The bridal couple, the children of Atty. Rogelio and Elisa Quiambao and Emilio and Eleonora Dillera, tied the knot at solemn rites held on Jan. 5 at the Santuario de San Antonio in Forbes Park.

Their principal sponsors were Manila Bulletin chairman Don Emilio T. Yap, Rep. Arnulfo P. Fuentebella, Mr. Yasuaki Niitsu, Mr. Rolando L. Sarreal, Mr. Ramon G. Palanca, Mr. Angelito E. Colona, Mr. Jose M. del Pilar and Mrs. Jeurgen F. Gessner, with "ninangs" Mrs. Emelinda c. Palattao, Mrs. Erlinda S. Sy, Atty. Ma. Gabriela R. Concepcion, Mrs. Melinda C. Sy, Mrs. Priscilla S.P. Burgos, Mrs. Librada G. Hicap, Mrs. Annie S. Santayana, and Mrs. Crisanta B. Martin.

Best man was the groom’s brother Perfecto Arturo B. Dillera. The bride had Carol J. Villanueva as maid of honor, Mrs. Roeliza Q. Soriano, as matron of honor.

Bridesmaids were Janet O. Abuid, Dr. Charmian M. Hufano, Mia Margarita S. Polintan with junior bridesmaid Lyanviel Q. Soriano, escorted by groomsmen Khrisnamurti John R. Tiongson, Mark Lawrence N. Esguerra, Dennis R. Lee and Roelito O. Quiambao.

Special attendants were ring and arras bearers Lorenzo Mari M. Vergel and Roemer Trinite M. Quiambao, with flower girls Juliana Marion E. Burgos and Camile Clare H. Aban.

Secondary sponsors were Raymond F. Reyes and Mary Bernadette V. Dio, candle; Richard E. Pulumbarit and Maricris V. Florendo, veil, and Francis Raymond F. Dumlao and Ma. Eleanora B. Dillera, cord.

The newlyweds’ family and friends then gathered at the main lounge of the Manila Polo Club in Forbes Park for the wedding reception where there was much merriment capped with the rituals of this most memorable night and dancing.

MELLIE’S BIRTHDAY. Each year, Louie and Mellie Ablaza welcome the Yuletide in grand fashion by celebrating Mellie’s birthday which falls near the end of November.

This time, their artistic son, interior decorator JunJun Ablaza transformed the NBC Tent into a winter wonderland, strung with giant snowflakes and a forest of snow white Christmas trees.

The champagne flowed, violins filled the air with romantic scores. The dinner buffet catered by Mandarin Oriental Hotel overflowed with roast turkey, pastas, cheeses, chestnuts and grapes.

The birthday celebrant glowed literally in a gold mesh gown studded with ‘jewels’. Her guests were asked to come in formal attire in black and white or both.

Master of ceremony was Johnny Litton while the thanksgiving prayer was led by the Ablaza grandson Avi.

Leave it to Mellie to put on a lavish show for her guests. Christmas carols were sang by soprano Lena Mckenzie and tenor Nazar. Erika Marquez of Philippine Ballet Theater, and her partner Lucas Jacinto danced a pas de deux from the Nutcracker Suite. Erika was one of last year’s Manila’s Five Loveliest.

Finale was the winning dance number of dancesport gold medalists Belinda Adora and Mike Milencio in the recent SEA Games.

With much ado and applause, Mellie blew the candles on her cake as her family and friends sang "Happy Birthday."

Among the guests were members of the diplomatic corps (because Mellie is an honorary consul of Guatemala), her friends from Friends of Cultural Concerns of the Philippines (FCCP) which she heads as president, and Manila’s party crowd.

Needless to say, the evening flowed into a night of ballroom dancing till the early morning hours.

BY THE WAY… Birthday greetings this week go to — former Bulletin business editor Rudy Romero, Nenette Claudio, today, Jan. 9; Wyden King of Legend Villas and Kabayan hotels, entrepreneur Irene Salud, Tet Antiquera, Jan 10; hotelier Anos Fornacier, Butch Dans of Apo Hiking, my sis in law Cynthia Soliven in New Jersey, Jan. 11; Greggy Araneta, actor Piolo Pascual, Edgar Pajaro, my STC classmate Val Pineda Barcelona, Jan. 12; Peachy Sacasas Alimurung, Elsa Payumo, BPI exec Roni Tapia Merck, Chai Santiago of MOD, Jan. 13; singer/ composer Dingdong Eduque of Triple V, Cebu businessman Jun Kintanar, hotelier Archie King, congressional spouse Jennie Sandoval, my STC classmate Consuelo Concepcion Rialp, Jan. 14; Nena Casimiro, Jan. 15…. Condolences to the family of Justice Cecilia Munson Palma, the first woman associate justice of the Supreme Court who passed away at age 92 on Jan. 2… condolences also to Joe Reyes, his children Millie, Marijo, Gerry, Dorcie, on the death of their beloved wife and mother Imelda Reyes… get well wishes and prayers for National Artist Andrea Veneracion… The thought that it’s the middle of January 2006 gives us the wilis. We hope that along with the rush of time shall come better times for us all. Meanwhile… SMILE!