A fabulous wedding

It was a wedding like no other. Bacolod got a taste of the pomp, the pageantry, the grandeur of an old English Tudor-style wedding when 52-year old Sheila Diocades of Talisay exchanged wedding vows with 77 year old Ronald Easley of Illinois, USA. Sheila had gone to the USA to seek her fortune in 1999, leaving her young kids Monica and Nico with her mother and sister. As luck would have it, she was hired to be the property manager by Dr Ronald Easley, a Physics Masters Degree graduate of MIT and a doctorate degree holder in Physics from the University of Alabama. He was part of the team that negotiated with Russia in the Nuclear Arms Control in Washington, DC. Dr Easley is the Founder and CEO of a Research & System Planning CompanyAtty Thelma Seva for the National Defense Dept of the US.

When the doctor was hospitalized due to a painful illness, Sheila took care of him as he was unsatisfied with the nurses and caregivers in the hospital. Seeing how devoted and caring Sheila was, Dr Ron grew to trust in her completely until finally, love blossomed between the two. There were a lot of problems and hurdles along the way but they managed to overcome all the barriers until finally, they got married in a civil ceremony in Virginia. Ron decided to marry Sheila in church in the Philippines. Sheila was all excited in planning her dream - a Tudor style-wedding with her family and friends present.

On the day itself, Dr Ron, who looks like Hollywood actor Richard Egan, was exceptionally debonair in his white formal suit as he waited for his bride at the altar. Suddenly, there she was, looking incandescently radiant in her shimmering white wedding gown designed after Anne Boleyn’s coronation gown. With the sun’s rays framing her from behind, Ron said she looked like an angel as she walked towards him. The church ceremony was very touching as the bride sang Lea Salonga’s “Two Words: I Do” to the groom. There was not a dry eye in the house.

The reception was truly magical. L’Fisher Hotel’s Grand Ballroom was transformed into a virtual royal castle with beautifully draped yards of white gossamer fabric from the ceiling framing the glittering chandeliers. Antique candelabras decorated each table laden with bottles of white wine, fruits and Edam cheeses. At last the court trumpeters heralded the arrival of the bridal entourage. Amidst thunderous applause, the bride and groom took their places on their thrones at the end of the room. The wedding feast was a magnificent banquet “fit for a king”. What a majestic wedding it was. Ron and Sheila, your love story is truly an inspiration to all.*