NAKU, Ian F., you should have witnessed the wedding ng tv host cum Valenzuela City Councilor Shalani Soledad kay Pasig Congressman Roman Romulo. It was the kind that every woman would dream na magkaroon siya. Na sana’y i-offer din sa kanya ng lalaking kanyang pinakamamahal at balak na makasama habambuhay.

Well, the wedding which was held at the St. Benedict Church at the Ayala Westgrove Gate in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, ay simpleng-simple. Ganunpaman, napaka-elegante ng event. Bukod pa sa overly joyous.

Sabi nga ng isang lifestyle editor, isang wedding iyon na walang lumuha. Maski tears of joy.

Obvious na lahat ay maligaya for the couple, na masasabi mang whirlwind ang romansang namagitan, still wish ng lahat na magtapos ito sa kasalan.

Walang ’di magsasabing ’di ituturing na isa sa magandang politician at tv host si Shalani. Yet, sa araw ng kanyang kasal, in her Inno Sotto gown, she was even prettier, a sight to behold.

Ganundin ang kanyang groom na si Atty. Roman, na ang suot na tuxedo ay gawa ng international designer na si Hugo Boss. Ang pair of shoes na suot naman niya ay Louis Vuitton brand.

Kahit ang kanilang mga bisita mapa-church man o sa Nuvali, where the reception was held, were in their best togs.

Lahat halos ng babae ay naka-gown. Ang mga lalaki naman, naka-Amerikana. Iilan lang ang mga nakabarong-Tagalog, na, if you notice, ay madalas isuot ni President Noynoy Aquino sa mga function na kanyang dinadaluhan, dito man sa Pilipinas o sa ibang bansa.

Teka nga pala, ba’t ba napasok ang name ni P-Noy sa usapang dapat ay tungkol lang sa naganap na kasalang Shalani and Atty. Roman?

Well, P-Noy happens to be the ex-boyfriend of Shalani. At friend ni Atty. Roman, kaya’t balitang invited din naman siya. He was a no-show, though.

P-Noy promised daw, however, that he will send the couple a gift.

Nakarating kaya ito? At ano kayang klaseng gift ito?

Well.

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Going back to the Shalani and Atty. Roman wedding, talagang ‘followed’ to the letter, kumbaga, ang bawat detalyeng nagaganap sa loob ng simbahan. Lalo’t  nu’ng tinatanong na sila ni retired Archbishop of Manila Gaudencio Rosales ng mga usual questions asked between couple na ikinakasal. Halimbawa, do they promise to love each other, etc.

Pero ang higit na nagpakilig sa crowd ay nu’ng i-recite na nila ang kanilang marriage vows which they both composed.

Shalani: “I knew when I met you that you were the one for me. And I promise to love you from now on and forever.”

Atty. Roman: “It took me 44 years to find you. I have found you, Shalani. I have found happiness. And I promise to love you from now on and forever.”

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Obviously, walang nakapansin ng presence ng tunay na ama ni Shalani, ang kilalang banker na si Adolfo ‘Adi’ Aguirre, who inconspicuous seated himself inside the church with some friends.

Two years ago lang nang magkakilala ang mag-ama.

Prior to meeting her dad, Shalani is said to have never known kung sino ang kanyang ama. Her mom naman, the former Evelyn Soledad (now a Yumul), never volunrteered to tell her about him. Nor did Shalani dared ask her about him.

Shalani grew up with her Uncle Ramon Solead, her mom’s brother and his family. Kaya, ’di kataka-takang sa araw ng kanyang kasal, it was her Uncle Ramon who marched with her mom to bring her to the altar to the waiting arms of her groom, Atty. Roman.

Atty. Roman, on the other hand, has a solid family. His parents are former Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto  Romulo at Lovely Tecson-Romulo.

Eldest si Atty. Roman among five siblings: Mons, Lupe, Berna at Erwin.

By the way, we heard that after the couple’s honeymoon in Amanpulo, they will stay in a house in Valle Verde in Pasig, owned by the Romulos.

The couple plan to eventually planned to build their own homes. Yes, homes, one in Valenzuela City and another one in Pasig City.