.  It’s a tribute to his wife sacrifices for him and their family as he served his country and fought for freedom.  Its theme was both emotional and political.

In 1987,  singer/songwriter Jose Mari Chan was commissioned to set the poem into music.  The piece adopted the first line of the poem for its title “I Have Fallen in Love (with Same The Woman Three Times)” and was included in Chan’s top-selling album “Constant Change” which has since achieved a Diamond Record status (10 times platinum in terms of sales). The song didn’t get as much airplay on the radio then as much as the big hits from the album (i.e. “Beautiful Girl”, “Please Be Careful With My Heart”).  But the paean now serves as one of the theme upon the former president’s demise.

On the day of Cory’s passing, the Joe Mari Chan was interviewed by Arnold Clavio & Vikki Morales for GMA News detailing about how the song came to be.  When requested by the news anchors to sing parts of the song, Chan obliged but turned emotional midway.  Below is a clip of that 9-minute interview:

A remake by Christian Bautista is due to be released soon and will be included in his new album containing 19 Jose Mari Chan classics. Below is the full lyrics of the song and a YouTube clip as Bautista sang it live for the first time in yesterday’s tribute for Cory in ABS-CBN’s Sunday noontime show, ASAP.

I Have Fallen in Love (with the Same Woman Three Times)
words by Benigno Aquino, Jr.
music by Jose Mari Chan

 I have fallen in love
With the same woman three times
In a day spanning 19 years
Of tearful joys and joyful tears

I loved her first when she was young
Enchanting and vibrant, eternally new
She was brilliant, fragrant
And cool as the morning dew

 I fell in love with her the second time
When first she bore her child and mine
Always by my side, the source of my strength
Helping to turn the tide

But there were candles to burn
The world was my concern
While our home was her domain
And the people were mine
While the children were hers to maintain

So it was in those eighteen years and a day
‘Til I was detained; forced in prison to stay

 Suddenly she’s our sole support
Source of comfort
Our wellspring of hope
On her shoulders felt the burden of life

 I fell in love again
With the same woman the third time
Looming from the battle
Her courage will never fade

 Amidst the hardships she has remained
Undaunted and unafraid.
She is calm and composed
She is God’s lovely maid

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Full text of the original poem is posted here.

Cory Aquino: a celebration of her life & love!

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WaW Cory and Ninoy Aquino

Today a wife is brought to her final resting place beside her man in Manila Memorial Park.  In a corner so ordinary as everything around them, the only indication they’re even there is if one doesn’t happen to miss two plain epitaphs bearing the couple’s nicknames: “CORY” and “NINOY.”

Ninoy didn’t have the privilege to see his housewife become the first woman president in all of Asia.  Their 29 years of marriage has been punctuated by his seven and a half years of incarceration, and cut short by his brutal assassination.  His death served as the candle that shed light until his countrymen joined his cause which turned darkness into yellow. Her passing, a reminder never to give in to that gloom that tries to envelope us as a nation.

My wife & I belong to a generation who only knew Cory as a widow, but never a wife. Our blog entries the past couple of days served as our own first time glimpse into her married life.  Indeed, Ninoy and his housewife was an ordinary couple who led extra ordinary lives because of their love for the country.  May our generation never forget that ‘the good & the beautiful’ is a stark contrast from the simple and ordinary.

This is our final tribute to Ninoy’s bride.  Here we celebrate her life & love!

“I’ve been thinking, ‘Would I ever have married anybody else?’ I don’t think so. And not that nobody ever looked at me. Because I am vain enough to think that there were others. But none of them ever measured to my husband’s qualities. And I feel blessed that we found each other…”

– Cory on being married to Ninoy

“He could solve almost any problem. And I also felt whatever problem I had, I could just bring to him, and he would find ways and means of addressing that problem, or the two of us could easily look for solutions. But this time, both of us were powerless to do so. And so the two of us naturally had to turn to God. And while I was prayerful before, I was not as fervently prayerful as I became. Because before, what were my problems? Really nothing. And very inconsequential com­pared to the enormous problems that were brought to us because of Martial Law.”

– Cory, on being married to Ninoy during his incarceration

(The above clips are part of Cory’s video interview by Dr. Shann Ferch in November 2004. Visit coryaquino.ph to view the complete video interview and the full transcript.)