Noynoy one of Mar, Korina's wedding sponsors

MANILA, Philippines - Liberal Party presidential bet Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III will be one of the sponsors in the wedding of his running mate, Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, and broadcaster Korina Sanchez.

Roxas made the announcement after he and Sanchez donated P2.2 million to various institutions to help the victims of tropical storm “Ondoy” and typhoon “Pepeng.” The money was supposed to be used for their reception after the wedding on Oct. 27.

Aquino reportedly felt awkward to be a wedding sponsor, being single and younger than Roxas.

Sanchez was also Aquino’s former girlfriend when they were still in their 20s.

Aquino said he also fears that he may not get married anymore based on the traditional Filipino belief about single men who act as sponsors in a wedding.

But Roxas said he told Aquino that his apprehensions were baseless and was able to convince his friend to take the role. Aquino’s mother, former President Corazon Aquino was supposed to be the godmother of Roxas and Sanchez.

Roxas disclosed that Aquino would be his godfather along with Chief Justice Reynato Puno, former Senate president Jovito Salonga,ABS-CBN president Eugenio Lopez III and George Araneta.

The female wedding sponsors include Red Cross governor Rosa Rosal, broadcast journalist Che-Che Lazaro, Ruby Roxas, Baby Fores, and Helen Costales.

Roxas’ son Paolo will be best man.

The couple decided to cut on expenses and cancelled the wedding reception. They would just serve pan de sal and juice to their guests at the front yard of Sto.Domingo Church in Quezon City after the wedding ceremonies, and a simple dinner will be prepared for the entourage.

The couple was busy with their rehearsals at the church last night.

More than 2,000 people were invited to the event dubbed as the “People’s Wedding.”

The wedding was initially set on Oct. 23 but was moved to Oct. 27 because the venue for the reception, the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City, was not available on the original date.

The couple formally turned over P2.2 million in donations to Caritas Philippines (P500,000), ABS-CBN Foundation Sagip Kapamilya (P500,000), GMA Kapuso Foundation (500,000), Philippine National Red Cross National Blood Service (P250,000), Philippine National Red Cross for the account of Ondoy (P250,000), Igan Foundation (P100,000) and another P100,000 for ABS-CBN Foundation Kapamilya Shower Na project.

“Korina and I have been planning this special day for so long. We wanted many to share in our joy but it doesn’t seem right to spend so much for this celebration in this time of calamity,” Roxas said in a statement in Filipino.