MANILA, Philippines?Senator Benigno ?Noynoy? Aquino III will not only witness but will also serve as one of the principal sponsors at his ex-girlfriend?s wedding next week.

Senator Mar Roxas disclosed this on Tuesday, exactly a week before he ties the knot with popular broadcaster Korina Sanchez.

Aside from Aquino, Roxas named other sponsors in the wedding as Chief Justice Reynato Puno, former Senate president Jovito Salonga, ABS-CBN chairman Eugenio Lopez III, George Araneta, Rosa Rosal, Che-Che Lazaro, Ruby Roxas, Baby Forest, and Helen Costales.

But Aquino admitted at first he was reluctant to accept the role.

?Nakiusap ako, sabi ko hindi ako nagni-ninong sa kasal. Sabi ko kasi may pamahiin na hindi (makakasal) kapag nagninong ang binata. Sabi niya (Roxas), hindi totoo ?yan,? he said over the phone.

?Ang awkward din pag iniisip kong tatawagin nila akong ninong,? he said.

But Aquino later gave in to the request of his friend, Roxas, who is also his running mate in the upcoming elections, as he would just assume the role offered to his late mother, President Corazon Aquino

?Since wala na si mommy, sabi n?ya kung pwedeng ?yong closest na lang ang maging ninong. Paano ko namang mahihindian?? he said.

Roxas? only son from his former relationship will be his best man.

And as promised, Roxas said the wedding would be as simple as possible, planning to offer ?refreshments? only for those who would be present at the wedding ceremony at the Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City.

The couple had invited 2,000 guests.

But instead of spending for the reception at the Araneta Coliseum, the couple agreed to donate the money for the victims of tropical storms ?Ondoy? (international codename: Ketsana) and ?Pepeng? (Parma).

The couple formally turned over P2.2 million in donation to six groups; Caritas Philippines (P500,000), ABS-CBN Foundation, Sagip Kapamilya (P500,000), GMA Kapuso Foundation (500,000), Philippine National Red Cross-National Blood Service (P250,000), Philippine National Red Cross for the account of typhoon Ondoy (P250,000), Igan Foundation (P100,000) and another P100,000 for ABS-CBN Foundation Kapamilya, Shower Na project.

?Matagal na naming plinano ni Korina ay pinaghandaan ang espesyal na araw na ito. Gusto sana naming na marami ang kasalo sa saya pero parang hindi tama na malaki ang gagastusin sa selebrasyon sa panahon ng kalamidad,? Roxas said in a statement.

?Napakarami nating kababayan ang naghihirap ngayon. Lubog sa tubig baha. Pakikiramay at pagtulong na rin naming ito sa kanila,? he said.