Ai-Ai & Gerald: This time, there’s forever!

It’s definite: Ai-Ai delas Alas and Gerald Sibayan’s oft-postponed wedding will be solemnized on Dec. 12…this year!...at a church (name and location confidential) which Ai-Ai holds dear. The original date was 2018 until Ai-Ai and Gerald was advised by no less than Bishop Antonio Tobias to have it now — “Kasi daw,” Ai-Ai said, “bawal nga ang live-in.”

Well, it’s about time, long over-due, after all they have been together for three years and eight months, lovingly embraced by their respective families.

After two failed marriages (first to Miguel Vera, now based in the US and has remained a good friend to Ai-Ai; and the second to Jed Salang which lasted only a few months), Ai-Ai is sure that she’s marrying for the right reasons, admitting in all honesty that the first marriages were marred by negative factors.

“At that time,” she confessed, “I had hidden agenda because third parties were involved at gusto kong mang-inis. Nakarma tuloy ako. You know, kapag sinimulan mo ng mali, matatapos na mali. This time, I have my life in order, it’s my first real and right marriage, and I’m marrying all out of love. Gusto kong makasama si Gerald habang buhay. This time, there’s forever.”

Everything is set: the wedding gown designed by Frederick Peralta (a gift from Ai-Ai’s BFF Marian Rivera), the guest list limited to 300 (Ai-Ai plans to host a post-wedding dinner for friends not listed), and the pre-nup signed recently at the Temple of Leah in Cebu, which was built by Ellen Adarna’s grandfather Teodorico Soriano Adarna.

Asked why she wore a flaming-red dress (designed by Cebuano designer Lord Maturan) for the occasion, Ai-Ai- laughed.

“I want to feel na dalaga ako at maganda ako,” adding that it was Gerald and his family who suggested that there should be a pre-nup, something which Ai-Ai didn’t have for her two previous marriages. “It’s for Gerald’s peace of mind, para sa kanyang kapayapaan. Anyway, it’s only money. Whether you are a celebrity or an ordinary person, it’s normal na magtutulungan kayo. What’s important is the love between you and that you put God at the center of your family.”

Having a lavish wedding abroad is the current fad, so why are Ai-Ai and Gerald not following suit by tying the knot in Paris or Rome or London?

“Wala kaming perang pang-ganoon,” quipped Ai-Ai. “Our wedding will be quiet and simple.”

As she does when shooting a movie, Ai-Ai will stay “celibate” until after Dec. 12. She’s 52 (in November) and Gerald is 23, but the age gap doesn’t matter. “No problem,” insisted Ai-Ai. “What matters is the love you have for each other.” In fact, they can have a baby by artificial means since, according to Ai-Ai, she has saved her eggs at the bank.

Here’s the complete wedding entourage (names as listed on the invitation):

•Principal Sponsors: Mr. Eugenio R. Abunda Jr. and Ms. Cory Vidanes; Atty. Jejomar “Jojo” Binay and Ms. Analita Del Mundo-Ramos; Mr. Henry Chua and Ms. Susan Co; Mr. Bobby Co and Ms. Lolit Solis; Mr. Delfin De Dios Jr. and Ms. Nancy Yang; Mr. Butch Espino and Ms. Maribel Espino; Sen. Dick Gordon and Ms. Felipa Dela Cruz; Mr. Felipe Gozon and Mother Lily Monteverde; Mr. Alex Lim and Ms. Susan Lim; Mr. Robert Ogie Mendoza and Ms. Melissa Rubio-Mendoza; Sen. Ralph Recto and Cong. Vilma Santos-Recto; Mr. Willie Revillame and Ms. Cristy Fermin; Bro. Bo Sanchez and Ms. Ana Puno; Gov. Chavit Singson and Ms. Julita B. Cayanan; Mr. Antonio P. Tuvera and Ms. Avin Arayata; and Bro. Mariano “Mike” Velarde and Ms. Geraldine Desiderio-Garcia.

•Maid of Honor: Sophia Andrea Delas Alas

•Matron of Honor: Sharon Cuneta

•Best Men: John Kenneth Monterubio, Sancho Vito Delas Alas and Richard “Alden” Faulkerson Jr.

•Groomsmen: Arolas Amahit, Bayani Agbayani, Ogie Alcasid, Lito Alejandria, Gerry Catama, Carlos Antonie Cayanan, Kevin Dalisay, Heildenberg Dimarukot, Ariel Manalo, Jerald Guillen Napoles, Piolo Jose Pascual, Randy Santiago, Gene Sibayan, George Sibayan and Paul Vivas

• Bridesmaids: Socorro Adam, Lenlen Rogacion, Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, Lovely Abella, Malou De Guzman, Barbara Ambas Forteza, Bianca Carlos, Abby Banares-Co, Rufa Mae Magallanes, Valeen Margarita Montenegro, Cielito Fernandez, Marilou Santiago, Eugene Domingo, Joan Fagara-Delas Alas and Rechie Del Carmen

• Secondary Sponsors: Mr. Marivic Sotto and Ms. Pauleen Luna-Sotto (Candle), Mr. Dingdong Dantes and Ms. Marian Rivera-Dantes (Veil), and Mr. Joseph Calata and Ms. Marnely S. Calata (Cord)

• Bible Bearer: Stephen Sibayan

• Coin Bearer: Gabriel Sibayan

• Ring Bearer: Seth Andrei Delas Alas

• Flower Girls: Ambella Sibayan and Angela Sibayan

The couple will spend their honeymoon in Europe, a gift from their Ninong Tony (Tuviera).

Meanwhile, before the wedding, Ai-Ai’s new movie Bes and the Beshies, directed by Joel Lamangan from a screenplay by Ricky Lee, will be shown nationwide starting on Oct. 18. Produced by Cineko Productions in cooperation with Regal Entertainment, the movie also stars Zsa Zsa Padilla, Carmi Martin and Beauty Gonzales.

“I play a single mom and I love it because the story is about women empowerment,” said Ai-Ai.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)