Zoren And Carmina Finally Tie The Knot

MANILA, Philippines-Carmina Villaroel was shaking and tears fell on her face like waterfall as she walked down the aisle today, Nov. 15, some 12 years after becoming a couple with actor Zoren Legaspi.

According to a report on ''TV Patrol,'' Carmina was kept in the dark about Zoren's planned ''impromptu'' proposal as well as the wedding arrangements that found fruition at Fernbrook Garden in Alabang, Muntinlupa City. Apparently, the bride thought she was just going to a photo shoot, totally unaware that even their children, Cassandra and Maverick, knew of the ceremony that was to take place.
The wedding was attended by celebrity and non-showbiz family and friends who all managed to keep it a secret from Carmina up to the last minute. Some of the celebrity guests were Kris Aquino, Amy Austria, Maricel Soriano, Susan Roces, Eric Quizon, Tirso Cruz III and Grace Poe-Llamanzares.
Recall that in an interview on ''Showbiz Inside report'' last August, Zoren had ''hinted'' that he plans to propose and marry Carmina within the year.
The ''TV Patrol'' footage shows Zoren walking up a flight of stairs with a microphone to his mouth, presumably the moment he was proposing to Carmina. The teary-eyed actress was seen telling the actor ''I love you'' then sealed it with a kiss and tight embrace. Another footage showed Carmina walking towards the altar with a bouquet of flowers then being met by Cassandra and Maverick. Yet another showed Zoren planting a kiss on Carmina's father before the latter gave his daughter away.
Zoren revealed having a crush on Carmina when she was just 13 years old. They, however, had romantic relationships with other celebrities (with Carmina even marrying Rustom Padilla now BB Gandanghari) before landing in each other's arms.
In 2001, Cassandra and Maverick came into their lives though the couple still couldn't legalize their union due to legalities from Carmina's marriage to Rustom.

Worth the long wait

The 12-year wait was worth it.

The long-held dream wedding, Zoren Legaspi’s “surprise” for Carmina Villarroel, went smoothly as secretly planned on Thursday, Nov. 15, at the Fernbrook Gardens in Las Piñas City-Alabang (airing as a TV special titled Always, Forever [A Wedding Like No Other] next Saturday, Nov. 24, on ABS-CBN after Maalaala Mo Kaya).
The couple’s twins acted as secondary sponsors, Cassy as Maid of Honor and Mavy as Best Man.
Paul Cabral designed two gowns for the “unsuspecting” bride, one for The Proposal and the other for The Wedding.
The “conspiracy in silence” was hatched by Zoren in connivance with Carmina’s manager Dolor Guevarra, talent manager Shirley Kuan and the guys at Selecta, the brand being endorsed by the Legaspi family.
Other “conspirators” were: the ABS-CBN Special Events Group, Charisse Tinio and her Nice Print Photography team, engineer Alex del Rosario of Juan Carlo as caterer, Chinkie Uy-Agregado of Metro Eventscape Planners, Badang Rueda for flowers and décor, Mary Ann Cuenca of Top Cakes, 3rd Avenue Band for the musical entertainment (with My Valentine dedicated to the newly-weds), Knotville Favors for the souvenirs, Print Divas for the scrolls (etc.), Studio on Wheels for the “photo-man” services, Dragon Fireworks, Digital Fusion (for the LED wall) and LST Lights & Sounds Mobile.
According to Lizelle Jimenez-Santillan of Margarush Events Margarita Booth, Zoren got intoxicated from tasting the wines during one of the pre-nuptial “secret” meetings.
Here are the wishes of three of the eight wedding sponsors (Sharon Cuneta begged off because her eyes were reportedly puffy from crying after that embarrassing reply-tweet to Kris Aquino whose name was used by an impostor; Sharon said sorry to Kris and sent her a Carrot cake):
 Kris Aquino: “The strength of their love is an inspiration. May they share a lifetime of peace, love, laughter and unity.”
 Cory Vidanes: “I wish them a lifetime of happiness, abundance, love and many more children as they live happily ever after.”
 Ben Chan: “May they continue to enjoy each other as their relationship takes another chapter. This was long overdue. It’s so heartwarming to see Zoren-Mina unite in the presence of their children. This has been their life-long dream.”