MANILA, Philippines?Jude Estrada, 40, the youngest child of deposed President Joseph Estrada and former Sen. Loi Ejercito is set to marry his high school sweetheart on Monday at Santuario de San Antonio Church in Forbes Park, Makati City.

Cristy Fermin, television host and self-proclaimed surrogate mother of the groom, said the family of the bride, Ma. Rowena ?Weng? Ocampo, was a long-time neighbor of the Estradas in Greenhills, San Juan City.

?Their families are close. Weng is one of the closest friends of [Jude?s sister] Jackie and was one of her bridesmaids when she got married to Beaver Lopez,? Fermin said.

A request to interview the bride and groom was turned down ?because they are private individuals,? Fermin explained.

She did reveal that the younger Estrada and Ocampo had been ?steadies? since high school and described the couple?s relationship as an enduring love affair.

?They have been through trials. They have gone their separate ways but they always knew they would end up together,? Fermin said. ?The wedding was planned way before the President was ousted. But they decided to wait until after the President was released from prison. They wanted him to be present on their special day.?

At least 700 guests are expected. The reception will be at Shangri-La Hotel in Makati. Nancy Carvajal