Just got back from Bohol to be present at my good friend Sikatuna's wedding. Ok, his real name's Marc and he got wed to Mimin. I had a small part, I played Franz Schubert's Ave Maria on the organ with the highly acclaimed Loboc Children's Choir at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.
It was a grand event, with guests flying in from Manila and nearby cities, Australia and Singapore, where the couple is based. The most beautiful part was when, after the grand procession of the entourage, the church's entrance doors were closed briefly for a few minutes, only to open again, allowing a flood of light to rush in, ushering the tall and beautiful bride, very radiant in her white veil and flowing gown, appearing like Wagner's Venus, and slowly walking her way down the aisle towards the altar, to the strains of Pachelbel's Canon in D provided by a Cebu-based String Quartet. Lovely.
The String Quartet was amazing. The quality's very good and they played not just some corny classicized pop ballads or some predictable Andrea Bocelli but honest-to-goodness classical music, Mozart, Bach, Handel, Boccherini and would you believe, even the Intermezzo from Pietro Mascagni's operatic masterpiece, Cavalleria Rusticana. They're miles better than some Manila-based ensembles. Was I the only one who noticed it?
The reception was fit for royalty, you know, like Rajah Sikatuna. (hi Marc!). It was easy to see that the couple spent a fortune for the event. The reception was at a top end resort in beautiful Panglao Island where the rates are qouted in US$!. Well why not, the terraced pools have a stunning view of the Mindanao (I think) sea.
We even got to tour Bohol the following day. Yep, we saw tarsiers, climbed a Chocolate hill and cruised along the jade green Loboc river while having our lunch. Very relaxing.
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