NEWSFLASH

---

'NINONG' ERAP ABSENT AT CENTENNIAL WEDDING

Imus, Cavite, April 25, 1998 - The most popular principal sponsor, Vice President Joseph Estrada, at the "Centennial Wedding" of Cavite Governor Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr and actress Lani Mercado, failed to show up at the grand wedding in the Imus Cathedral in Cavite.

Erap's son, San Juan mayor Jinggoy Estrada who stood as best man, said the Vice President who was at the time on a campaign rally in Ozamis city was represented at the wedding by former congressman Jun Rivera.

Former President Cory Aquino sent her regrets too. Daughter Kris and live-in partner Philip Salvador were among the secondary sponsors. Other principal sponsors who were present were Pres Fidel Ramos, Speaker Jose de Venecia, Senator Ernesto Maceda, Renato Cayetano, Hernando Perez, Roberto de Ocampo and Santanina Rasul.

The bride wore a Maria Clara-inspired ecru gown and was brought by a carriage from the old Spanish house owned by the prominent Benitez family just across from the cathedral. Between the cathedral and the Spanish house was J. Castaneda Street, from the corner of which the groom, in a la Emilio Aguinaldo costume rode a white horse along, with the members of "Guardia Civil" composed of his fellow action movie stars Dante Verona and Efren Reyes Jr among others.