"Who's who" at Miriam's "technicolor" wedding anniversary

[chua_riwap]

he-he! araw ng "plastikan" pala wedding anniv. ni miriam........


There is only one Miriam - SPY BITS By Babe Romualdez | The Philippine Star » News » Business

Nobody can say “no” to Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, including this columnist, when you get invited to such a “technicolor” wedding anniversary. Not that you’re forced to attend, but there is really never a dull moment when it comes to the feisty senator. If anything, Senator Santiago got Manila’s 400 to attend her Ruby Wedding Anniversary with former DILG undersecretary Jun Santiago. The “who’s who” guests and sponsors’ list came from all sides of the political, social and business spectrum.

Miriam put together Vice President Jejomar Binay and former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, former president Joseph Estrada and former First Lady Imelda Marcos as principal sponsors, making good on her promise to invite the living former presidents of the country – with the exception of her “nemesis” and closest rival during the presidential elections in 1992 whom she makes no bones about “intensely” disliking. All the guests were just smiling and shaking their heads at Miriam’s coup of sorts which not even Typhoon Egay could stop.

Also present were “the three Manuels” who served as secondary sponsors – Senator Manuel Villar, business tycoon Manuel Pangilinan and newly-appointed Transportation and Communications Secretary Manuel Roxas III. Mar and wife Korina were the candle sponsors; MVP and Evelyn Singson took care of the veil while Manny and Cynthia Villar were the cord sponsors.

Presidential Uncle Danding Cojuangco was also a principal sponsor together with Emilio Yap, GMA 7’s Felipe Gozon who sat with Gabby Lopez’s uncle Oscar, another principal sponsor. The best man, bachelor President Noynoy Aquino, was paired with showbiz celebrity Heart Evangelista who was the maid of honor. Miriam naughtily said there was no intention to match the two.

Then there was Chief Justice Renato Corona who marched down the aisle with Supreme Court Associate Justice Consuelo Ynares Santiago – retired SC Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales as some were intriguingly anticipating.

The feisty Miriam’s entourage included several colleagues at the Senate such as Ed Angara who was paired with former beauty queen Gemma Cruz-Araneta, Loren Legarda, Migz Zubiri, Jinggoy Estrada, Bong Revilla, siblings Allan Peter and Pia Cayetano, Antonio Trillanes who was paired with ballerina Lisa Macuja Elizalde, and Senator Bongbong Marcos with wife, Lisa.

At some point, VP Jojo Binay came up to rival Mar Roxas and the two were seen shaking hands – although no one noticed if the same scene happened between Mar and Executive Secretary Jojo Ochoa who was also a secondary sponsor at the wedding. The cavernous Manila Cathedral was soon ready for the traditional photo ops with all the sponsors. Former presidential candidate Manny Villar inevitably had to greet P-Noy, who was also seen cordially greeting his Tita Gretchen (Cojuangco).

Seeing how Senator Miriam could put together erstwhile political rivals, it therefore came as no surprise that even business tycoons could not say no to the senadora. Alex and Marixi Prieto of the Philippine Daily Inquirer together with The Philippine STAR’s Isaac Belmonte and his sister, Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte, were also present as sponsors. Our good friend, SM heiress and business tycoon Tessie Sy-Coson was paired with Felipe Gozon.

Former Arroyo social secretary Bettina Aboitiz who was one of Miriam’s hecklers at the Erap impeachment trial has made a complete U-turn and is now a great fan of the senator. Bettina told me she could not say “no” to her favorite senator, postponing her trip to Europe to join her husband, Sabin. My “tocayo” and La Salle classmate, Babes Singson of the DPWH was there, too, with Budget Secretary Butch Abad and former health Secretary Esperanza Cabral.

Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales who officiated the Mass did not pass up the opportunity to take a dig at the RH bill sponsors by warning that those who would undermine the family would weaken society. The bride who was in a ruby red gown is known for her support for the RH and divorce bills, although she has been very vocal in admitting that she was one of those who has been fortunate enough to be blessed with a happy marriage.

A nice reception followed at the Manila Hotel, with the entertainment “legislated” by Miriam on Joseph Estrada and Imelda Marcos to both sing for the guests and the “newlyweds.” Before belting out his song, Joseph Estrada did his usual “Eraptions.” He claimed that of all the “exes,” he was the one with the most “former” titles. He brought the house down when he quipped, “I was an ex-mayor, ex-senator, ex-vice president, ex-president, ex-detainee and finally, an ex-convict.”

Miriam told me Best Man P-Noy was supposed to do a duet with the maid of honor, but either the bachelor president had cold feet or lost heart since he excused himself from the reception to attend to “pressing matters” at Malacañang. Senator Jinggoy Estrada came to P-Noy’s rescue and did a fantastic cover of Nat King Cole’s “Unforgettable” with Heart Evangelista - reminiscent of Cole’s duet with daughter Natalie.

At the end of the program, Miriam read a short poem about friends which she herself wrote, then read an old 16th century prayer before the night’s celebration ended.

No doubt, only someone like Miriam Defensor Santiago can pull off such a colorful gathering with such powerhouse guests, some of whom would ordinarily not want to be seen within 10 feet of each other. Who knows, had she been declared the winner over her “closest rival” during the 1992 presidential elections, perhaps we could have been a united country – “one nation, one flag” with the unique Miriam style of carrot-and-stick approach to governance. Miriam Defensor Santiago could have been the best president the country never had.

[Ry_Tower]

Grabe sa burit ng wedding pero kung tumira sa kagastusan ng iba akala mo kung sino. Kawawa anak niya kaya yung isa ayun....

[cutedoc]

i like the comment of noli de castro last night at tv patrol that DENR will dumed up at miriams wedding...dahil andaming plastic < nice comment actually he himself is

[CoDer]

i like the comment of noli de castro last night at tv patrol that DENR will dumed up at miriams wedding...dahil andaming plastic < nice comment actually he himself is

I was laughing my ass off when Noli said... "Magagalit DENR nyan"... "Daming plastic eh"

[jedi]

come to think of it... si miriam lang nakagawa na napagsama sama nya ibat ibang kulay ng pulitika and business sector

[chua_riwap]

si nognog at gma.....nag-partner pa.
plastikan nga.

& perhaps....noynoy or erap greeting or doing beso-beso w/ gma? :suka:

it was mentioned before that manny pacquiao is also invited. but he never showed up.
maybe sumama ang loob nang tirahin ni mirriam yung advocacy nya sa RH bill.

pero malaki pa rin galit nya kay tabako.

[kotiko]

I was laughing my ass off when Noli said... "Magagalit DENR nyan"... "Daming plastic eh"

I think he didn't know he was back on air when he made that comment Although he didn't really seem to care!

Actually ngayon ko lang nagets bat niya sinabi yun!

[myk384]

pero malaki pa rin galit nya kay tabako.

The apparent reason why'd he never show up

[Ry_Tower]

si nognog at gma.....nag-partner pa.
plastikan nga.

& perhaps....noynoy or erap greeting or doing beso-beso w/ gma? :suka:

it was mentioned before that manny pacquiao is also invited. but he never showed up.
maybe sumama ang loob nang tirahin ni mirriam yung advocacy nya sa RH bill.

pero malaki pa rin galit nya kay tabako.

Iba rin kasi ginawa sa kanya ni tabakpo eh. Na-war of the generals. hehehe

[chua_riwap]

Iba rin kasi ginawa sa kanya ni tabakpo eh. Na-war of the generals. hehehe

nadaya daw siya......

ano kaya kung naging presidente natin si mirriam noon?