Joey Concepcion urges only son Christian to uphold family tradition of long, happy marriages
Despite having many of the Philippines’ top business tycoons among the 625 dinner guests, godparents led by Senator Grace Poe Llamanzares and Senator Bam Aquino and entertainers including top singer Gary Valenciano, the highlight of the elegant March 2 wedding reception at Shangri-La Makati’s Rizal Ballroom of 29-year-old Christian Concepcion and 28-year-old Olivia Jacinto was the eloquent, extemporaneous speech by the groom’s father RFM Corporation president Jose “Joey” A. Concepcion III.
Joey was very busy taking charge of overall wedding preparations for six months with help from wife Marissa, because his other kids are four daughters “and you can no longer push your weight around in their weddings.” Yet, the food industrialist and Go Negosyo NGO founder Joey Concepcion seemed very relaxed during his speech. He even started out with some jokes and light banter.
In his speech, Joey encouraged his eldest child and only son Christian to follow the example of his grandparents — former Trade Secretary Jose “Joe” Concepcion, Jr. and Marivic Araneta Concepcion — who are both celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary next year. Joey said that he and his wife Marissa have been married for nearly 33 years.
He reminded his son: “What’s the use if we make all the money but have no family together? The greatest gift that we as parents can give you us the family values that we pass on.”
Although still young looking at age 57, Joey turned a bit pensive in his speech, saying that his children are part of the new generation soon replacing them, and that “we’re getting closer to the exit (of life), so let us learn to enjoy life.”
The wedding itself exemplified enjoyment of life, with the afternoon marriage ceremony at Santuario de San Antonio Church in Forbes Park, Maikati City officiated by Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Archbishop Socrates “Soc” Villegas who delivered a message to the newlyweds to value their marriage, “because it is part of God’s plan. ”
The beautiful flowers and floral arrangements at the church and at the dinner reception were done by Robert Blancaflor, whom Joey Concepcion said is a former Citibank guy who also designed the flowers for all venues at the recent APEC Summit meeting in Manila. Souvenir gifts for guests were the famed Moscow mule copper mugs, which was the idea of the groom’s mother, Marissa Concepcion.
The five-course dinner served by Shangri-La Makati included tuna, prawn, cod served on a bed of barley, vegetable with seared cod, smoked mussel and scallop, beef tenderloin with red wine sauce, etc. The emcees were Philippine STAR columnist RJ Ledesma, AJ Almario and Erica Abello.
Olivia is the daughter of Gabriel and Ma. Victoria Jacinto. Christian said: “We first met in 2006 here in Manila, I started courting her between mid-2006 to 2007. One of her best friends and one of mine just introduced us at a house party.”
The distinguished godparents were Senator Grace Poe and Senator Bam Aquino, SM Group founder Henry Sy Sr.’s youngest child Harkey T. Sy, the late Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) honorary president John K. C. Ng’s only daughter and Lucio Tan conglomerate’s LT Group, Inc. president Michael G. Tan’s wife Angeline Ng Tan, investment banker Luis Juan L. Virata, Sta. Elena Construction boss Alice G. Eduardo, the groom’s uncle Juan Jose P. Orosa, the groom’s aunt Michelle Concepcion Reyes, Jesus Jalandoni Jr., Ma. Rosario Peralejo, the bride’s uncle Jose Ma. Leuterio and Ma. Luisa Carmona.
Joey Concepcion said he truly appreciated the humble Senator Grace Poe for taking the time from her hectic nationwide election schedule in order to attend the church rites as well as the dinner reception. He added: “Senator Grace Poe has been among those good leaders, like Senator Bam Aquino and Senator Cynthia Villar, who have been attending various events of our Go Negosyo NGO, which promotes entrepreneurship nationwide. In contrast, some national leaders never, ever attend even once, and you can quote me on this.”
Among the guests were supporters of Joey Concepcion’s Go Negosyo initiatives such as Max’s Group president Robert F. Trota (who said he represented the country’s franchising group in working well with Joey’s Go Negosyo), Rustan Supercenters Inc. president Donnie Tantoco and wife Crickette, Fookien Times Yearbook’s Grace Glory Go, Atty. Roderico “Rico” Puno and his wife, Unilever chairman and CEO Rohit Jawa and his wife.
Aside from his parents, Joey Concepcion said that two other exemplary couples in his clan whom he looks up to for their long and happy marriages are his late maternal grandfather and RFM founder Salvador Araneta and wife Victoria Lopez Araneta; his paternal grandfather Concepcion Industries founder Jose Concepcion, Sr. and wife Herminia Santos.
Joey recounted: “When our grandmother Herminia died, our grandfather Jose died the following year on her birthday; they were always together, and they sort of never left each other’s side.”
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