MANILA, Philippines—It has been almost 39 years and yet Loida Nicolas-Lewis, New York-based lawyer, industrialist and chair/chief executive officer of TLC Beatrice International Holdings, can still recall romantic details about her wedding at the St. Pancratius Chapel in Paco Park, Manila.
“It was 7 a.m. on Aug. 16, 1969, and the morning sun was just coming out,” Loida recalled her walk down the aisle on the arm of her father, Francisco Nicolas, toward the groom, American businessman Reginald F. Lewis. “The sound of birds chirping all around seemed almost magical in the early morning light. Then, there was the fountain with sparkling water in the center. I just loved it!”
“I wanted to be married close to where we lived (Taft Avenue corner Quirino Avenue in Manila),” she told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in a phone interview.
Added attraction
“My father hired Wedding Philippines, at that time one of the first wedding coordinators around. They recommended Paco Park, and I loved it for two reasons: National hero Jose Rizal was once buried there and the added attraction of a fountain at the wedding site. Permission was granted by the parish priest in charge of the park for the parish priest from our home province, Sorsogon, to conduct the rites,” Loida said.
Only immediate relatives were invited to the ceremony held inside the oval chapel which was not yet air-conditioned at that time, she recalled. The reception was held at the Manila Hotel by the bay where more guests awaited the wedding party.
Margarita Escaler-Harrison, the only daughter of Narcisa “Ching” de Leon-Escaler, the first Filipino woman to become permanent representative to the United Nations, also wanted to have a small, intimate wedding in a historical site. But given the size of their clan—the Escalers, De Leons (of LVN Pictures), Pamintuans and their wide network of friends—“nobody believed we could pull it off!” Ching said.
She added: “My daughter, who is based in Boston, did not want the family of her husband, Stuart Harrison, who are based in Australia but who came for the wedding, to be overwhelmed by our tradition of a big wedding with hundreds of guests. When my daughter first saw the site, she fell in love with it.”
The nuptials were held at 5:30 p.m. on April 27, 2002. It was officiated by Bishop Escaler, the bride’s granduncle, and Fr. Joaquin Bernas, S.J. The reception, which included a sit-down dinner for only 85 guests, followed at the park’s flower-filled grounds.
“It was indeed a simple wedding at a historical romantic place as the bride wanted,” Ching recalled. “Margarita wanted to make sure she knew all the people in the wedding. We even had the chapel repainted and the restrooms fixed. Our giveaways were small pen and ink paintings of the church.”
“The place had lots of character and a certain ambience,” added Margarita.
“We will forever look back fondly to our wedding in such a romantic and historical place. It was the perfect setting for the kind of wedding we wanted and had—small, intimate and surrounded by all the people we love. I also thought the cemetery added to the ambience!” she said.
For Mary Ann and Eddie Alcalde, Paco Park was a natural choice for their wedding. Apart from the historical significance of the park and the fountain at the center, only a short walk away was Adamson University, the couple’s alma mater.
“Eddie was active in the theater circuit on campus and it was at the park where they always had their workshops and rehearsals for school plays,” said Mary Ann. “We also both grew up in the area (Ermita) and our families would often hear Mass at the Paco chapel.”
Describing their wedding on June 8, 1996, Mary Ann, who works with Intel, recalled: “The ambience was solemn but the mood was festive. Love was in the air. The ceremony started at 7 p.m. Our close to 200 guests found it everything inspiring, especially the beautiful and touching homily of the two priests: Fr. James B. Reuter, S. J. and Fr. Frank M. Vargas, C. M. It was really a union and a celebration of love and life.”
St. Vincent de Paul parish priest, Fr. Rene Ruelos, under whose jurisdiction the St. Pancratius Chapel of Paco Park falls, said they average 10 weddings a month although at one time, they hit a peak of 39 weddings (sometimes four in a day) in December.
Intimate, historic setting
“We normally charge P15,000 which includes the use of the air-conditioned units, red carpet from the church door, and flowers. The oval-shaped chapel with a circular dome has a maximum seating capacity of 150. For people who appreciate history, for those who just want to have a just few guests, this is the place,” he said.
“The value of this place is something you treasure,” explained Ruelos, a history buff. The park used to be a cemetery for victims of a cholera epidemic in the 1820s, as well as the burial grounds of old-time aristocrats and distinguished personalities like Governor General Ramon Ma. Solano de Llanderal, apart from Rizal.
However, there have been no burials in the multi-storied circular park since 1910. Rizal’s remains were first interred in the outer circle of the park from 1896 till 1898 until these were exhumed and given to his family’s care. In 1912, Rizal’s ashes were transferred to his final resting place in Rizal Park.
One thing they don’t allow is the holding of wakes on the grounds, added Ruelos, who is also the Superior of the Vincentian Community of Manila. The park, on the other hand, is not only a favorite venue for weddings but also for concerts, meditation groups, orchid shows and art lectures.
Today, Paco Park remains a silent witness to many historical and social events. It has yet to be declared a National Heritage Site, something the Nicolas-Lewis, Escaler-Harrison and Leonida-Alcalde families wish for, as it was where one of the most important events in their lives took place.
Copyright 2009 Philippine Daily Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
To
subscribe to the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper in the Philippines,
call +63 2 896-6000 for Metro Manila and Metro Cebu or email your subscription request here.
Factual errors? Contact the
Philippine Daily Inquirer's day desk.
Believe this article violates journalistic ethics?
Contact the
Inquirer's Reader's Advocate.
Or write The Readers' Advocate:
c/o
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Chino RocesAvenue corner Yague and Mascardo Streets,
Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Or fax nos. +63 2 8974793 to 94
![Zoom Image](javascript:popwin("http://images.inquirer.net/media/newsinfo/inquirerheadlines/metro/images/pic-06230829330892.jpg", 410, 565))
Zoom
