Yael Santayana Ledesma & Leanne Onrubia Jacinto
At almost 40 years old, Yael Santayana Ledesma was used to being a third wheel whenever his friends would ask him to join them since he was the last in his barkada to settle down. He knew that somewhere, somehow he would find his ideal woman, but it seemed he wasn’t too lucky in love until he finally met the lovely Leanne Onrubia Jacinto about two years ago.
Bride’s family: Ces and Sonny Jacinto with Beans and Nicole Gonzalez, Sofia and Jessica Jacinto, Danielle Gonzalez
Groom’s family: Evelyn Ledesma, Pia and Kris Buckham with little Jacob, Lisa and Justin Wasielewski
Bridal ninangs: Mercedes Cruz, Apples Meer, Raquel Mathay, Lourdes Ladrido, Belen Gutierrez
Three sets of friends tried to pair them off in the past and it took seven months to make it happen due to the couple’s busy work and travel schedules. Not realizing he was going to be set up, he joined a friend for dinner and upon meeting Leanne, Yael knew right away that she was not only a head turner, but also the no-nonsense type.
Smiling cousins: Kit and Susan Aguado, Margie dela Rama, Mert and Xavier Loinaz, RJ Jacinto
Bridesmaids Regina Santos, Valerie Zayco, Tyzia Teves, Nin?a Barranda
Pretty primas: Cara Dizon, Cheyenne dela Fuente, Cher Halos, Kay Kitane
He was hooked and proposed a year later on the very day they met in Leanne’s favorite city —San Francisco — where she was traveling with her best friends from college. Yael’s excuse was to hike by Marshall’s Beach so that they could get a close up photo with the famed Golden Gate Bridge in the background. He even colluded with his San Francisco-based sister Lisa L. Wasielewski who singlehandedly set up a tent by the shore with champagne and hors d’oeuvres. Since Leanne was hungry and thirsty after reaching their destination, she assumed that the fancy setup was a celebration of their first meeting.
Kathleen Gosingco, Maia Legisma, Rinna Garrucho, Rina Custodio
Happy together: Marc dela Rama, Therese Brady, Crissy Miguel, Natalia Jacinto, Jay Tambunting
Raffy Lopez
It took her some time to notice Yael on his knees as he declared his love and only then realized that he was proposing with a sparkling diamond ring in his hand, which she finally answered with a “yes!” amid tears of joy and surprise.
Baguio Rep. Mark Go and Lin I. Bildner
Onrubia titas: Carly Cruz, Celeste del Rosario, Cynthia Morales
Fatima Javellana, Martha Borja, Fatima Arambulo, Maita Beltran, Ana Isip, Mich del Rosario
The couple chose to have a destination wedding with 300 guests from Manila, Singapore and the US driving up to Baguio despite heavy rains inundating Luzon. Baguio Country Club was more than ready with a professional staff that ensured that the room accommodations and wedding reception would be a memorable event. The party ended past 2 a.m. The groom surprised his wife by singing their favorite song Yellow by Coldplay, and a fun game of jack en poy where guests participated with a P20 bill that was distributed right after dinner. The winner took home the grand prize of P6,000.
Elit and Freddie Pacho, Diva Abad Santos, Nena Villamor with Macky and Annie del Rosario, Yasmin Crisostomo
Fr. Gerry Orbos, a long-time family friend of the Ledesmas, officiated the wedding rites at the St. Joseph the Worker Church with a delightful, but thought-provoking homily on being and staying married. If only most priests were like him, there would be a lot more Mass goers and even more converts to the Catholic faith.
Addy Quesada with her children Victor and Olivia
Baguio Country Club’s chefs prepare a festive wedding buffet.
* * *
For comments and suggestions, please email jacinto.fa@gmail.com.