Best wishes to Lea Salonga

[edsa77]

Posted: 1/11/04 at 2:26pm

Simple but emotional

LOS ANGELES-It was probably her most memorable entrance. Smiling and laughing, she walked down the church aisle decorated with fragrant red roses and softly flickering candles. And then for a moment, at the sight of him, she held her breath.

Lea Salonga, the Philippines' Tony and Laurence Olivier award-winning singer and actress, wed Chinese-American businessman Robert Chien Saturday afternoon in a ceremony that was deliberately simple, yet invariably high on emotion.


The wedding Mass, held at the starkly beautiful Cathedral of our Lady of the Angels, played out like a touching musical.

While waiting for the ceremony to begin, a smiling Chien, huddled in a corner with his best man, Eric Putz, and groomsmen, told the Inquirer he was "excited, nervous and dizzy."

The altar was also abloom with red roses and lit with candles. The guests, who all sported gold ribbons, sat in the front half section of the nave, while a predominantly Filipino crowd, mostly Salonga's fans, filled the rear section.

With tight security and a TV crew recording the proceedings, there was an extra charge of excitement. The processional began to the strains of Johann Pachelbel's "Canon in D," the cue for the entry of principal sponsors-Jose Mari Chan, Ferdinand Agustin, Remedios Casasola and Nancy Yu.

Among the seven bridesmaids were Christina Yasunaga, Chien's cousin who encouraged the romance that led to this wedding, and DJ Francisco, girlfriend of the bride's brother, Gerard.

Actor Victor Lirio, main wedding coordinator, and Yvette Fernandez Ferreol, Bloomberg Television producer, were the honor attendants.

Salonga, lovely in an elegant wedding gown by Cebuana designer Monique Lhuillier, marched to the altar with her brother and her mother, Ligaya.

She would tell the Inquirer later what for her was the highlight of the ceremony: "Walking down the aisle and seeing him!"

Her heart skipped a beat then, but Chien was already in tears.

Before the couple proceeded to the main altar, they exchanged hugs and kisses with Gerard and Ligaya, who also started to cry. It was one of the evening's emotional peaks.

But nothing matched the tearful exchange of "I do's" before the officiant, Fr. Brian Castañeda. Weeping and barely able to speak, Chien could only whisper his vows: "I, Robert, take you, Lea, to be my wife ... "

Salonga upped the heart-tugging impact of the moment when she managed to sing "Two Words" to her sobbing and shaking groom. The song was an early wedding present from Louie Ocampo and Freddie Santos. By this time, everyone in the cathedral was misty-eyed or openly sniffling. Then the bride recited her wedding vows and yielded to tears as well.

'One hand, one heart'

Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim's "One Hand, One Heart," sung by Lea's cantor, Sabrina Lu, and now US-based singer Bobby Martino during the presentation of the gifts, reflected the bride's musical theater background.

Communion hymns were Ocampo and George Canseco's "Ikaw," sung by Liz Casasola, and "Tanging Yaman" by Fr. Manoling Francisco (who was present) and Philip Gan, performed by Luzviminda Lor.


The newlyweds exchanged a long kiss to thunderous applause before the recessional, for which Jean Joseph Mouret's "Rondeau" was played.

There were less tears but just as much emotion at the reception in downtown Los Angeles' historic and regal Millennium Biltmore Hotel.

High points of the party were Salonga and Chien -- who was more composed now-singing D. Shire and C. Connors' "With You I'm Born Again," and then dancing with their parents to Louis Armstrong's classic "It's a Wonderful World."

Ligaya Salonga told the Inquirer: "I'm very happy. She found a good partner -- or else there wouldn't have been a wedding."

The church rites and reception were taped for a two-hour TV special directed by Bobby Garcia and hosted by Boy Abunda, to be shown in the Philippines later this month.

[bwaylyric]

Posted: 1/12/04 at 11:29am

Congrats, Lea! Hope this is a marriage made in heaven...joined by the gods of fortune!

[Phantom2]

Posted: 1/12/04 at 11:43am

What a handsome couple.