Mar-Korina wedding to push through sans grand reception

The highly-touted wedding of Senator Manuel Roxas II and broadcaster Korina Sanchez will proceed as planned on Oct. 27, 2009. The couple, however, decided to forego what would have been a grand reception to save money to donate to victims of the recent calamities that hit the Philippines. "Instead of spending for the reception at Araneta Coliseum…Mar and I agreed to donate the amount set aside for it to various charity organizations taking care of evacuees and victims of (storms) 'Ondoy' and 'Pepeng',’" Sanchez said in a statement released to media on Tuesday. The beneficiaries include Caritas Manila, the Philippine National Red Cross, Sagip Kapamilya of ABS-CBN, and Kapuso Foundation of GMA-7. Roxas and Sanchez are set to tie the knot at the Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City. Among those invited were political and showbiz bigwigs and representatives from political and civic groups that are close to the couple. Sanchez explained that the cancellation of the reception is in deference to those still reeling from the destruction wrought by cyclones Ondoy and Pepeng in the past two weeks. "It 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 kababayans (countrymen)," she said. Her fiancé echoed the same sentiment. “Parang hindi tama na malaki ang gagastusin sa selebrasyon sa panahon ng kalamidad (It’s improper to spend lavishly in times of calamity)," Roxas said in the same statement. Last September 1, Roxas announced he was giving up his presidential ambitions to give way to Sen. Benigno Simeon Aquino III as the Liberal Party’s standard bearer. Days later, Roxas reiterated that the wedding would still push through – fending off allegations that the wedding was just a publicity stunt to boost his image when he was still aspiring for the presidency. - GMANews.TV