Show biz, politics mix in Revillas’ anniversary

The big names in politics, show biz, business and media lead the cast of principal sponsors at the renewal of wedding vows by Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. and his wife, Cavite Representative Lani Mercado-Revilla today.

Former President Joseph Estrada, one of the sponsors, is paired with his successor and political enemy, former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, according to the wedding invitation.

They will be joined by another former President, Fidel V. Ramos, and his wife, former First Lady Amelita Ramos.

Conspicuously absent in the cast of sponsors is President Benigno Aquino III, who incidentally will stand as the best man at the renewal of vows of Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago and lawyer Narciso Santiago on June 19.

“There’s nothing political about it,” Revilla said in reply to questions about why Mr. Aquino wasn’t among the sponsors. He explained this year’s sponsors were the same set of sponsors they had during their 1998 church wedding. They were first wed in 1986.

The senator, however, said that the couple had invited Mr. Aquino to the wedding but he did not confirm his attendance.

Revilla, president of the Lakas-Kampi party that brought Arroyo to power in 2004, denied reports that the party was plotting to retaliate against the Aquino administration’s attacks on the Arroyos.

Revilla and his wife are renewing their wedding vows to mark their 25th anniversary at the Shrine of St. Therese of the Child in Villamor Air Base in Pasay at 3 p.m. on today.

The list of sponsors also includes Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, who is paired with Gretchen Cojuangco, wife of businessman Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco; former Senator Ernesto Maceda and former Representative Cynthia Villar; and former Speaker Jose de Venecia and wife Representative Georgina de Venecia.