When East finds West
March 24, 2002 | 12:00am
Maria Theresa "Tess" Gutay of Aboitiz Jebsen, a shipping company, says she "had already mastered the art of scaring away men" when she first met Atle Schotel, a Dutch owner of a pharmaceutical company and an Aboitiz customer, on a business trip to Holland in August 1999. After walking around the historic city of Dordrexht and dining together, Tess and Alte immediately felt at ease with each other. The next day Tess received a large bouquet with a note from Atle.
The two forgot about each other until a year later. After communicating via e-mail, Tess met Atle on her next European trip. Atle brought her on a sightseeing trip, helped Tess get more clients, and even drove her to her meetings. On Tess’ last night in Holland, Atle revealed his interest in her. And after receiving a sign from her favorite saint, St. Anthony, Tess was certain that Atle was the man for her.
The couple exchanged an average of three e-mails a day and chatted on the phone for about an hour daily.
A happy mix of two cultures marked Tess and Atle’s nuptials. Atle’s family, led by his father Jouke, traveled all the way from Holland and Norway for the ceremony. Tess’ family came from Samar as well, led by her parents, Vicente and Patria.
The wedding took place at the Santuario de San Antonio. The celebrants were Tess’ cousin, Fr. Long Gutay, and her friend, Fr. Rocky Evangelista. Tess was breathtaking in her Joel Bautista bustier gown. JP Montilla mounted the reception which had an international flavor.Alte, after all, insisted on some items that would reflect his background.
So the Rigodon Ballroom of the Manila Peninsula was hung with flags, the male Dutch guests performed a lively Dutch dance for the newlyweds, and the reception centerpiece was the Kransekake, a Norwegian cake made up of rings that are narrow at the top and wide at the base. According to tradition, the numbr of rings a couple pulls from the cake will determine the number of children they will have.
Atle and Tess have settled in Holland. Despite the changes in her life, Tess feels at peace and happy. Well, we cannot exactly say how many kids they will have, but one thing we’re sure of: Theirs is a perfect union of East and West!
The two forgot about each other until a year later. After communicating via e-mail, Tess met Atle on her next European trip. Atle brought her on a sightseeing trip, helped Tess get more clients, and even drove her to her meetings. On Tess’ last night in Holland, Atle revealed his interest in her. And after receiving a sign from her favorite saint, St. Anthony, Tess was certain that Atle was the man for her.
The couple exchanged an average of three e-mails a day and chatted on the phone for about an hour daily.
A happy mix of two cultures marked Tess and Atle’s nuptials. Atle’s family, led by his father Jouke, traveled all the way from Holland and Norway for the ceremony. Tess’ family came from Samar as well, led by her parents, Vicente and Patria.
The wedding took place at the Santuario de San Antonio. The celebrants were Tess’ cousin, Fr. Long Gutay, and her friend, Fr. Rocky Evangelista. Tess was breathtaking in her Joel Bautista bustier gown. JP Montilla mounted the reception which had an international flavor.Alte, after all, insisted on some items that would reflect his background.
So the Rigodon Ballroom of the Manila Peninsula was hung with flags, the male Dutch guests performed a lively Dutch dance for the newlyweds, and the reception centerpiece was the Kransekake, a Norwegian cake made up of rings that are narrow at the top and wide at the base. According to tradition, the numbr of rings a couple pulls from the cake will determine the number of children they will have.
Atle and Tess have settled in Holland. Despite the changes in her life, Tess feels at peace and happy. Well, we cannot exactly say how many kids they will have, but one thing we’re sure of: Theirs is a perfect union of East and West!
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