It was a wedding like no other.
And the bride didn’t even or was the last to know.
Carmina Villarroel was clueless what was in store for her when she showed up with husband Zoren Legaspi and their twins Mavy and Cassy at Fernbrooks, an events place in Las Piñas City made up to look like a venue for a formal affair which Carmina thought was for the shoot of a family-oriented commercial for Selecta, the brand they are endorsing (and which has just renewed their contract). Little did she know that before the day is over, she would be officially, legally and finally (finally!!!) Mrs. Zoren Legaspi. She didn’t have a chance (or any reason) to say no, if ever she wanted to. In fact, the guests (who were part of the conspiracy in silence) agreed that Carmina would say “Yes!” with resounding excitement. After all, haven’t they been planning to get married but didn’t know when?
So how did it happen that Carmina was really in the dark all this time even if, weeks earlier, her manager Dolor Guevarra had been texting their close friends an invitation “to an important event on Nov. 15” and for them “to come in smart-casuals,” with a strict reminder to keep everything under wraps?
It’s like this (as Funfare gathered from an unimpeachable VDPA [Very Deep Penetration Agent] who is one of the authors of, should I call it, “Operation Don’t Tell Mina”?):
In connivance with friends (among them Dolor and A-list talent manager Shirley Kuan, together with the Selecta guys), Zoren hatched an idea that Carmina and their twins would cherish all their lives. Yes, the twins were in on the confidential mission, bless them!
The family woke up early yesterday morning and arrived at the set fully prepared for the shoot, dressed to the nines. It was a formal affair (supposedly for the TVC, remember?). Zoren was in tuxedo while Carmina was resplendent in a dress specially designed by Paul Cabral (one of the “conspirators”). The twins were likewise in their sartorial best.
As dusk set in, the cameras started to roll as the “flash mob” entered the scene — you know, a group of people who suddenly assemble in a place and perform (like that in one of Kris Aquino’s commercials). Carmina gasped in awe. Amazing! Enter Zoren, singing a special song for Carmina. They walked (nay, glided!) towards a made-up Cherry Blossoms Tree under which Carmina sat like a blushing damsel glowing with great expectations. Zoren fell on one of his knees, took out a wedding ring (by Harry Winston no less, the favorite jeweler of the British Royal Family), slipped it into Carmina’s finger and, eyes longing with what could be manna from heaven, proposed almost in a whisper (but loud enough to be caught by the boom mic), “Will you marry me?” Of course, Carmina said, “Yes!”
And then, the twins appeared as if from nowhere and demanded, “You have to get married tonight…TONIGHT!!!”
Already, Carmina started to have just a very slight inkling that “something” was cooking, that everything wasn’t just make-believe although she wasn’t totally convinced — yet!
Flashback: Last summer when the family spent a holiday in Japan, Carmina finally realized her long-cherished wish of seeing Cherry Blossoms. Zoren planned to propose to Carmina under a Cherry Blossom Tree but there was a hitch: He wasn’t able to buy an engagement ring because his credit card was rejected. That’s the side story of the made-up Cherry Blossoms Tree at yesterday’s affair.
The shoot continued as the couple gingerly walked down a red carpet towards the second floor of the adjoining building where waited the four ninongs (Eric Quizon, Ben Chan, Felix Ang and John Concepcion of Concepcion Industries, maker of Selecta products) and four ninangs (Sharon Cuneta, Kris Aquino, Cory Vidanes and Senatoriable Grace Poe-Llamanzares, each of whom offered a bouquet of roses to the still-unsuspecting but very-real bride). And then the civil ceremony began.
The reception followed at a “holding room” where the couple’s families and select invite guests were “hiding” behind curtains but were made to watch the whole proceedings on a huge monitor. Most of the guests had been asked to keep things a secret.
It was only then that Carmina realized that everything was for real. She shed tears of joy. Zoren planned everything to the last detail, directing every step of the way, including booking for the place of their delayed “honeymoon” (that’s putting the carriage before the horse, hehe!).
Actually, said Dolor and Shirley, the couple had been planning (and telling the press about it) to get married but couldn’t decide on the date, until Zoren came up with the brilliant idea.
“We told Zoren to set the date when Carmina was free from any shooting commitment because she had a new Kapamilya soap coming up,” said Shirley (who helps Dolor in closing commercial deals for Carmina).
Meanwhile, all I want to say is, “Mabuhay ang bagong kasal!”
Yay Gusto ko mawatch yung Mob style! swerte ni Carmina!
