ILOILO CITY—They had planned a simple wedding and did not reckon with a world-famous “guest.”
Like other starry-eyed couples, Mark Pedrińa, 22, and Jhona Estrope, 21, wanted a memorable wedding day. They decided to tie the knot in a simple ceremony Thursday at the Jaro Cathedral, and invited only their relatives and a few choice guests.
Thus, they were unprepared for the pandemonium that broke out in the middle of the marriage ceremony, with a cheering crowd of hundreds storming inside the church and trailing after Manny Pacquiao.
The couple stood in bewilderment as even their guests and relatives scrambled to meet the boxing champion, who had come to attend Mass before handing out food packs to victims of Typhoon “Frank” (international codename: Fengshen) in the church compound.
The clapping and cheering drowned out the voice of the officiating priest, Alejandro Esperancilla.
Even the priest stood helpless as people clambered over the pews and jostled one another in the aisles to get close to the champ.
15-minute wait
Pacquiao, his wife Jinkee and their party took seats at the side of the altar. But the bride and groom had to sit and wait for around 15 minutes for the crowd to settle down.
Esperancilla repeatedly urged the “gate-crashers” to sit down and be quiet, and occasionally warned them that police would remove them from the church if they refused to comply.
The marriage ceremony resumed nearly 20 minutes later, with the church now packed with unexpected guests.
It was only later that the crowd realized that the couple seated in front of the altar were in the process of being wed.
“Ay, may ginakasal gali (Oh, somebody is getting married),” someone said, and the message went around.
Not angry but amused
But rather than be angered by the intrusion on their day of days, Mark and Jhona were amused.
“We knew that this would be an important day for us, but we did not expect it to be this memorable,” Jhona said, smiling.
Many in the crowd said the couple were actually lucky to have a very important guest.
“Why don’t you make him one of your sponsors?” some suggested to the couple.
But even if uninvited, the crowd that did not even know the couple’s names clapped and cheered as Esperancilla pronounced them man and wife.
Pacquiao stayed until the ceremony was finished and left after receiving Holy Communion.
In jest, Esperancilla said the newlyweds were worried that the crowd would also proceed to the reception.
“Only invited guests are allowed,” he said.
