Bong, Lani renew vows in ‘powerhouse’ wedding rites

A “powerhouse wedding” was how Bayan Muna Representative Teddy Casiño described the renewal of marriage vows of Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla” and Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado yesterday afternoon in Pasay City.

“I hope they serve as an inspiration to us all. They’re a great couple both in politics and in show biz,” said Casiño, who tied the knot with long-time girlfriend Ruth Garcia Cervantes in 2002. “I’m feeling nostalgic. I’m now thinking of what to do on my 25th anniversary, but this is hard to beat. This is a powerhouse wedding.”

Former president Joseph Estrada led the 25 principal sponsors in yesterday’s ceremony at the Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, Villamor Airbase in Pasay City. Former presidents Fidel Ramos and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, now a congresswoman, were conspicuously absent.

The couple first wed in a nonsectarian ceremony at the Forest Lawn Memorial in Glendale, California, in the United States in 1986. Mercado, then 18, was already pregnant with their first child. 10 years later, they had their Catholic wedding in Revilla’s hometown Bacoor, Cavite.

Among the principal sponsors who joined the ceremonial march, which began at 3 p.m., were former Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar, former Senate president Ernesto Maceda, former House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., former Pangasinan Rep. Georgina de Venecia, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, Petron chair and CEO Ramon Ang and wife Teresita, PLDT chair Manuel V. Pangilinan, and National Grid Corp. of the Philippines president and CEO Henry Sy Jr.

Also present were top executives of Revilla’s home network GMA 7, chair and CEO Felipe L. Gozon, former president and CEO Menardo Jimenez, president and COO Jimmy Duavit, and senior vice president for entertainment TV Wilma Galvante, as well as Regal Entertainment matriarch Lily Monteverde, Viva Entertainment boss Vic del Rosario, TV host German Moreno and Mercado’s talent manager Lolit Solis. Film producer-director Armida Siguion Reyna was represented by son, Carlitos.

“I will not change a bit from the first Bong you loved and married. I’ll always be beside you,” Revilla said in his wedding vow.

“I expect no more hurts in the you-know-what department,” Mercado told her husband, who had been romantically linked to a number of actresses and beauty queens in the past. “I pray for more happy times and more romantic moments with you.”

Secondary sponsors were Phillip Salvador and Lorna Tolentino (candle), Manny and Jinkee Pacquiao (veil), Sen. Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and wife Precy Ejercito (cord), Jose Gabriel Bautista (ring bearer) and Alexa Daniela del Rosario (flower girl).

The couple’s sons Brian and Jolo were best men and daughter Inah del Rosario was the matron of honor.

Bishop Luis Antonio Tagle co-celebrated the Mass with Rev. Fr. Sharon Brown and Fr. Romeo Ner. Mark Bautista and Rachel Anne Go sang at the Mass, which ended around 5 p.m. The reception was held at the Harbour Tent of the Sofitel Philippine Plaza.