A Wedding in the Family
The first few days of my trip to the Philippines went by in a whirlwind. We were all preparing for my brother’s wedding. Amie and Bern went steady for 10 years before tying the knot. We’re very happy to welcome Amie to the family!
The church they were married in is called The Shrine of Jesus. It’s a fairly new church located right across the Mall of Asia in the Pasay reclamation area. The breezes that come through the side doors of the church make it very comfortable, even without air-conditioning. If you want to get married here, be warned about their strict time policy. Be late for more than 15 minutes and you might find your own wedding canceled by the priest! Amie and Bern were there 30 minutes before scheduled so we were in the clear.
My firstborn son was the ringbearer. His first time to wear a barong Tagalog, purchased by my mom in Divisoria for P600 (~$12). At 3, he was the oldest among the “bearers” and he did his “ringbearer walk” all by himself. A very proud moment for his dad and me. :) Sadly, I don’t have photos to show, because my arms were full carrying my other baby. But now I understand how parents feel when their kids are chosen to be flowergirl, abay, etc.
Paco Park, the site of the reception, is a circular park enclosing the Spanish-era Chapel of San Pancratius (also circular in shape). A former cemetery and the site of the Gomburza tomb, it is now a National Park. It is a very popular site for weddings, an romantic oasis in the middle of the hustle of Manila. There was a lot of space during the reception for the kids to play in and enjoy one another’s company as the adults chatted around dinner. My brother’s wedding was during the late afternoon, and the trees in the park provided for ample shade. I think an evening wedding in the Park would also be quite stunning, with the chance to dress up the pool and surroundings with lights.
[Images: fountain (own photo); Shrine of Jesus (18feb2006 at Webshots); Paco Park (mitzlove at Webshots)]
Tags: Paco Park, Shrine of Jesus, Philippines, Philippine wedding, Filipino wedding
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POSTED IN: Personal Experiences, Places to Visit
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