CARISSA AND JUJU may have known from the very first instant that they were meant for each other. Goodness knows, Carissa had waited long enough. The daughter of prominent parents — her mom, the Speaker’s beautiful wife Gina Vera Perez de Venecia, and her dad, construction magnate Philip Cruz, Carissa was the epitome of "beauty and brains" She seemed a sensible lady and well established in her career as Undersecretary in the Department of Trade & Industry.
I remember watching Carissa at her debut, as she danced the cotillon in the Fiesta Pavilion at Manila Hotel. Her brother, now photo journalist, Philip "Ipe" Cruz was barely in his teens. Both have certainly come a long way since.
Somebody said — "some people spend years with somebody and not end up together." Oh yeah, talk about long engagements that end up zero. Then, suddenly you meet someone and you know right then and there, this is the ONE.
From what we hear, this is what happened when Carissa’s best friend Bunny Reyes introduced her to businessman Juju Evangelista who happened to be the best buddy of Bunny;s husband Joey. They both just knew…
Still it was 21 months or almost two years before they decided they would marry. On March 29, Carissa and Juju, the son of Nesty and Nena Evangelista, exchanged marriage vows at civil rites officiated by Quezon City Mayor Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte in the QC City Hall.
The bride wore a white blazer outfit designed by Rajo Laurel.
Carissa and Juju plan to have their church wedding on May 6 in Macau, the former Portuguese colony, which has preserved its old, historic churches and landmarks even after it was turned over to China .
The newlyweds had not wanted a huge reception but what could they do? Mommy Gina and House Speaker Jose de Venecia have friends by the zillions who could hardly fit into the North Harbor Garden Tent at the Philippine Plaza Hotel. And there was the Evangelista clan which also is rather huge.
The guest list was headed by no less than President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Vice President Noli de Castro with his wife Arlene. Also at the wedding party were two former first ladies — Imelda R. Marcos and Senator Loi Ejercito… ditto, half the congressional house, El Shaddai leader Mike Velarde, mega stars Lea Salonga, Charlene Gonzales, and Gretchen Barretto, ditto… Anabelle Rama and Eddie Gutierrez, the bride’s aunt "Manay" Marichu Maceda.
The bride was noted wiping her tears when her paternal "lolo" Felipe Cruz Sr. and maternal grandmother Azucena "Nene" Vera Perez spoke words of endearment for their beautiful "apo." "Tatay" Cruz wished the newlyweds well at their "crack of happiness." Mama Nene dotingly recounted that Carissa was the first female apo of their clan.
Juju’s brother Tojie Cruz said that Juju was also a firstborn son but the "youngest" to wed, obviously refering to the bridegroom’s age.
We wish the couple blessings to shower on them all the rest of their life together.
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