The bride’s scent of choice was by British perfumer since the 1730’s FLORIS who has two royal warrants, which is aptly called “Bouquet de la Reine” concocted in 1860 and re-introduced in 2002 for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.
It was created by Mr. Floris as a wedding gift for Queen Victoria when she married Prince Albert in 1840. The fragrance was then added to the Floris repertoire in 1860. Bouquet de La Reine has a magnetic energy and charismatic allure.
And so, Isabel, the bride, a direct descendant of Excelentísimo Señor Don Jose “Pepe” Ledesma, Knight of the Order of St. Gregory the Great, who commissioned Italian Architect Lucio Bernasconi (who, incidentally was the first husband of Mary Hayden Arcache-mom to our dear Palanggâ High Society High Priest Maurice Arcache) in the 1920s to build the church for the people of Silay.
The church décor had no flowers, instead, palm trees of various kinds and height filled the aisles as the bride wanted simplicity to highlight the magnificent beauty of the church.
A prelude of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” was sung by the De La Salle Chorale to keep the guests in high spirits before the entourage began its march. The choir’s A Capella rendition of the mass songs reverberated through the church’s massive dome and made one feel like it was in a cathedral in Europe.
Isabel was to wed John, a self-made man, abandoned by his biological mother and left under the care of his uncle who beat him up. He met one of his groomsmen, who took him in, and was given a scholarship at a state university in Manila. But due to his busy schedule as working student, he had to drop out.
While working at one fast food chain, he met his best-man-to-be Mark. Mark’s family took him in and sent him to school. These are the Bernardos. That’s why John is a Sagum… he persevered and eventually rose up the corporate ladder and ended up with Globe. Of course, naughty Felix Emmanuel IV wanted to keep to tradition that his sister should marry a 4th cousin, producing more distinctive Golez’s.
To this day, John considers his adoptive family (the Bernardos) like his own. It’s a stark contrast between isabel’s roots, and John’s past… but then love conquers all. His adoptive mother also named Isabel, passed away last year due to COVID, on my mom’s birthday. They took it as a sign that she was at peace and leaving John in the hands of our family.
I definitely missed this nuptials since the honorable and lovable father of the bride happens to be my classmate, “Ekoy” Felix Golez III -husband to lovely and chic Christine Legarde G. But stay i must in the real Paris, although Silay has always been called “Paris of Negros”.
With her coterie of bridal teams, Isabel was glammed up by Jim Ryan Ros— head of the glam team of Misses Universe Pia Wurtzbach and Catriona Grey among others, who flew in from Manila for this occasion. Isabel wore a simple sweetheart neckline gown designed by Milan’s Istituto di Moda Burgo alumna Maureen Disini.
The dress was a timeless piece in ivory organza with an elegant sewn-in draping and followed the mantra that less is more. She wore the iconic light blue satin slingback pumps by Blahnik (keeping in tradition to wear something blue), and for her hairpiece (something old and borrowed), her grandmother’s vintage Austrian brooch shaped like a palm leaf filled with marquise and emerald cut brilliants held her delicate veil in place.
Vivement, Monsieur et Mme. John Sagum!
MY PRAYER
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. Psalm 143:10, NIV*
