The Roxas-Sanchez wedding will proceed as planned but there will be no reception.

Instead, Senator Mar Roxas and Korina Sanchez decided to donate their wedding reception budget to charity organizations taking care of victims of storms “Ondoy” and “Pepeng.”

This was revealed Tuesday by broadcaster and bride-to-be Korina Baluyut Sanchez, 45, in a press statement issued to the media. She added that the wedding ceremony will be held at the Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City on October 27.

Sanchez is to be married to unofficial Liberal Party (LP) vice presidential candidate Sen. Manuel ‘’Mar’’ Araneta Roxas II, 52.

Roxas is son of the late Sen. Gerardo ‘’Gerry’’ Roxas and grandson of the late President Manuel Roxas who founded the LP in the mid-40s.

The LP’s unofficial presidential bet is Sen. Benigno Simeon ‘’Noynoy’’ Aquino III, son of the late President Corazon ‘’Cory’’ Aquino and the late Sen. Benigno ‘’Ninoy’’ Aquino Jr.

‘’Instead of spending for the reception at Araneta Coliseum as planned, Mar and I agreed to donate the amount set aside for it to various charity organizations taking care of evacuees and victims of storm ‘Ondoy’ and typhoon ’Pepeng’,’’ Sanchez said.

‘’Wedding invitations have already been sent out. We are hoping that our guests will understand why we are doing this. It really does not feel right to be celebrating – no matter how important this date is for Mar and I – at a time of calamity and difficulty for a large number of our kabababyans,’’ she explained.

Roxas, in a statement, said: ‘’Matagal nga naming pinlano ni Korina at pinaghandaan ang espesyal na araw na ito. Gusto sana naming na marami ang kasalo sa saya. Pero parang hindi tama na malaki ang gagastusin sa selebrasyon sa panahon ng kalamidad. Napakarami nating kababayan ang naghihirap ngayon – lubog sa tubig-baha. Pakikiramay na rin naming ito sa kanila.’’

The much-talked about wedding is the stuff of celebrity talk shows and entertainment columnists, the Sanchez press statement said.

Originally, a show and reception had been planned at the Araneta Coliseum after the Sto. Domingo rites.

Political and show business personalities as well as representatives from various people’s organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and communities that are close to the couple had been invited to attend.